Climate crisis on the march: How Biomass can reduce Austria's CO2 emissions!

Climate crisis on the march: How Biomass can reduce Austria's CO2 emissions!

worldwide, the CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere increased alarming, with a record value of 423 ppm in 2024, as the Austrian Biomass Association and the Federal Environment Agency reported. This dangerous increase is a direct consequence of the combustion of fossil energy sources such as coal, oil and gas. These fossil fuels are not only responsible for 75 % of greenhouse gas emissions in Austria, but also contributed to serious global warming, which exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2024.

In the middle of this serious situation, the role of bioenergy comes to the fore. This technology enables fossil raw materials to be replaced with biogenic materials, which not only reduces the carbon content in the atmosphere, but also achieves negative emissions. A groundbreaking study by the University of Natural Resources Affairs Vienna and other institutions shows that the use of wood products and wood energy is not only climate -neutral, but can also actively withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere. According to the data of the Federal Environment Agency, the global CO2 concentration was 419.55 ppm in 2023, with the values have increased steadily in recent decades.

greenhouse gas emissions in the Alps

Austria has the potential to make a further decisive contribution to reducing CO2 emissions through innovative technologies such as BCCs (bioenergy with carbon separation and storage). This technology could generate 5 to 10 million tons of negative emissions annually by 2040. The urgency of replacing fossil fuels is underlined by reports on the persistently high emissions and the need to achieve the global climate goals. The national carbon Management strategy, which is to be launched in 2024, could pave the way for a new era of CO2 storage, as it cancel the ban on geological CO2 storage and creates a new legal framework.

The alarming development in global warming and the increasing content of greenhouse gases make it clear that immediate measures are necessary to protect the earth for future generations. As the follow -up dens show, a quick action would be essential to implement the target limitation of the temperature rise to less than two degrees Celsius.

The Austrian Biomass-Verband and The Federal Environment Agency offer comprehensive information about the current developments and solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.