Austria's fossil dependency: climate goals in danger!

Austria's fossil dependency: climate goals in danger!

Austrian climate policy is increasingly criticized. Elisabeth Götze, business spokeswoman for the Greens, demands faster action to meet the national and international climate goals. In a recent report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, it is made clear that global support plans for coal, oil and gas exceed the 1.5-degree destination by shocking 120 percent. These alarming findings are targeting Austria's export funding policy because it contributes to fossil overproduction and inhibits the transition to sustainable technologies, as [Oekonews] reports.

The EU countries already agreed to no longer support fossil projects with export liability. While other countries have got out of such practices, Austria remains behind the expectations. This backwardness is documented by a study by the Austrian Research Foundation for International Development.

Sustainable strategy failures

Austria's sustainability strategy allows the submission of new gas projects by 2030 and provides for numerous exceptions for the subsequent period. Götze criticizes that the scientific foundations for these deadlines are not durable and warns of possible lock-in effects. This could mean that coal, oil and gas projects may continue to be funded after 2030. In order to counteract this development, Götze plans a parliamentary request because it finds Austria as negligent in terms of international obligations in climate protection.

In addition, she calls for a revision of the sustainability strategy and active participation in international initiatives such as Export Finance for Future (E3F). Götze emphasizes that climate -friendly export promotion is not only ecologically sensible, but also economically necessary. Austria could also play a stronger role within Europe.

Global challenges and goals

Despite international progress, such as the agreements of Paris, the ambition gap in climate protection remains a significant problem. The worldwide demand for fossil fuels continues to increase, even if the production of renewable energies increases. A critical report describes that the 20 largest sponsors of fossil energies plan more than twice the volume of fossil production that would be necessary for an environmentally friendly scenario. The [WWF] appeals to the need for a quick exit from coal, oil and gas to limit global warming to well below two degrees.

In order to achieve the climate goals, the national climate contributions (NDCS) urgently need to be improved. The EU goal of reducing emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 is considered inadequate; The WWF demands an increase to at least 65 percent.

In summary, it turns out that Austria and the EU are in a decisive phase of climate policy. The path to a more sustainable and climate -friendly future requires a determined rethink in energy policy.