Climate report 2024: Heat, floods and unchecked change!

Climate report 2024: Heat, floods and unchecked change!

The climatic status report 2024, published on behalf of the climate and energy fund and all nine federal states, shows alarming data about the climatic changes in Austria. According to Vol.at was 2024 the most warmest year since the start of the records, with an average temperature of 8.8 degrees Celsius, which corresponds to a deviation of +3 degrees to the climate agent from 1961 to 1990.

The extreme weather conditions of the year included both extreme heat waves and devastating floods, which demanded a total of six fatalities and caused high damage in billions of bills. The record number of tropical nights and the longest documented heat period was particularly striking. In the summer of 2024, Vienna experienced 52 days with temperatures above 30 degrees, while September recorded the highest amount of precipitation in measuring history.

hot days and climate change

The Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) predicts that the temperatures in Austria could increase by up to five degrees by 2100, whereby the number of heat days will also increase. The current status is that there are an average of around 40 heat days per year, this number could increase to 60 to 80 heat days. This represents a clear relocation, because between 1961 and 1990 the average was only 5 to 11 heat days per year, as miss

In addition, the number of heavy rainy days will increase, while lighter precipitation becomes less common. These changes not only promote the risk of flooding, but also endanger agricultural production, which could affect the income and the quality of the harvest.

consequences for the environment and society

The climate change phenomenon already has a massive impact on the environment in Austria. The melt of the Austrian glaciers is progressing; They lose around one meter ice thickness every year. The Pasterze, Austria's largest glacier, could have disappeared completely by 2060. According to oesterreich.gv.at is the development of the climate very worry and requires urgent measures to combat the climate wall.

The consequences of climate change are diverse: from agricultural crop failures to the increase in extreme events such as storms, drought and forest fires. The popular winter sports regions are particularly at risk because the snow covering in deeper layers will be drastically removed. A stable snow cover will only be possible at high altitudes over 1,500 to 2,000 meters, which could significantly reduce the attractiveness of the mountain regions.

Overall, the challenges due to climate change require an immediate reaction. The report calls for increased climate protection and adaptation measures. In order to counteract the progressive changes, research results, recommendations for action and best practice examples are essential. The need to comply with the Paris Agreement to reduce climate consequences is undeniable.