If you want to stay up to date, you'll now find German-language media reports and other news about the AAR2 on the AAR2 website under News!
The Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change (Second Austrian Assessment Report, AAR2) was presented today at a press conference with Federal Minister Totschnig and the report's scientific steering committee, with strong attendance from Austrian media. The report represents the most comprehensive scientific work on climate change in Austria to date.
In cooperation with and supported by the Climate Change Centre Austria (CCCA), the report was developed by around 200 scientists from various disciplines, coordinated in an interdisciplinary manner, and reviewed to the highest scientific standards. The AAR2 is aligned with the standards, methodology, and ambition of the international reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is a product of the Austrian Panel on Climate Change (APCC) – the national counterpart to the IPCC – which is hosted under the umbrella of CCCA.
The AAR2 provides a detailed analysis of the current climate situation in Austria and examines the impacts of climate change on the environment, society, and the economy. The findings are based on an extensive collection of around 5,000 studies compiled in a comprehensive literature database.
The current report covers the following chapters:
- Physical and ecological manifestations of climate change in Austria
- Climate change, land use, ecosystem services, and health
- The built environment and mobility
- Provision of goods and services in a climate-resilient economy
- Transformation of demand
- Political, legal, economic, and societal aspects of climate governance
- The Austrian Alps as a multi-dimensional area of consideration
- Transformation pathways
Key figures for the AAR2:
- Around 200 scientists, including authors, TSU, Chapter Scientists, and Review Editors, contributed to the report.
- The authors come from more than 50 universities and research institutions.
- Over 100 external reviewers were involved in the multi-stage review process to ensure the quality and validity of the content.
- The report comprises around 800 pages of summaries and chapters covering the key findings and recommendations.
- The ACRP project ran for over three years, whilst the total duration from the APCC scoping process and project application through to publication took around five years.
The AAR2 is an indispensable tool for policymakers, scientists, and the general public to better understand the challenges of climate change in Austria and to develop appropriate measures.
The full report is now available in German and English at https://aar2.ccca.ac.at/de – including messages from Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig.
Accompanying the publication, a comprehensive science communication package has been developed. This includes short videos addressing key topics from the report, several podcast episodes featuring authors, a live recording with the Science Busters, as well as targeted additions and updates on Wikipedia. In addition, coordinated social media activities by CCCA are under way. Public events in collaboration with various partner organisations are also being planned.
You'll find the latest information on these formats and dates on the AAR2 website under the "News" and "Public Outreach" sections: https://aar2.ccca.ac.at/de
