Climate law under pressure: Where is the protection of our environment?

Climate law under pressure: Where is the protection of our environment?

The draft law for a new climate law in Austria, which was leaked on August 24, 2025, is a greatly reduced version of its predecessor from the turquoise green era. Initiated by Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Tettschnig (ÖVP), the law is no longer referred to as a "climate protection law", but as a "climate law". This indicates a fundamental departure of binding measures that were previously proposed. The draft does not contain any fixed regulations for individual sectors and only has half as many content as the previous document, which raises questions about the seriousness of climate policy. The Ministry confirms that there is currently no coordinated law proposal for the triple coalition.

In the previous discussion about the Climate Protection Act, important key points and regulations, which the former Minister Leonore Gewessler were initiated, have been deleted without replacement. These include:

• Regeln zur internationalen Klimafinanzierung.
• Rechtsschutz gegen unzureichende Klimapolitik.
• Institutionen wie der „Klimarat der Bürgerinnen und Bürger“.
• Ein Plan zur Vermeidung des milliardenteuren Zertifikatekaufs bei Verfehlung der EU-Klimaziele.

Instead, a steering group is planned in the new design, which should prepare the certificate purchase. It remains unclear whether a rapid agreement within the coalition (ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS) can be achieved before the legislative proposal goes into the public assessment. 5min Also reports that environmentalists and scientists have been demanding binding goals for the individual sectors for years.

Comparison to German climate policy

In contrast to Austria, Germany has defined clear and binding climate goals with its Federal Climate Protection Act (KSG) introduced in 2019. With the amendment, which was decided on May 12, 2021, the reduction path for greenhouse gas emissions was increased from 55% to 65% by 2030. Germany aims to be a greenhouse gas -neutral by 2045 and has already invested 9 billion euros in the conversion of the energy industry in order to gradually end coal power generation and the use of nuclear power. These measures show the determination of Germany to take on an active role in climate protection and to make a tangible progress.

The amendment of the KSG also obliges to set up binding sector goals and determine that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 88% by 2040. This strategy is characterized by market policy instruments such as CO2 prices and extensive support measures, including the support of efficient buildings and the decarbonization of the steel industry. Federal Ministry of Economics emphasizes that the successes in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy industry, industry and buildings are noteworthy with significant reduction in reduction.

Outlook and challenges

The challenges for future climate policy are considerable in both Austria and Germany. While Austria is hesitating for binding measures in the discussion, Germany has taken clear steps and is planning further initiatives for international cooperation in climate protection. The dialogue with companies and associations is intensified in order to adapt to the consequences of climate change. The Federal Government in Germany sees an acceleration of the expansion of renewable energies as necessary in order to achieve the climate goals. Federal Ministry of Economics emphasizes that effective carbon leakage protection is required to ensure the competitiveness of the German economy.