Rudi Anschober: “I like being a dreamer”

In the publisher's photos, the former Minister of Social Affairs and "Krone" columnist is standing in a meadow and looks pretty happy. The city of Vienna lies at his feet, his gaze wanders into the distance - or into the future? In any case, it is the subject of his new book. We talk during a walk with dog offspring "Junior", who Anschober also writes about regularly in his blog.

"Krone": Mr. Anschober, the title of your new book is "How we are taking back our future". Isn't that a contradiction in terms?
Rudi Anschober: It's not a contradiction, it's an image. Many people believe they no longer have a future. They are resigned and suppress upcoming problems and crises. The image is intended to say that we do have a future. If we act very consistently together. But the decisions are made by politicians.
Yes, but we have to build up pressure and get politicians to do so. Just as has happened with many changes in the history of mankind. People got together and pushed through changes. That is an essential part of my book. How was slavery once abolished, how did the civil rights movement succeed in the USA? How did great successes in the environmental field come about? In each case, it was the commitment of a few people who grew in number until they finally exceeded a critical mass.

Is it an optimistic book?
I differentiate between optimism, which in my view is an almost naive basic attitude, and hope. The book is very hopeful and should motivate people not to give up, but to join forces with others and work to make the future a good one.

We are now facing a super election year in which the right is predicted to gain the most votes at national, European and global level. Is there really any hope?
I don't think much of all these forecasts and polls. We have just had an election in Salzburg with big surprises. I have the impression that the polling institutes are getting more and more wrong because people form their opinions very independently and at short notice and often don't make them known. I am much more optimistic. I believe that the climate or corona deniers, for example, are simply the louder ones. But many more people know what is at stake and why it is necessary to implement the climate transition now, in this decade. From this perspective, I believe that every upcoming election is also a climate election.

Your party, the Greens, is not exactly enjoying the greatest popularity.
This issue should not be left to one party alone. It is the responsibility of all of us. I expect many other parties to pull together and do what is necessary. But I don't expect one party, the FPÖ, to do so.

In the book, you are 80 and look back on a good life. When was the moment when you knew you had to write it?
That was exactly a year ago and it has a lot to do with my lectures. There are usually between 100 and 200 people sitting there, from very different political backgrounds, very interested people. And when I point out problems, a mood of resignation quickly developed in the room. In the second part, I always tried to point out solutions and successful models that already exist in some cities - in Paris, for example, the major reorganization of the city, or in Utrecht, the big cycling city. There was suddenly a lot of hope in the room. And in moments like that, there can be great motivation to want to do something, because you can see that there are already so many examples where it works. I believe that we simply need such encouragement, that it does us good, because we have to get out of this feeling of powerlessness. In this sense, it is a book of encouragement and hope.

How do you measure the success of the book?
This book is successful if I can provide an impetus for people to discuss a good future. Many people no longer believe that the future can be good. And if we had thought before the interview that it wouldn't work anyway, then it won't work. I paint a positive picture of the future in the book. In 2040, many details may look different. I'm only interested in the impetus. That things can go in a good direction if we act correctly.

Do politicians give people too little confidence?
It's not just politicians, we have generally become a society of negativism. You can already see that in the media. Only bad news is good news. As a result, we overestimate the negative and no longer see the positive. And that takes an incredible amount of energy away from us.

What would you say to someone who says you are a dreamer who firmly believes in good things?
Laughs - I like being a dreamer and an encourager. We should all learn to dream of a positive future again. Although it must be clear to us that this dream will only become reality if we work very, very hard for it.

What can individuals do?
We can live the climate change in our personal, private sphere. For example, I only travel by public transport. Even to the many events throughout Austria. That works. But politicians also need to make a contribution, because it's still incredibly difficult for people who live in rural areas. It needs to be expanded, offers need to be created. That's why personal action and voting, so that politics does its part, belong together. These are two sides of the same coin. And that is called "change".

Change scares most people. Not you?
No, because life will be better after the climate change. I've tried to describe that as precisely as possible. How does a city change, for example? Paris is a role model for me. There are now many more shady areas and fewer large asphalt surfaces, where the heat spreads extremely in summer, threatening people's health. We have to get out of this uncertainty and see that this is not a program of renunciation.

How and where did you write your book?
At home on the computer. It's quite a nice place because I look directly at a very old lime tree through a large window. This tree plays a very prominent role in the book. At the beginning of the book and at the end of the book - it starts and ends with my 80th birthday.

Do animals also live in the tree?
Of course. We have lots of squirrels, we have several ravens that live there. There are also lots of other birds. The lime tree is a few centuries old and unfortunately already has some mistletoe on it. Nevertheless, it shades a large area and that is precisely the reason why we need to green the cities again in the future, we need more trees. Because that way we can store CO₂ and lower temperatures.

How strongly are you still anchored in the Green Party?
I'm a party member, but after 18 years in government and before that in parliament, I'm done with party politics for good. In total, that was 34 years. That's a lot of time that I've invested in party politics. Now I am a political person who seeks dialog with interested citizens. Sometimes I still think to myself: I would like to make my own decisions in politics now. But on the whole, I consider it a great privilege to have more time to sit down with scientists to go into depth with them on issues that seem very important to me personally. Much of this has been incorporated into this book.

Is there also the thought that at least the lime tree will live to see the future you hope for?
I also hope that I live that long. But the lime tree will of course outlive me. That's why nature is actually our most important partner. Nature and animals are, so to speak, our logical friends in the process of climate change.

Are you happy now?
Yes, because I am living a completely different, new, second life. A life after politics that doesn't end in frustration or retirement, but a life with much more self-determination, where I feel I can still make a significant contribution.

How old do you want to be?
I believe that everyone wants to grow as old as possible and stay as healthy as possible. Every year, every month, every day is a gift that you should accept very, very gratefully.

What would you like to say about Rudi Anschober?
I haven't thought about that yet. Perhaps that he has made a tiny contribution to ensuring that many generations to come will still have a good life on this wonderful planet.