Austria Halts Eight Highway Projects to Fight Climate Change

Austria's Greens political party has achieved a rare political victory against automobile dependence.

1 minute read

December 13, 2021, 10:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A aerial view of the Lobau floodplain, located to the north of Vienna, Austria and across the Danube River. Vienna is in the background.

The Lobau floodplain to the north of the Danube River and the city of Vienna. | RussieseO / Shutterstock

The Austrian government announced that they would halt eight controversial highway projects in the country, taking a dramatic step in the fight to reduce emissions and slow climate change.

An article by the Agence France-Presse detailing the decision has been picked up widely across the Internet, mostly focusing on the political coalition that achieved the political victory, led by the Greens, a junior coalition partner.

Among the projects halted by the announcement is a planned 8-kilometer highway tunnel under the Lobau national park intended to ease congestion east of Vienna.

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 in Agence France Presse

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