The greenhouse gas budget for Austria presented in the Reference Climate Plan of Science (Ref-NEKP), with an exemplary target pathway for emissions reduction towards climate neutrality in 2045, is here updated and refined to provide science-based input for upcoming climate protection legislation. In line with the goal of "climate neutrality 2040", a remaining total budget for Austria from 2021 of a maximum of 700 MtCO2eq is available, with a partial budget for 2021–2030 of a maximum of 550 MtCO2eq. The climate protection target pathway consistent with this budget requires a reduction of an average of 4.5 MtCO2eq per year up to 2030, and thereafter – drawing on potentials that are already somewhat harder to realise at lower emission levels – of 3.4 MtCO2eq per year from 2031 to 2040.
In autumn 2019, the scientific community presented the Reference Plan as the basis for a scientifically sound National Energy and Climate Plan for Austria (Ref-NEKP) aligned with the Paris climate goals, developed by over seventy experts in climate research and transformation research. This climate plan sets out how Austria can make its contribution to achieving the Paris climate goals, limit the high costs of inaction, and successfully transition to a nearly greenhouse gas emission-free and climate-resilient economy and society.
Press coverage:
So wird Österreich klimaneutral: Grazer Forscher legen Plan bis 2040 vor (derstandard.at, 10.10.2020)
Null Tonnen CO2 bis 2040? Grazer Forscher zeigen, was es dafür braucht (kurier.at, 09.10.2020)
Erstmals wissenschaftliches CO2-Budget für Österreich: Klimavolksbegehren fordert Umsetzung! (ots.at, 09.10.2020)