Current greenhouse gas balance for 2023 shows a decrease of 6.5%
The decline in emissions of climate-damaging greenhouse gases (GHG) is continuing in Austria. This is confirmed by the greenhouse gas inventory for 2023, which was presented yesterday by the Federal Environment Agency. It shows a decrease in emissions of 6.5% compared to 2022. According to the greenhouse gas inventory, a large part of the decrease is due to climate protection measures and the expansion of renewable energies.
Key facts at a glance
- According to detailed calculations by the Federal Environment Agency, GHG emissions in 2023 have fallen by 6.5% compared to 2022.
- This corresponds to a reduction of around 4.8 million tonsof CO2 equivalent.
- Overall, emissions of around 68.6 million tons in 2023 will be below 70 million tons for the first time.
Causes of the decline
- To a small part the decline results from
- economic influences (GDP minus 1% compared to 2022),
- persistently high prices for fossil energy and
- from the mild weather in 2023 (3.1% fewer heating degree days than in 2022).
- The Large part of the decline in emissions is
- on climate protection measures and
- the increased use of renewable energy.
This is shown both by calculations by the Federal Environment Agency and a corresponding analysis by the Wegener Center.
"The current inventory confirms the trend of recent years: Austria's greenhouse gas emissions are falling. In order to continue on this path, it is necessary to consistently implement further measures. Climate protection is not only a must in order to avoid fines, but also an economic driver."
GHG reduction by sector
In 5 of the 6 areas there were the following reduction values compared to 2022
- Transport: minus 3.9% - mainly due to a decline in diesel sales, particularly in freight transport
- Buildings: minus 13.7% - due to conversions to climate-friendly heating systems and persistently high energy prices
- Agriculture: -1.3%
- F-gases: -4,7%
- Energy and industry sector: - 10% due to reduced natural gas consumption
Only in the waste management sector did emissions increase by 1% in 2023, contrary to the long-term trend, due to higher emissions from waste incineration.
Decline in emissions trading as well
For the energy and industrial companies that are assigned to emissions trading (ETS sector), the current greenhouse gas balance sheet of the Federal Environment Agency shows a significant reduction of 8.3% (around 2.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent) for 2023.
The reasons for this are
- The decline in electricity generation in gas-fired power plants
- Production declines in the steel, cement, paper and chemical industries
Reactions from environmental organizations
Greenpeace and GLOBAL 2000 are calling on the new government to urgently take further measures towards climate neutrality. Both see a danger in the austerity plans presented that the climate targets will not be achieved and that Austria could face fines in the billions.
"Climate protection is definitely the wrong place to save money"
Hannah Keller, Climate & Energy Spokesperson GLOBAL 2000
In her opinion, the comprehensive expansion of public transportation, the consistent abandonment of oil and gas - for example in heating systems - and the end of climate-damaging subsidies should be pushed instead. The latter point would also represent an effective savings measure. Up to 5.7 billion euros could be raised by reforming climate-damaging subsidies such as kerosene tax exemptions or diesel privileges.
As a conclusion and outlook, the Federal Environment Agency writes that consistent implementation of the measures set out in the National Energy and Climate Plan is required in order to achieve the climate targets by 2030. Austria must reduce its emissions by 48% by 2030 compared to 2005 in order to avoid penalties running into billions. We urgently need effective climate protection measures at both national and international level to drastically reduce GHG emissions and curb the climate crisis, because globally we are still on the wrong track and the changes were already massively noticeable everywhere by 2024.
