Climate for 18-year-olds: Free offer is deleted!

Climate for 18-year-olds: Free offer is deleted!

As part of the redesign of the climatic, the current government under the coalition of FPÖ and ÖVP has decided to abolish the free climatic for 18-year-olds. This decision was anchored in the government program of the three-way coalition, as reported by Krone . The free offer that the 18-year-old has been available in Austria since 2023 was not targeted and had only reached a usage rate of around 25% up to this point. So far, only about 25,000 of the approximately 89,000 beneficiaries had made use of this offer.

The Ministry of Mobility, under the direction of Peter Hanke (SPÖ), justifies the abolition with necessary austerity measures for budget consolidation. This is part of a larger plan to reduce expenses, which is to save a total of 120 million euros by 2025. Leonore Gewessler, the former Minister of Climate Protection, is outraged by these measures and described it as a restriction of the freedom of young people.

Financial background

The financial figures are significant: According to Dominik Oberhofer from the Neos, almost 15 million euros have been spent since the introduction of the free climatic coat in 2024, while the budgeted expenses of 120 million euros have not been fully exploited. Instead, the actual expenses amounted to around 14 million euros last year. This was a relative use of the budget, since the climate in 2024 was only used by a few.

Despite the upcoming abolition, the climatic Ö 18, which has already been issued, remain valid until the noted date. However, for less than 26-year-olds there is a reduced air conditioning climate, which can be acquired at a price of 884.20 euros, which corresponds to less than 2.50 euros per day.

effects and future developments

The government's decision is not only viewed critically by Gewessler, but also from other political voices. It is pointed out that the abolition takes place in a context of intensive savings measures and the need for budget consolidation. An authorized climatic climate for young people becomes the only option for many young people, while the possibility of free tickets for 18-year-olds are canceled.

The discussion about the climate is closely linked to the expectations and needs of young adults who rely on public transport. In 2025, far fewer young people could consider the benefits of public transport in 2025, which could possibly have an impact on use and public transport infrastructure in Austria. The government is now facing the challenge of communicating this decision and taking possible effects on the mobility of young people.