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Climate change in Austria
Global warming is affecting Austrian temperatures, weather, ecosystems and biodiversity. Since 1950 temperatures have risen by 1.8 °C, and in the past 150 years glaciers have melted, losing a significant amount of their volume. Changed precipitation patterns, increased temperatures, reduced snowfall, melting glaciers and more frequent extreme weather phenomenons, such as droughts, are expected effects from climate change. Ecosystems and biodiversity in Austria are facing changes due to increasing temperatures and the spread of thermophile species, heat and drought stress on animals and plants, an increase in alien and invasive species and an increase in pathogenic organisms and the spread of disease.
The Austrian economy is expected to be significantly affected by the effects of global warming, leading to costs of 4.2 to 5.2 billion Euros per year by the middle of the century. More frequent and intense weather events cause increasing costs for reconstruction and maintenance of infrastructure, fewer days with snow lead to a decline of overnight tourists in the winter, and a higher number of heat related health issues challenge the Austrian healthcare system.
To deal with the effects of global warming, mitigation efforts are being implemented from various directions. Politicians are planning to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest, as stated in the coalition agreement. As part of the European Union, Austria has to pursue efforts to reach the emission goals of the European Green Deal. Activists try to speed mitigation efforts up using petitions, campaigns and protests.
According to Austria's national energy and climate strategy to reach the demands of the Paris Agreement, Austria has planned a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 36% by 2030 in relation to 2005 levels. As part of the European Union, Austria is obliged to contribute to the EU's climate targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% until 2030 in comparison to 1990 levels, determined in the European Green Deal. In order to reach this goal, it has been proposed that Austria should increase its target to cut down emissions by 48% by 2030. Additionally, the Nehammer government (2021-2025) planned to bring Austria to carbon neutrality by 2040.
Austria has historically emitted 5.51 billion tons of CO2 as a result of burning of fossil fuels and cement production, contributing to a share of 0.32% of cumulative global CO2 emissions.
The following table shows Austria's greenhouse gas emissions in megatons of CO2 equivalents in past years, compared to the total EU27 and world emissions.
The table below shows the greenhouse gas emissions of Austria in tons of CO2 equivalents by capita in past years compared to the per capita emissions of the EU27 and the world.
As of 2020, increased energy demand in transportation and construction have contributed to emission growth in the years before. 28% of Austria's energy came from renewables, making Austria a top player in the field, with biofuels and hydropower being the most important renewable energy sources in Austria. Nuclear energy is not present in Austria, due to it being banned in the Austrian Constitution. In accordance with its goal to be carbon neutral in 2040, Austria is working to be completely dependent on renewable energy sources by 2030 – in 2018 this share had already been 77%. Austria closed its last coal power plant in 2020 and targets ending coal and oil-fired heating by 2035.
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Climate change in Austria
Global warming is affecting Austrian temperatures, weather, ecosystems and biodiversity. Since 1950 temperatures have risen by 1.8 °C, and in the past 150 years glaciers have melted, losing a significant amount of their volume. Changed precipitation patterns, increased temperatures, reduced snowfall, melting glaciers and more frequent extreme weather phenomenons, such as droughts, are expected effects from climate change. Ecosystems and biodiversity in Austria are facing changes due to increasing temperatures and the spread of thermophile species, heat and drought stress on animals and plants, an increase in alien and invasive species and an increase in pathogenic organisms and the spread of disease.
The Austrian economy is expected to be significantly affected by the effects of global warming, leading to costs of 4.2 to 5.2 billion Euros per year by the middle of the century. More frequent and intense weather events cause increasing costs for reconstruction and maintenance of infrastructure, fewer days with snow lead to a decline of overnight tourists in the winter, and a higher number of heat related health issues challenge the Austrian healthcare system.
To deal with the effects of global warming, mitigation efforts are being implemented from various directions. Politicians are planning to achieve climate neutrality by 2040 at the latest, as stated in the coalition agreement. As part of the European Union, Austria has to pursue efforts to reach the emission goals of the European Green Deal. Activists try to speed mitigation efforts up using petitions, campaigns and protests.
According to Austria's national energy and climate strategy to reach the demands of the Paris Agreement, Austria has planned a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of 36% by 2030 in relation to 2005 levels. As part of the European Union, Austria is obliged to contribute to the EU's climate targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% until 2030 in comparison to 1990 levels, determined in the European Green Deal. In order to reach this goal, it has been proposed that Austria should increase its target to cut down emissions by 48% by 2030. Additionally, the Nehammer government (2021-2025) planned to bring Austria to carbon neutrality by 2040.
Austria has historically emitted 5.51 billion tons of CO2 as a result of burning of fossil fuels and cement production, contributing to a share of 0.32% of cumulative global CO2 emissions.
The following table shows Austria's greenhouse gas emissions in megatons of CO2 equivalents in past years, compared to the total EU27 and world emissions.
The table below shows the greenhouse gas emissions of Austria in tons of CO2 equivalents by capita in past years compared to the per capita emissions of the EU27 and the world.
As of 2020, increased energy demand in transportation and construction have contributed to emission growth in the years before. 28% of Austria's energy came from renewables, making Austria a top player in the field, with biofuels and hydropower being the most important renewable energy sources in Austria. Nuclear energy is not present in Austria, due to it being banned in the Austrian Constitution. In accordance with its goal to be carbon neutral in 2040, Austria is working to be completely dependent on renewable energy sources by 2030 – in 2018 this share had already been 77%. Austria closed its last coal power plant in 2020 and targets ending coal and oil-fired heating by 2035.