In the frantic search for solutions should Russia stop supplying gas to Europe and Austria, a project that was already halted in Austria ten years ago is once again being brought up for discussion. In recent weeks, reports have resurfaced in the media suggesting that serious and concrete consideration is being given at a political level to reviving plans for shale gas extraction ("fracking") by OMV in the Weinviertel region. In addition, the federal government has recently ordered the reactivation of an already decommissioned coal-fired power plant. In the age of advancing human-caused climate change, these plans would, from a scientific perspective, be neither ecologically nor economically justifiable.

The full exploitation and use of the estimated shale gas reserves in Austria could cover the annual gas consumption of 10 billion m³ for approximately 30 years. However, it's worth bearing in mind the enormous associated CO2 emissions of more than half a gigatonne (Gt) CO2 (for comparison: Austria's current annual emissions are approximately 0.08 Gt CO2). In particular, the release of large quantities of methane during this process drives climate change, as methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than, for example, carbon dioxide. While Austria's gas needs would more than be met, the price for the environment would be enormous and the goal of climate neutrality would remain out of reach.

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