Austria ranks among the bottom performers in Europe
St. Pölten (OTS) – In the ranking of the EU27 states according to greenhouse gas emissions reductions, Austria comes in 22nd place. Although emissions have decreased by -7 percent, Austria’s efforts pale in comparison to Sweden – which achieved a reduction of -86 percent. On average, the EU27 were able to reduce their emissions by -32 percent. “All EU states together have avoided 4.5 times more emissions than Austria. This shows that Austria has not yet taken its responsibility in climate protection,” says Stefan Moidl, Managing Director of IG Windkraft: “Apart from Bulgaria and Poland, Austria is now the only country that has adopted the climate plan (NEKP), which sets out the path to reducing greenhouse gases and the expansion of renewables has not been submitted.”
While Austria always tries to portray itself as a role model when it comes to climate protection, the facts speak a completely different language. Between 1990 and 2022, Austria was able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent and now emits 72.6 Mt of greenhouse gases per year, as the EU Commission reports in the “Progress Report 2023 Climate Action”. Austria is now one of the worst performers when it comes to climate protection. Compared to the 26 other EU states, Austria is only in 22nd place, behind Slovenia and ahead of Spain. Only 5 EU countries have achieved even less in reducing greenhouse gases (Spain, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Cyprus). “For a country that repeatedly portrays itself as a model student of climate protection, this is a real indictment,” notes Moidl.
Austria is far behind
The EU27 as a whole have greenhouse gas savings of -32 percent at 3,145 Mt. In comparison with Sweden, which achieved a reduction of -86 percent, Austria is not doing particularly well with -7 percent. “All EU states together have avoided 4.5 times more emissions than Austria. This shows that Austria has not yet taken on its responsibility in climate protection,” said Moidl
Renewable expansion is the order of the day
The expansion of renewable energies is a central lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Both would have to be reported to the European Commission in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP). Austria, along with Bulgaria and Poland, is one of the last countries that has not complied with the obligation to send the draft NEKP to the Commission. A draft was sent to Brussels by the Climate Protection Ministry and ordered back by the Ministry for EU and Constitution. The NEKP is a basis for the implementation of the renewable energy directive RED III, which was passed by the EU last year and which Austria must implement into national law in the next year and a half. “NEKP and RED III set the direction for how large the area must be designated for wind power expansion and how much greenhouse gases must be saved,” explains Moidl. “Austria must finally get out of the stalemate it has created when it comes to climate protection.” To expand wind power, the federal states must designate more zones, speed up approvals and hire more staff in the approval authorities.
To the EU Commission’s list of NEKPs
To the EU Commission’s Progress Report 2023 Climate Action
Questions & Contact:
IG Windkraft Austria
Martin Jaksch-Flying Snow
Press spokesman
Mobil: 0660/20 50 755
m.flying snow@igwindkraft.at
https://www.igwindkraft.at