Free Climate Ticket for 18-Year-Olds: Budget Not Exhausted

In 2024, about 17,000 free climate tickets (KTÖ18) were used. According to the ministry, approximately 89,000 people are eligible each year. The regular climate ticket for young people (up to 25 years old) has cost 884.20 euros since the turn of the year. Previously, the price was 821 euros. This results in costs of about 14 million euros for the past year. To reach 120 million, about 136,000 tickets would have to be issued at the new price.

Free Climate Ticket Can Be Collected for Three Years

The KTÖ18 was introduced on 1.7.2024. Everyone who turned or will turn 18 from 1.1.2024 and has a residence in Austria is eligible. The free ticket is valid for one year - the start can be freely chosen between the 18th and one day before the 21st birthday. As a result, the number of eligible people continues to increase in the first three years. Even those who did not redeem the ticket in 2024 could still do so in 2025. This group includes 72,000 people. In addition, there are again about 89,000 who will celebrate their 18th birthday in 2025. If they all redeemed a ticket, this would correspond to costs of around 142 million euros this year. How many would have actually done so, of course, remains open. The 120 million in the budget would be freed up by the abolition of the free climate ticket. Minus the expenses that would still be incurred up to an actual stop.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.