Free Climate Ticket for 18-Year-Olds Faces Cancellation

The cancellation of the free climate ticket for 18-year-olds (KTÖ18) was already planned during the failed talks between ÖVP and FPÖ. On Thursday, it was announced that the turquoise-red-pink federal government is abolishing the free option, reported the "Tiroler Tageszeitung" (TT). On Friday evening, the Ministry of Transport confirmed the end of the free "KTÖ18" via a press release.

Ministry Confirms End of Free Climate Ticket for 18-Year-Olds

"In the interest of budget consolidation, extensive savings measures are required. The federal government has therefore discontinued the free ClimateTicket Ö for 18-year-olds as part of necessary savings," the press release stated. The department of Peter Hanke (SPÖ) justified this by stating that experts had criticized the offer introduced by the ÖVP-Green coalition in July 2024 as "insufficiently targeted." Only 25,000 18-year-olds had taken advantage of the offer nationwide, according to the Ministry of Transport. "The usage rate is thus around a quarter and fell short of expectations," it said. "Already issued ClimateTicket Ö 18 remain valid until the printed date. The discounted ClimateTicket Ö Youth is available for all under 26 years at a price of 884.20 euros or less than 2.50 Ꞓ per day."

Regulation for End of Free Climate Ticket for 18-Year-Olds Already Completed

Previously, the "Tiroler Tageszeitung (TT)" reported in its Friday edition about a regulation already completed in the Ministry of Mobility. From this, it was initially stated in a statement to the APA that, on the one hand, the budget figures published yesterday underline the need for consolidation agreed upon by the federal government - likewise, each department must also contribute. "The abolition of the free KTÖ18 is one of the measures where savings potential was identified. Should this step be taken, the Ministry of Mobility will provide comprehensive information." In the evening, the confirmation came.

In the TT, the Tyrolean NEOS state spokesman and National Council member Dominik Oberhofer commented on the free climate ticket introduced by the then Minister of Transport Leonore Gewessler (Green), stating that nearly 15 million euros have been spent on it since 2024. It is clear that such "financial perks" will no longer be possible with such a strained federal budget in the future.

Greens Criticize Planned End of Free Climate Ticket for 18-Year-Olds

The current climate protection spokesperson for the Greens naturally reacted with criticism to these plans. The government is taking away "a large piece of freedom" from young people in Austria at Easter, said Gewessler. The KTÖ18 was an investment in a good future to sustainably inspire young people for public transport and climate protection. "While there is still money for the billion-dollar grave Lobau highway and the subsidization of foreign hauliers with the diesel privilege, the government is saving precisely on the youth. I think that's wrong," Gewessler stated in a statement.

(APA/Red)

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