Environmental Control Report Shows Major Challenges and Positive Trends
Every three years, the Environmental Control Report is prepared by the Environment Agency Austria, assessing the state of the environment in Austria. The 14th edition covers the period from July 2022 to June 2025. The report highlights that Austria is on a good path in some key environmental areas despite all criticism.
Environmental Control Report: Clean Air and Water in Austria
The air is cleaner than ever since the beginning of measurements, the waters are consistently in good to very good condition, biodiversity areas in agriculture are increasing, and about one-third of the country's area is under protection. Greenhouse gas emissions have also significantly decreased in recent years. In 2023, emissions were almost a quarter below the 2005 level.
"Where measures are implemented, there is demonstrable impact," said Hildegard Aichberger, Managing Director of the Environment Agency Austria. She also assumed that the trend of decreasing emissions will continue despite the government's reduction in subsidies. "The goal now is to find sweet spots, how much do I still need to subsidize a measure for it to be implemented," said Aichberger.
Climate Change and Biodiversity as Central Challenges
According to the report, climate change and biodiversity remain the central challenges in Austria. The years 2022, 2023, and 2024 were the warmest on record, with the average temperature in 2024 being 3.1 degrees above the long-term average. This leads to increased heat stress, higher wildfire risk, more frequent extreme weather events, and accelerated glacier melting. Austria is relying on a national adaptation strategy for countermeasures - municipalities and regions are directly supported, while investments are made in flood protection.
According to the report, the loss of biodiversity remains a problem in Austria. Despite implemented protection measures, factors such as land consumption, transport infrastructure, climate change, and intensive land use continue to be the main causes of the decline of many species. However, the report also notes positive developments: around 30 percent of the country's area is now under protection, with nearly three percent designated as national parks.
The actors were aware that savings are also being made in environmental protection. Jürgen Schneider, head of the Environment and Climate Section in the Ministry of the Environment, warned against easing efforts. "An intact nature is the basis for our prosperity. Moreover, measures in climate protection or circular economy as well as innovations increase our competitiveness and economic resilience," said Schneider.
Environmental Control Report: Criticism from the Greens and Environmental NGOs
Lukas Hammer, environmental spokesperson for the Greens, saw the 2025 Environmental Control Report as a "clear wake-up call": Austria's environment remains under massive pressure despite positive developments in recent years due to the Greens' participation in government - from the ongoing land consumption to the loss of biodiversity to the increasingly severe impacts of the climate crisis. He was particularly critical of plans for large projects like the Lobau motorway: "Anyone who still wants to build new motorways in 2025 has not understood the signs of the times."
There was naturally criticism from environmental NGOs as well. Global 2000 emphasized the need for a rapid mobility shift away from motorized individual transport to achieve climate goals. The WWF called for a comprehensive nature conservation offensive by the federal government: "Instead of sugarcoating the situation," an effective action program is needed, as too little has been invested so far in the protection and restoration of biodiversity.
(APA/Red)
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