What does climate protection have to do with peace?
A lecture by Helga Kromp-Kolb as part of the lecture series Lectures for Future.
There is no sustainability without peace, and no peace without sustainability — this is stated in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030. This idea will be discussed using the example of the climate crisis.
Helga Kromp-Kolb studied meteorology at the University of Vienna and received her PhD in 1971. She worked as a scientific assistant at the University of Vienna and habilitated in 1982 in the specialized field of environmental meteorology. At the ZAMG, she held a leadership position before working as an Associate Professor at San José State University in California. She was a lecturer at the University of Vienna until 1995 and led the Department of Environmental Meteorology from 1986 to 1995. In 1995, she became a full professor at the Institute of Meteorology at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. She still teaches courses at the University of Vienna.
Kromp-Kolb became known for her research and commitment to global climate change. She attracted attention in 2019 with an interview in the Kronen Zeitung, where she responded to the question of whether flying should still be allowed with a compelling comparison:
"One should think carefully about whether it is really necessary. Because just as we asked our parents: How was it during National Socialism? What did you know? What did you do? Our children and grandchildren will ask us: How was it with the climate? What did you know? What did you do? If I then answer: I still flew to London for a shopping trip, that would not be a nice answer.
Helga Kromp-Kolb is a multiple Austrian national champion in orienteering and was a coach for the national team for several years.