Fake News Before Vienna Election: No Ban on Meat, Cars, or Travel Planned
According to a widely shared Facebook post, under a social democratic city government led by Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), activities such as traveling, driving, and eating meat are to be banned by 2030, and only a limited amount of clothing will be allowed to be purchased. However, there is no evidence to support this.
Assessment: In Vienna, there is no plan to ban meat and dairy products or private car ownership. Traveling and clothing purchases are not to be legally restricted. The claims are based on a misinterpreted report by the "C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group" from 2019.
Disinformation on Consumption Bans in Vienna
Verification: The Facebook user refers in his post to a parliamentary inquiry by the Freedom Party National Council member Peter Schmiedlechner from October 2023, who in turn cites a blog entry from an Austrian online portal. The portal has often been noted for false and misleading information (here, here, and here).
According to the parliamentary inquiry, in the 100 cities of the C40 Cities, which according to the inquiry includes Vienna, "meat, dairy products, and private cars" are to be banned by 2030. Additionally, specific restrictions on clothing and air travel are planned.
The C40 Cities is an international network aiming to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement and thus limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. However, Vienna is not a member of the association. In the German-speaking region, Berlin and Heidelberg are the only participating cities.
Fake News Before the Vienna Election
The allegations regarding consumption restrictions refer to a document by the "C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group" from 2019. The basis of the report is an analysis of the per capita consumption of city residents regarding aspects such as nutrition and mobility. Based on this, proposals were developed to reduce greenhouse gases in cities, which are intended to contribute to achieving the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement. "Progressive" and "ambitious" goals were defined.
Consumption Restrictions Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In fact, the "ambitious" goal to feed urban residents includes reducing meat and dairy products to zero kilograms by 2030. This could save 60 percent of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions between 2017 and 2050. Even the "progressive" goal of reducing meat consumption to 16 kg and dairy products to 90 kg would reduce diet-related emissions by 50 percent (page 78). In 2017, 13 percent of emissions in cities were attributed to the production and distribution of food (page 76).
The restriction to three new clothing items per year per person is also cited in the report as an ambitious goal, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the clothing and textiles sector by approximately 65 percent. With eight new clothing items per year, emissions would decrease by nearly 50 percent (page 82). In 2017, the share of greenhouse gas emissions in this sector was four percent (page 80).
Ending private vehicles on the roads could reduce emissions in this sector by 55 percent, and with 190 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, by 23 percent (p. 86). In 2017, around eight percent of greenhouse gas emissions in cities were attributed to the production and use of private vehicles (page 84).
Strategies for the 1.5-Degree Target
The goals defined in the report serve as reference points for possible long-term concepts. The report explicitly states that no city should impose bans or consumption targets for individual consumption. Sustainable decisions should be encouraged through the expansion of public transport and the promotion of a circular economy.
The C40 Cities were founded in London in 2005. Funded by the EU and the British government, as well as private companies like the ride-hailing company "Uber". Participating cities are expected to halve their own greenhouse gases by 2030 through an inclusive, scientific, and community-based approach, thereby contributing to the Paris Climate Goal. Research like the aforementioned report is intended to support cities in developing strategies to reduce emissions.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.