In absolute figures, 77.5 million tons of CO2 were emitted in Austria in 2021, 3.6 million tons more than in 2020. Compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, the figure in 2021 was only slightly lower – by 1.9 million tons. For 2022, however, the Federal Environment Agency is assuming a significant decrease of five percent compared to 2021. Compared to the pre-crisis year of 2019, this means a reduction in emissions of 7.9 percent.
Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) sees reason for optimism. “The expected end of the pandemic effect on greenhouse gas emissions has now finally been confirmed,” said Gewessler. “A lot has already been set in motion, our many climate protection measures against the standstill of the last decades are already showing an initial effect. But one thing is absolutely clear: we haven’t reached our goal yet. For a climate-friendly future in particular, more initiatives are needed for climate protection.”
NGOs call for a climate protection law
The development of emissions is worrying for the environmental protection organization Greenpeace. Greenpeace announced that Austria was still a long way from the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2040. The federal government must implement the long overdue climate protection law. Greenpeace also called for an ambitious National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP) this year.
WWF Austria also called for the resolution of a large climate and nature conservation program. “Austria must systematically and permanently reduce its CO2 emissions. This requires fundamental reforms that cover all areas: from saving energy to better protection of valuable nature,” says WWF climate spokesman Thomas Zehetner. In order to achieve the EU targets for 2030 and climate neutrality in 2040, significantly more efforts are needed in all sectors.
The environmental organization Global 2000 called for a restart of domestic climate policy at both the federal and state levels. “The next step is the Renewable Heat Act for phasing out oil and gas heating and a significant improvement in the Energy Efficiency Act,” says Johannes Wahlmüller, climate and energy spokesman for Global 2000.
Gewessler: On the right track with “problem child traffic”
According to the latest report, emissions in the transport sector increased by 4.2 percent or 0.9 million tons compared to 2020 due to higher fuel sales. At the same time, as forecast in the near-term forecast (“NowCast”) from August 2022, a clearly positive change in traffic compared to the time before the pandemic was evident.
According to the Federal Environment Agency, emissions in 2021 fell by ten percent or 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2019. One is on the right track with the “problem child traffic”, but not yet there, said Gewessler. “The current trend must go much further down.”
VCÖ for speed reductions
The Verkehrsclub Österreich (VCÖ) still sees a lot of catching up to do on the road. Even if emissions from traffic have fallen recently, they would still be more than 50 percent higher than in 1990. “Significantly larger steps are needed,” says VCÖ expert Lina Mosshammer. Mobility offers both in urban areas and in rural areas – from expanded cycle paths to more public transport and shared taxis – must be expanded.
Speed reductions would have a great benefit with little effort: According to the Federal Environment Agency alone, 830,000 tons of CO2 per year can be avoided by speeding up to 80 instead of 100 on open country roads and 100 instead of 130 on motorways – also a central demand of climate activists of the “last generation”. .
Energy and industry biggest emitters
The largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2021 was the energy and industry sector, around 34.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent were emitted in this sector in 2021, compared to 2020 by two million tons or 6.3 percent more.
Emissions from industrial operations increased by 9.3 percent or 1.8 million tonnes, “mainly due to higher steel and pig iron production and higher production in the cement and refractory industries”. Emissions from energy companies fell by 1.4 percent or 0.1 million tonnes, which was mainly attributed to the decommissioning of the last Austrian coal-fired power plant in 2020.
Measures against dependence on oil and gas
Gewessler pointed out the dependence on oil and gas in domestic industrial and electricity production. “That is why we will cover our electricity needs 100 percent from wind, sun, water and biomass by 2030 and also switch our heat supply in Austria to climate-friendly alternatives,” announced the Environment Minister.
The increase in heating degree days by 12.5 percent compared to 2020 also increased greenhouse gas emissions in this area, namely by 12.6 percent to 9.1 million tons. In the agricultural sector, emissions in 2021 remained at almost the same level as in 2020 with around 8.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Downward trend in waste management continues
The decreasing trend of the last few years in waste management with a minus of 0.8 percent or 0.02 million tons of CO2 equivalent and for fluorinated gases with a decrease of 13.9 percent or 0.3 million tons of CO2 equivalent continued continue in 2021.
According to the Federal Environment Agency, the economic sectors that are not subject to European emissions trading achieved the applicable Austrian climate target in 2021 with emissions of 48.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in accordance with the target path for achieving the EU Effort Sharing Regulation.
Climate neutrality by 2050
The European Commission wants to become climate neutral by 2050 and thus reduce EU-wide emissions to zero by then. The goal is legally binding in the EU climate law. For Austria, the current ordinance provides for a 36 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (outside emissions trading) by 2030 compared to 2005.
