Project Facts
Location
Austria
Applied Financing Solutions
Public-Private Partnership
Project Dates
Start: 2011
In operation since/from: 2011
The Story
With the campaign “Stop land use – soilless makes breadless, futureless, unemployed...” in radio, print and online media, the Österreichische Hagelversicherung (Austrian hail insurance) draws attention to the high level of soil sealing in Austria. Austria is European champion: on average over the past 10 years, 20 hectares of agricultural land or the equivalent of 30 soccer fields have been taken out of production every day. At the same time, Austria has the highest supermarket density and one of the densest street networks in Europe.
The massive obstruction has negative impacts on biodiversity, drought and flood damage are increasing. Domestic food supply is endangered by the loss of its production base and 500,000 sustainable Austrian jobs in agriculture are at risk. Moreover, the Austrian landscape is changed – the result: tourism suffers. Österreichische Hagelversicherung has been communicating this for a long time, showing solutions by experts and creating general awareness of land use in Austria.
Success Factor | Hero Moment
The Österreichische Hagelversicherung launched the campaign to protect domestic soils in 2011 with a daily area requirement of 27.7 hectares. Since then, there has been a steady decrease in daily land use. In 2018, it was 10.5 hectares per day. In 2019, however, land use rose again to 13 hectares per day. Numerous prominent opinion leaders from business, science, media and culture support the campaign (e.g. Monika Langthaler, Tobias Moretti, Franz Welser-Möst, Markus Hengstschläger, Christa Kummer).
Submitter
Österreichische Hagelversicherung VVaG, Austria
Contact Mail
office@hagel.at
Keywords
Resilience, Awareness Raising