Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen addressed the COP31 World Climate Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on November 11. During his speech, he displayed a bottle of Austrian spring water to highlight the growing global crisis regarding vital natural resources.
Van der Bellen noted that water became scarce in several regions last summer, citing droughts in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He also pointed to a flash flood in Nepal, melting European glaciers, and rising sea levels as evidence of the climate emergency.
The president called for an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to combat these threats. He urged a rapid expansion of green electricity, electromobility, and environmentally friendly agriculture to ensure a sustainable future for the planet.