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Climate protection law in criticism: Gewessler warns of the declaration of bankruptcy!
Environment Minister Totchnig presents a criticized draft for a climate law that leaves central goals and sector goals. Gewessler warns of negative consequences for the climate and economy.
Climate protection law in criticism: Gewessler warns of the declaration of bankruptcy!
On August 24, 2025, a new draft for a climate law in the Ministry of Norbert Tettschnig, published by the ÖVP environment minister. This draft, which is perceived as a significant step backwards in climate protection Leonore Gewessler, the club chairwoman of the Greens, sharply criticized. It described him as a "climate -political bankruptcy declaration", since essential goals, including the goal of climate neutrality by 2040, are not mentioned in the draft law.
The draft was presented as much shorter than previous versions and dispensed with central climate goals. Important content such as the "climate of citizens" as well as regulations on international climate finance have also been deleted. Instead, there is primarily focusing on the fulfillment of the EU climate goals, which require an emission reduction of 48 % by 2030 compared to 2005.
Criticism of the missing sector goals
A central concern of Gewessler is the lack of binding sector goals in the new draft law. This, she emphasizes, are crucial to achieve current and future climate goals. Without these binding goals and possible sanctions, a law does not consider it unacceptable. Gewessler also warns of possible negative effects on the economy and the labor market, such as the loss of jobs and the risk that competitive disadvantages arise.
In Totschnig's draft, the government is to decide on a so -called "climate timetable" by the end of October 2026. However, this plan will not be legally binding. In the draft, the sector goals are only determined as "indicative", which significantly reduces the assertiveness and the seriousness of the project. An advisory, voluntary climate margin is to be set up, but it is not ordered directly by the university conference, but by a political steering group.
Effects on Austria's climate goals
Austria faces the challenge of acting in accordance with the EU's climate goals. These include a comprehensive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20% by 2020 and a tightening for 2030, which requires a net reduction of 55% compared to 1990. In this context, failure to meet EU climate targets could result in fines worth billions, which would have to be offset by purchasing climate protection certificates from abroad. The previous climate goals, which called for net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045, seem to have become a distant reality under the current political draft.
In summary, it can be seen that the current draft for Norbert Tettschnig's climate law not only has violent criticism at Leonore Gewessler, but also with many experts and environmentalists. Your concerns about the missed climate goals and possible damage for future generations do not seem to be unfounded, while pressure on the government is growing to take effective measures to combat climate change.