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Elisabeth Köstinger

Elisabeth Köstinger (born 22 November 1978) is an Austrian politician and since December 2017 the Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism. The Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism covers a broad range of areas including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, the environment and tourism as well as issues related to climate, energy and cohesion policy.

Given the broad range of responsibilities, Minister Köstinger strives for holistic approaches especially in the areas of energy transition, protection of the environment and climate action as well as sustainable agriculture and tourism. It is in this context, that an inclusive Climate and Energy Strategy for Austria (#mission 2030) was adopted in summer 2018. Elisabeth Köstinger is a member of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). Furthermore, she currently serves as the Vice-President of the Political Academy of the ÖVP.

Before assuming her role as Minister, Elisabeth Köstinger was First President of the National Council and Secretary General of the ÖVP. Between 2009 and 2017 she represented Austria as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) acting amongst other as spokeswoman for agriculture, environment and women’s affairs of the delegation of the European People’s Party (EPP) to the European Parliament.