From 2022 to 2024, the volume of climate-damaging gases fell by 15 per cent. For 2025, an initial estimate by the Umweltbundesamt shows a rise of 1.5 per cent once again.
"The first assessments suggest that in 2025 there will be a slight increase in greenhouse gas emissions of one and a half per cent," said Environment Minister Totschnig (ÖVP) on Wednesday, speaking to journalists. "We see the reasons for this primarily in the area of emissions trading." On one hand, heating demand was higher due to colder winter months. "On top of that, there was around a quarter less renewable electricity production," Totschnig explained. The main reason for this was run-of-river power plants that could not operate at full capacity due to low water levels. To fill the gap, gas-fired power plants had to supply more electricity.

This signals a turning point in the greenhouse gas balance. Whilst emissions had fallen by a total of 15 per cent between 2022 and 2024, last year saw an increase once again.

Read the full article here: Der Standard