Nuclear Protection - a key task of the Vienna Ombuds Office for Environmental Protection

Responsibilities of the Vienna Nuclear Protection Commissioner

Since 2002, the Ombuds Office has also fulfilled the responsibilities of the Vienna Nuclear Protection Commissioner.

This includes the following tasks:

• Monitoring developments in nuclear policy Europe, especially in neighbouring states that operate nuclear power plants near the Austrian border.
• Providing expert advice to decision-makers in the City of Vienna, as well as formulating position papers, opinions and demands on nuclear energy issues.
• Cooperating in networks and joint projects with citizens, citizens’ initiatives, NGOs, disaster relief officers, and the other federal provinces of Austria
• Establishing an information platform for the local population as well as an expert network on nuclear protection, disaster relief and renewable energy.
• Supporting initiatives in the neighbouring states to increase energy efficiency and switch to other energy sources.
• Representing Vienna’s interests towards representatives of federal authorities and neighbouring countries (bilateral meetings).
• Giving the opinion in Crossborder Environmental Impact Assessments following the Aarhus Convention.

Aims and objectives of the Vienna Nuclear Protection Commissioner

The main aim is creating a Europe without nuclear power plants.

The primary objectives for the coming years are:

• Closing down nuclear power plants based on obsolete technology in the neighbouring states according to a specific step-by-step schedule
• Establishing uniform nuclear safety standards throughout Europe
• Providing reliable and relevant information to the population in Vienna and in the greater region of Vienna
• Sharing experience and expertise on energy efficiency and alternative energy sources

Arguments against nuclear energy formulated by the Nuclear Protection Commissioner