Umweltdachverband (UWD)

The Umweltdachverband (UWD), based in Vienna, is a non-partisan platform for 36 member organizations from the fields of environmental, nature, and alpine protection, agriculture, forestry, and renewable energies from all over Austria, representing around 1.3 million members.

The work of the Environmental Umbrella Organization focuses on comprehensive nature conservation and a commitment to preserving genetic diversity, species, and ecosystems (biodiversity), a full commitment to the environmentally friendly expansion of renewable energies and the conservation of resources to meet the challenges of advancing climate change, the sustainable protection of water as a vital resource, the strengthening of rural development, the promotion of sustainability and CSR, and—as the sponsor of the Alpine Protection Commission CIPRA Austria—the protection of the Alps.

In addition, the Environmental Umbrella Organization is a central interface and information platform for European and national environmental policy through its EU Environmental Office. With the Forum Umweltbildung, the Environmental Umbrella Organization also houses the Austrian competence center for education for sustainable development.

In methodological terms, the UWD works as an interest group. This work includes a very strong public relations component. Public relations and communication are therefore among the core competencies of the Environmental Umbrella Organization. In addition, the UWD has been active in the field of project management for many years. Project management and project implementation are therefore also among the core competencies of the Environmental Umbrella Organization.