Climate protection alarm: Government program receives bad testimony!

Climate protection alarm: Government program receives bad testimony!

Österreich - The current climate check of the government program of the three-person coalition from the ÖVP, SPÖ and Neos is mixed up to bad. According to the WWF, 21 examined areas, 12 were rated as weak and incomplete and 7 as clearly negative. Potential progress was only found in 2 areas. WWF climate spokesman Reinhard Uhrig criticizes that specific goals, schedules and budgets are missing. This leads to climate -damaging gaps and contradictions in the coalition pact.

The report is published at a time when the EU increasingly puts pressure on its Member States in order to achieve climate goals by 2030. According to the Federal Environment Agency, the EU is pursuing a comprehensive climate protection policy based on the reduction of environmental and climate-damaging activities. International framework conditions such as the UN framework and the Convention of Paris are crucial.

criticism and demands

The WWF calls for consistent climate protection measures for the business location of Austria and secure jobs. Positive feedback is available for a new attempt for a climate protection law and maintaining the goal of becoming climate -neutral by 2040. On the other hand, blind spots are criticized when saving energy and a delay in reducing environmentally harmful subsidies. Furthermore, the expansion of highways and expressways is considered problematic.

The ambiguity about the implementation of the EU goals by 2030 in the government program could result in a threatening compensation payment in billions in billions if there is no trend reversal. In addition to a rapid degradation of harmful subsidies, WWF recommends, among other things, a climate -friendly renovation package for buildings and greater protection of biodiversity.

comparison with Germany

In contrast to Austria, Germany put a new climate protection law into force in July 2024. This aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2045. The Federal Government has strengthened the independent expert council for climate issues in order to be able to act more forward -looking and effective in climate protection policy. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gases by 65 % by 2030 compared to 1990, which already resulted in a decline of over 10 % in 2023.

As part of the EU climate policy, the Member States are obliged to create national energy and climate protection plans. These should help to concretize emission reductions and the promotion of renewable energies. The EU itself is aiming for greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050 and has adopted a growth strategy to achieve the climate goals with the Green Deal.

In order to be successful in the long term, experts emphasize the need to create social acceptance for the energy transition. It remains to be seen how the Austrian government will react to the current challenges and whether there will be a change in climate policy. The progress in Germany could serve as an incentive to take decisive measures in Austria.