VIENNA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Austria's climate strategies are "well on track", according to Sustainability and Tourism Minister Elisabeth Koestinger. despite an alarming report from world scientists on Monday.
The experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that urgent action is needed to avoid serious environmental consequences as a result of rising global temperatures.
In an interview with radio program O1 Mittagsjournal from state broadcaster ORF, Koestinger said the climate and energy strategies of her government show the right way in which CO2 emissions reductions can be brought about.
"Now it is important that we also undertake implementation, particularly in the areas of transportation and buildings," she said, citing a shift away from oil heating as one example.
Despite criticism from some experts that the government strategy is not ambitious enough and that a reduction in CO2 emissions of 36 percent will not be possible, Koestinger said she is "convinced that we can achieve this."
The minister also said the government intends to simplify subsidies to promote environmentally-friendly practices. Enditem
