Leonore Gewessler
Leonore Gewessler | |
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| Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology | |
| Assumed office 7 January 2020 | |
| President | Alexander Van der Bellen |
| Chancellor | |
| Preceded by | Andreas Reichhardt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1977 Graz, Styria, Austria |
| Political party | The Greens – The Green Alternative |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna |
Leonore Gewessler (German: [lɛoˈnoːʁε ˈgeːvεslɐ]; born 15 September 1977) is an Austrian Green politician serving as Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology in the Nehammer government.[1]
Early life[edit]
Education[edit]
Gewessler earned a political science degree (BA) from the University of Vienna.
Political career[edit]
From 2014 until 2019, Gewessler served as head of Austria's largest environmental charity and lobbying group Global 2000. In this capacity, she championed a popular campaign against the expansion of the ageing Soviet-era[clarification needed] Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in neighbouring Slovakia, just 100 km from the Austrian border.[2] In the negotiations on a coalition government following the 2019 Austrian legislative election, Gewessler was a member of the Green Party's delegation.[2]
Role in the passing of the Nature Restoration Law[edit]
In June 2024, Leonore Gewessler played a pivotal role in the passage of the European Union's Nature Restoration Law, a key element of the European Green Deal aimed at restoring 20% of the EU's land and sea by the end of the decade. Despite significant opposition and political controversy, Gewessler announced her support for the law, citing her inability to reconcile letting the opportunity pass without having tried everything. This decision, however, placed her in a contentious legal grey area due to opposition from most Austrian federal states and her coalition partners, the centre-right Austrian People's Party (ÖVP).[3]
References[edit]
- ^ "Leonore Gewessler, BA, Biografie". www.parlament.gv.at (in German). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ a b Sam Jones (March 2, 2020), Austrian Greens’ ‘super minister’ takes the reins Financial Times.
- ^ Niranjan, Ajit (17 June 2024). "EU passes law to restore 20% of bloc's land and sea by end of decade". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
External links[edit]
- Leonore Gewessler on the Austrian Parliament website
The Nehammer cabinet | ||
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The Kurz II cabinet | ||
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| International | |
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| National | |
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- Living people
- 1977 births
- Politicians from Graz
- Government ministers of Austria
- Women government ministers of Austria
- 21st-century Austrian women politicians
- 21st-century Austrian politicians
- The Greens – The Green Alternative politicians
- Austrian environmentalists
- University of Vienna alumni
- Austrian politician stubs