Climate dispute ended: Austria submits overdue climate plan!

Climate dispute ended: Austria submits overdue climate plan!

Austria has taken a significant step towards climate protection by terminating the European Commission's proceedings against the country due to a lack of a climate plan. The EU Commission has now officially closed the infringement proceedings against Austria 5min.at reported. Austria was originally obliged to submit an updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP) in June 2023, but only did so at the end of 2024 in the form of a final plan that was decided shortly before Christmas.

The dispute over the climate plan, in which the ÖVP and the Greens accused each other of delays, appears to be over. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) expressed optimism and emphasized that the NEKP would also help to reduce energy costs and achieve the EU climate targets by 2030. "A few years ago, some people dismissed our ambitions and goals as just dreams. Today it is clear: climate protection succeeds if you fight for it," says Gewessler. According to the statement from the climate ministry, the The press published, the plan envisages a reduction in CO2 emissions by 46 to 48 percent. The measures also include the abolition of climate-counterproductive subsidies and increased conversion of heating systems as well as the expansion of hydrogen production.

The plan is a direct response to the ongoing questions from the EU Commission, to which Austria has now responded. According to the climate protection minister, with this new plan, Austria is “now on track to achieve its climate target for the first time”, which can be seen as a great success after the coalition partners in the government had argued for a long time about the content. The conflicts between Gewessler and European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP) had led to extensive delays, while the final plan has now answered all necessary questions and made technical changes.