THE SCHWARZENEGGER CLIMATE INITIATIVE
focuses on:
- building awareness of the climate crisis and the urgent need for action every day and once a year at our AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT (AWS). The AWS, entering its seventh year, has become one of the largest environmental gatherings in the world and provides a platform for highlighting concrete solutions and measures from global decision-makers committed to preserving a healthy planet and decarbonizing the economy by 2050.
- presenting workable solutions from all over the world and connecting these ideas to available technical and financial resources.
- supporting best in class climate protection projects from all over the world.
- serving as a "matchmaker" - we connect players from business, finance, NGOs and local & national governments committed to collaborating on sustainable projects.
Here you can find more information and the highlights from this year´s AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger talks to real Climate Action Heros, who are role models and inspire more and more people to become enthusiastic about active climate protection.
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Showcasing successful best practice projects for climate protection and sustainable development from all around the globe
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Latest News
November 09, 2022
Cooking up climate Action
With the money from the BAWAG Women's Prize 2022, which Director Monika Langthaler was awarded, the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative will support two impressive projects concerning the climate crisis and cooking.
World Central Kitchen
Extreme weather events occur more frequently due to the climate crisis. When a natural disaster hits a community, a nourishing meal is much more than a plate of food. It gives people hope and shows that someone cares. The SCI is therefore supporting “World Central Kitchen” in their effort to assist communities impacted by extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis.
Efficient and Healthy Cooking
About 3 billion people in the world have no access to modern energy sources for cooking and heating their homes. This is also the case in Uganda. A large proportion of households in rural areas cook with firewood on traditional open cooking stoves. Sadly this is inefficient, drives deforestation and is also detrimental to the health of mostly women doing the cooking. We are therefore supporting the project "Efficient and Healthy Cooking" by the Caritas Masaka Diocesan Development Organization and HORIZONT3000. One new stove saves about 5t CO2 and 63 % firewood per year.
September 29, 2022
Dinner in the spirit of climate action
Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a short visit to his home country Austria for a dinner at Motto am Fluss in Vienna with representatives from the business community. The talks focused on the challenges in the fight against pollution and the climate crisis and also served to prepare for Schwarzenegger's annual climate conference, the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT, in Vienna. "We must do whatever it takes to end our dependence on fossil fuels," he stressed. Every year, the AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT presents concrete and workable climate solutions from around the world and links these ideas to available technical and financial resources as well as stakeholders. "Especially in challenging times like these, it is important not to lose sight of climate protection and to continue working on concrete solutions that are good for both the climate and the economy," said Monika Langthaler, Director of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative.
September 22, 2022
Monika Langthaler awarded 10th BAWAG Women's Prize
Monika Langthaler, Director of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative gratefully accepted the annual BAWAG award last week. The prize, which is endowed with € 5,000, recognises outstanding achievements by women and special commitment to the positioning of women in society.
Doris Schmidauer, the First Lady of Austria, gave the laudatory speech and emphasised: "I am glad that there are awards like this which highlight the commitment of women in socially relevant areas and honour them accordingly. There is still a need for female role models who show young women that it always makes sense to speak up and to get involved for a cause that is close to one's heart. This year's Women's Award is dedicated to sustainability and climate protection. This summer - in which we have felt the direct effects of the climate catastrophe with droughts, storms and floods more than ever - has clearly shown us how urgently we all need to get involved in this area."
Monika Langthaler, also underlined in her acceptance speech: "The urgency of the climate crisis has become clear with great force this summer. There are many solutions and ways to protect our planet out there. We urgently need action so we can preserve our livelihoods and enable our children to live in a more environmentally friendly and hopefully also fairer world. Ecologically and socially sustainable development must finally become the most important element of our economic activity."