Austria
Austria Country Profile (World Bank)
Status under International Climate Change Law
- UNFCCC: signature (June 8, 1992) and ratification (February 28, 1994)
- Kyoto Protocol: signature (April 29, 1998) and ratification (May 31, 2002)
- Quantified emission limitation or reduction commitment: 13% reduction in annual emissions below the 1990 base year levels in the commitment period 2008–2012
- Vienna Convention: signature (September 16, 1985) and ratification (August 19, 1987)
- Montreal Protocol: signature (August 29, 1988) and ratification (May 3, 1989)
- LRTAP: signature (November 13, 1979) and ratification (December 16, 1982)
- Energy Charter: signature (December 17, 1994) and ratification (August 12, 1997)
- Energy Efficiency Protocol: signature (December 17, 1994) and ratification (August 12, 1997)
- Espoo Convention: signature (February 26, 1991) and ratification (July 27, 1994)
- 2030 Commitment: 40% domestic reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by 2030, to be fulfilled jointly by European Union member states (16% reduction in domestic emissions below 2005 levels by 2020, in accordance with Decision No. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and Council)
- INDC summary – includes LULUCF and gases covered (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions 2015)
- INDC summary – includes adaptation and conditions for implementation (Climate Policy Observer 2016)
Federal Laws on Climate Change
Climate
- Climate and Energy Fund Act (2007, amended 2009) [German]
- Climate Protection Act (2011, amended 2015) [German]
- Gas Emissions Certificate Act (2011, amended 2015) [German]
- Gas Emissions Allowance Act (2004, amended 2004) [German]
Air protection
- Federal Air Pollution Control Act (2002) [German]
- Upper Austria Air Pollution Control and Energy Technology Law (2002) [German]
Energy
- Electricity Act– ElWOG 2010 (2010) [German]
- Energy Efficiency Act (2014) [English]
- Green Electricity Act (2012) [German]
- Natural Gas Sector Act – GWG 2011 (2011) [German]
- Upper Austria Electricity and Electricity Organization Law (2006) [German]
Forests and Land Use
- Upper Austria Forestry Rights Law (2007) [German]
- Upper Austria Land Use Planning Law (1994) [German]
- Lower Austria Agricultural Land Protection Law (1982) [German]
- Forestry Act (1975) [German]
- Forestry Law (2007) [German]
Environmental Impact Assessment
- Environmental Impact Assessment Act 2000 – UVP-G 2000 (2000) [English and German]
Other
- Environmental Support Act (1993) [German]
- Environmental Promotion Act (1993) [German]
- Federal Constitutional Act on sustainability, animal protection, comprehensive environmental protection, on water and food security as well as research (2013) [German]
- Lower Austria Environment Protection Law (1985) [German]
- Upper Austria Environment Protection Law (1996) [German]
- Upper Austria Disaster Protection Law (2007) [German]
National Plans, Programs and Initiatives
- Climate Strategy (2002)
- Energy Strategy (Federal Ministry of Economy, Family, and Youth) (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) (2010)
- The Austrian Strategy for Adaption to Climate Change (2012)
Local, State, and Regional Legislation and Initiatives
- European Union Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) (2015)
- EU Adaptation Strategy Package (European Commission)
- European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate ADAPT)
- 2020 Climate & Energy Package (European Commission) (2007)
- Decision No. 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and Council of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the effort of Member States to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Community’s greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments up to 2020 (European Parliament and Council) (2009)
- Directive 2010/31/EU of The European Parlaiment and of The Council of 19 May 2010 on the energy performance of buildings (European Parliament and Council) (2010)
- Directive 2012/27/EU of The European Parlaiment and of The Council of 25 October 2012 on energy efficiency(European Parliament and Council) (2012)
- European Union Trading Scheme (EU ETS) (European Commission)
Government Documents
- 2014 Annex I Party GHG Inventory Submissions
- National Inventory Report (2014) [English]
- Common Reporting Format (2014) [English]
- Sixth National Communication under the UNFCCC (2014) [English]
- Second Biennial Report to the UNFCCC (2015) [English]
Additional Resources
- Database for Adaptation Activities in Austria (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management) (2014) [German]
- Climate change – Austria (Climate Change Post)
- Austria Climate change impacts on water systems (OECD Secretariat) (2013)
- Austria Republic (Europe’s Energy Portal)
- EU Country Profile (Climate Action Tracker) (2015)
Updated as of: May 9, 2016