The section of the Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) responsible for climate and environmental protection drew up an initial paper in spring 2020 on the "most efficient economic instrument for the gradual establishment of true costs for CO2 emissions in sectors not subject to the EU ETS, e.g. through CO2 pricing via existing levies or a national emissions trading system". In this context, the BMK approached CCCA to ask knowledgeable colleagues to review this initial paper with regard to a scientifically grounded concept of "true costs". In full awareness that there can be no unambiguous answer as to what true costs are, and that every type of calculation requires assumptions, the BMK nonetheless needs a politically implementable statement.

Under the leadership of Helga Kromp-Kolb (BOKU), a core team was subsequently formed consisting of Hartmut Graßl, Mathias Kirchner (BOKU), Sigrid Stagl (WU Wien) and Karl Steininger (Uni Graz), which carried out the review. Further contributors were Michael Getzner (TU Wien), Claudia Kettner-Marx (Wifo), Gottfried Kirchengast (Uni Graz), Angela Köppl (Wifo), Ina Meyer (Wifo), Mark Sommer (Wifo) and Isabella Uhl-Hädicke (Uni Salzburg).

You can view the statement here: Statement by CCCA experts on the factsheet: "True Cost of CO2" by the BMK