Victoria Michaels represents Africa at Austrian World Summit
Acclaimed environmental advocate and modelpreneur, Victoria Michaels, proudly carried the African flag at the prestigious Austrian World Summit 2025, hosted by Hollywood icon and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger under the theme “Unite in Action, Eliminate Pollution.”
Held at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, this year’s summit brought together some of the most influential voices in global climate action—including Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and European Commissioner for Climate Wopke Hoekstra—to discuss real-world solutions to the growing climate crisis.
Victoria’s participation at the summit, under the auspices of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, underscored her continued efforts to elevate Africa’s voice in the global climate dialogue.
Throughout the summit, Victoria Michaels engaged with high-level leaders and participated in key discussions on accelerating climate action in developing regions. Her advocacy centered around creating inclusive platforms for African voices, promoting clean energy adoption, and supporting youth-led environmental initiatives.
Known for her trailblazing work mobilizing climate action in underserved communities and promoting green innovation across the continent, Victoria’s message was clear: Africa is not just a stakeholder, but a vital partner in global sustainability.
In an address, Schwarzenegger told attendees: “Stop whining. Whining doesn’t change anything. Get to work.” He highlighted examples from his own environmental legacy in California—such as the Million Solar Roofs Initiative and the Global Warming Solutions Act—as evidence that climate action is not only necessary but possible.
President Van der Bellen echoed the sentiment, calling the climate crisis “a major threat that unites us all.” He urged nations to move beyond isolated efforts and toward collective action: “Our planet is not the responsibility of individual countries or people—it is the responsibility of all of us.”
Tony Blair, in a one-on-one conversation with Schwarzenegger, called for “pragmatic, life-improving solutions” and emphasized the need to target climate finance where it will make the greatest impact. “Pollution and climate change respect no borders,” Blair said. “We must act together—across political and economic lines—to drive meaningful change.”
The summit also featured sobering accounts from front-line responders like Vienna fire chief Viktoria Zechmeister and Santa Monica fire chief Dom Bei, who detailed their experiences with wildfires and flooding. Their stories reinforced a chilling reality: the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s a present-day emergency.
In his closing remarks, Chancellor Christian Stocker stressed that ambitious climate goals must be compatible with economic prosperity and energy security. “Every contribution counts,” he said. “Be it innovative ideas, sustainable practices, or individual commitment—this is a challenge we must all rise to.”