Friedrich Hinterberger

Dr. rer. pol. Mag. rer. soc. oec.

Fritz Hinterberger is an economist working in societal and ecological contexts for more than 40 years now. His focus lies on how sustainable development can boost the quality of life and prosperity for all on our planet while respecting its natural boundaries as well as fair distribution. As a mandated expert, Fritz contributed to the development of Austrian climate change policies and the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund. He has excellent contacts in the Austrian NGO scene as well as high-ranking institutions in science and politics.

Born as a baby boomer 60 years ago in the province of Upper Austria, his “politicization” towards sustainability began in the 1970s through reading books such as “Limits to Growth” and “Global 2000” and active participation in the resistance against the start-up of the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant.

After his doctorate in monetary social policy, he joined the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, and Energy in 1993, where he was head of the department for Ecological Economics and Ecological Economic Policy as well as interim head of the department for Material Flows and Structural Change.

In 1999, he founded the Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI) Vienna, which focuses on both science-based communication and practical (consulting) work and research.

Since 2019 he holds a senior scientist position at the University of Applied Arts Vienna cooperating with the national UniNEtZ project and serves as Vice President of the Austrian Chapter of the Club of Rome.