BUND is investing 32 million euros for better flood protection in Austria

BUND is investing 32 million euros for better flood protection in Austria

In September 2024, there were severe rainfall in eastern Austria, which led to devastating flood events. St. Pölten was particularly affected, where 350 liters of rain per square meter fell within three days. This scorching weather conditions caused damage in the millions and led to the approval of extensive immediate measures. The Ministry of the Environment, under the direction of Minister Norbert Tettschnig (ÖVP), announced extensive investments to remedy damage. A total of 32.8 million euros flowed into flood protection, of which around 12.1 million euros are borne by the federal government. 5min reports that 251 event reports regarding the floods were registered throughout 2024.

The damage to the protective infrastructure amounted to around 56 million euros, with most of the damage occurring in Lower Austria. In this region, 94 of the 100 emergency measures approved were implemented. These measures include, among other things, the rehabilitation of breached dams and the repair of the Vienna River, as well as natural flood protection projects. In Vienna, investments of around 2 million euros are being made for six measures, while in Lower Austria over 10 million euros are being used for various projects.

The balance of flood protection

"We are drawing a positive balance," said Environment Minister Totchnig on September 25, 2025 when he balance the progress in flood protection. Since the devastating flood events in September 2024, public funds have been provided, and it is planned to increase the budget for flood protection to 96 million euros annually. Around 40 percent of this sum are intended for new projects, while the rest flows into current construction projects and maintenance measures. Ots highlights that extreme weather events are not only caused by natural cycles, but increasingly by climate change.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection (BMLUK) has launched an action program entitled “Future Flood Protection 2024+”. This includes technical protective measures as well as measures for ecological improvement. The aim of this program is to protect people, houses and businesses in the best possible way. In addition, an information campaign for self-precaution is being carried out, which is intended to raise the population's awareness of flood risks.

Climate change and flood events

The weather situation, which was responsible for the strong rainfall, results from a combination of cold air from the Arctic and warm, humid air from the Mediterranean. Flood events in Austria, especially due to climate change, require sustainable solutions. Experts also emphasize the role of high soil sealing, which increases the risk of floods. In the course of the fight against climate change, Austria reduced the greenhouse gas emissions by 6.4 percent in 2023, which corresponds to a decline of 4.7 million tons of CO2 equivalents. Long -term solutions for flood protection include renaturation measures that are in 91 regions by the CLEAR! program be supported.

The combination of preventive measures, raising awareness among the population and adapting to changing climatic conditions represents an essential strategy in the fight against the increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events that are increasing not only in Austria, but also in Central and Eastern Europe.