The FPÖ's denial of the climate crisis is also upsetting its own voters

The federal crisis coordinator, Peter Vorhofer, has confirmed that the ongoing heatwave continues to pose serious challenges for Austria, despite efforts to manage the situation. On Thursday, during a press conference following an interministerial meeting at the civil servant level, Vorhofer urged citizens to conserve water and avoid open fires in forests. He emphasized that the long-term outlook for drought conditions remains bleak, with no signs of relief expected throughout the year, except possibly in November. According to Vorhofer, all weather models indicate that temperatures and precipitation levels will remain high, making it unlikely that the country will experience any substantial improvement before Christmas. Vorhofer noted that while there is no immediate danger to drinking water supplies, 90 percent of monitoring stations show very low groundwater levels. This could lead to localized shortages in some municipalities, which can be addressed through compensation measures. However, he strongly recommended that individuals who can save water should do so, especially in rural areas. Energy security remains unaffected, though some power plants face operational difficulties due to insufficient cooling water. Solar energy currently plays a crucial role, and Vorhofer stated that medium-term problems are not anticipated. In some cases, neighboring countries might provide assistance. The agricultural sector is particularly affected by the drought, with Vorhofer describing the current situation as a “historic stress test.” He warned that crop yields would likely fall below average, significantly reducing overall production compared to previous years. As a result, he called for support for farmers, suggesting interest-free loans as one possible solution. The risk of forest fires remains extremely high, with Vorhofer urging people to refrain from lighting fires in wooded areas. He cited statistics showing that 85 percent of forest fires in Austria are caused by humans, and the threat of these fires spreading into residential areas is increasing. Despite the challenges, Vorhofer expressed cautious optimism, stating that while the situation is locally severe, the national situation remains stable. He acknowledged that this is the third heatwave of the year for Austria and that the country is dealing with a drought that began after the floods of 2024. The government’s response has been criticized by environmental groups, including the Greens, who accused the administration of being absent during a critical crisis meeting. Greens leader Leonore Gewessler pointed out that the government did not attend its own crisis summit, despite the dire conditions facing the population. Environmental organizations such as the WWF and Greenpeace have also voiced concerns over the government's approach. The WWF described the assessments presented after the heatwave summit as clear recommendations for action, emphasizing the need for immediate measures to combat climate change. They argued that delaying action today would exacerbate the effects of the climate crisis in the future. Greenpeace representative Jasmin Duregger highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that forests are burning, homes are becoming unbearable due to extreme heat, and even power plants are forced to shut down due to low water levels. She stressed the urgency of taking swift action to address these issues. On the ground, the impact of the drought is evident among farmers, particularly in eastern Austria. At a visit to a dairy farm in Lilienfeld, officials including Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig and regional representatives assessed the damage firsthand. The farmer, Rudolf Buchner, explained that his herd of around 70 cows had already suffered significant losses, with up to 50 percent yield loss during the first grass cut in spring. Since June, no further cuts have been made, and winter feed reserves are already being used. Buchner described the current situation as unprecedented, noting that normally, grazing would occur directly near the barn, but this year, they must purchase feed and even buy maize from surrounding areas, resulting in additional costs of between 40,000 and 50,000 euros per farm. The economic pressures are compounded by rising production costs and falling prices. Farmers are experiencing reduced revenues due to lower yields and low producer prices, while costs for inputs like fertilizers and energy continue to rise. In response, Totschnig mentioned ongoing work on measures such as subsidized business equipment loans, while Pernkopf called for the suspension of social insurance contributions for farmers. Some farms are already resorting to early slaughter of livestock due to feed shortages, with particularly severe impacts observed in greenfield areas. The harvest of crops such as wheat, corn, pumpkins, soybeans, and potatoes is expected to suffer significant losses, with initial damage reports from the Austrian hail insurance agency indicating a drop in yields of up to 20 percent nationally and as high as 70 to 80 percent in parts of eastern Austria. The situation is also affecting food supply chains, with a sharp decline in the availability of certain products. For example, potato yields are down to just a third of their usual levels, potentially leading to price increases. While domestic food supply remains secure, the impact of the drought is increasingly visible, with many farmers struggling to maintain their operations under these extreme conditions. As the summer progresses, the pressure on both farmers and the broader economy is expected to intensify.