Climate Change

Vienna's Air As Good As Never Before

Even without the lockdown, Vienna would have had a decent year with regard to air quality. Due to the city's investment into climate protective measures in the recent years, the pollution level has decreased and has lead to the best air quality since measurements began 50 years ago.

December 29, 2020

Austria Ranks Fifth in Share of Renewable Energy Sources

In a newly published report by the European statistics office Eurostat, Austria is one of the most environmental-friendly EU member countries with regard to energy sources. Austria ranks fifth in a statistics that gathers data about the share of renewable energy sources in the total gross energy consumption of a country.

December 21, 2020

65th Anniversary of Austria's UN Membership

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Austria's UN membership, Foreign Minister Schallenberg underlines the importance of the cooperation between the member countries, especially in times like these. He stresses that Austria will continue to do everything in its power to maintain and enhance the functioning international cooperation.

December 15, 2020

Share of E-Cars in New Registrations Exceeds 10 Percent

For the first time ever, electronic cars made up more than 10 percent of the new registrations of motor vehicles. Although the numbers of new registered vehicles is far lower compared to last year, the e-mobility sector has seen an obvious increase in numbers over the recent months.

December 11, 2020

New European Climate Target: Kurz and Gewessler Delilghted

The European Council has agreed on a new climate target for 2030. The member states want to decrease annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent and also take other steps on their path to climate neutrality until 2050. Austria's Chancellor Kurz and Minister Gewessler are pleased with the agreement.

December 11, 2020

European Council: Kurz Hopes for Rapid Approval of Vaccine

Prior to the European Council, Austria's Chancellor Kurz hopes for a rather fast approval process of a Covid-19 vaccine and is looking forward to a succession of close cooperation between the EU and the United States. Other relevant topics for the Council will be sanctions for Turkey, Brexit negotiations, EU climate targets, and the joint fight against terrorism.

December 10, 2020

WKO and IV: Need for "Climate Protection with Common Sense"

The heads of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demand appropriate framework conditions for climate-friendly behavior instead of the race for ever higher climate targets. Both Secretary Generals want "climate protection with common sense".

December 10, 2020

Selmayr Visits Van der Bellen

Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Austria, Martin Selmayr, visited Austria's Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen prior to the upcoming European Council. The two politicians discussed current issues in Europea including the Covid-19 pandemic, the relations with the United States and the Brexit negotiations with the United Kingdom.

December 9, 2020

Europe-Wide Innovation Award Goes to Wiener Linien

The Europe-wide Innovation in Politics Award 2020 goes to the research project RemiHub, coordinated, among others, by Wiener Linien and the Vienna University of Technology. RemiHub focuses on the urban parcel delivery and was already tested for different delivery services in Vienna.

December 3, 2020

Austria's Top Managers Launch Economy4Future Initiative

Some of Austria's top managers have launched the economy4future initiative, which focuses on the fight against climate change. The campaign wants to promote dialogue between big companies and young people in order to better shape the economic future in harmony with the resources of the planet.

November 26, 2020

New Viennese City Government Announced

The Social-Democratic Party (SPOE) under the lead of current and future Mayor Michael Ludwig and The New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS) have finished their negotiations to present a new city government for Vienna. The cornerstones of the program include an emphasis on education, the fight against climate change and a good health care system.

November 16, 2020

Austrian Railways: EUR 17.5 Billion of Investment Until 2026

The railway system in Austria will see impactful investments in the near future. Due to a package of around EUR 17.5 billion until 2026, the Federal Government together with Austrian Railways (ÖBB) will try to make travelling and transporting by rail even more attractive to customers.

October 20, 2020

EU Council: Kurz Demands Better Coordination of Restrictions

At the EU Council of the heads of state and government, Chancellor Kurz demands better coordination of travel restrictions, quarantine periods and testing with regard to Covid-19. Other topics on the agenda were the Brexit negotiations, foreign relations, and climate protection.

October 16, 2020

Environmental Support Act: 1 Billion for Climate Protection Support until 2022

The National Council is in favor of a budget increase dedicated to climate protection. In detail, the Environment Committee wants to raise the amount of funding to EUR 1 billion by 2022 which will be invested in biogenic heating networks, renovation of buildings and other measures.

September 17, 2020

Austrian World Summit 2020 Was a Success

The Austrian World Summit 2020 was held in a mixture of analog and digital setting due to Covid-19, yet starred international personalities that all highlighted the importance of sustainability and the fight against climate change.

September 17, 2020

Climate Protection Minister Presents Measures Against Plastic Flood

Climate Protection Minister Gewessler announces a three-point plan to tackle Austria's plastic waste. These measures include a deposit system, a producer's levy and a reusable quota.

September 7, 2020

EU Supports Young Researchers with EUR 677 Million

The European Commission is providing a total of EUR 677 million to over 400 recipients of a "Starting Grant" from the European Research Council. Eleven of the selected junior researchers are conducting research at Austrian institutions.

September 4, 2020

Climate and Energy Goals: Additional Measures Will Be Needed for Austria

Austria's Ministry for Climate Protection recognizes the need for additional protective measures in order to meet the climate targets established by the European Union. An increases of investments in sustainable ideas is demanded.

September 3, 2020

Industry at Alpbach Technology Talks: Austria's Federation of Industries Demands to Start the Technology Offensive Now

The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (Industriellenvereinigung) Georg Knill used the European Forum Alpbach to underline the importance of research, technology and innovation for a wealthy future economy.

August 28, 2020

What Should We Do About Climate Change?

Young scientists from all research disciplines will meet at IST Austria - Institute of Science and Technology in Klosterneuburg to discuss the significant question: "The climate is changing – what can we do?"

February 7, 2020

Schallenberg Met UN Secretary General Guterres

UN Secretary-General Guterres met with Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

February 6, 2020

Vienna Energy Forum 2020 as a Hub for Innovative and Sustainable Energy Solutions

During high-level talks at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25), Maria Patek, Austria's Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism, announced the hosting of the Vienna Energy Forum (VEF) 2020.

December 11, 2019

OECD Economic Survey: Reform Proposals for Austria

A recent economic report by the OECD (Economic Surveys: Austria 2019) examines the impact of weak foreign demand, uncertainties in world trade and an ageing population on the prospects for the Austrian economy.

November 15, 2019

Further Increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Austria

Environmental control report calls for increased investment in climate-neutral economy and society. Climate neutrality requires change in the economy and society.

October 16, 2019

Diplomatic Academy: Diplomacy is Profoundly the Art of Dialogue

At the opening ceremony of the Diplomatic Academy's 2019/2020 academic year, National Council President Sobotka underlined the importance of dialogue in international relations.

October 3, 2019

Schallenberg: Human Rights are Simply Non Negotiable

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg addressed the UN General Assembly, stressing the need for enhanced international cooperation.

September 27, 2019

Austrian President and Chancellor at UN General Assembly

President Van der Bellen, Chancellor Bierlein, Environment Minister Maria Patek and activist Anika Dafert attended the 74th UN General Assembly in New York.

September 25, 2019

Inaugural Visit of the New Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Chalupka

The intertwining of climate change and justice as well as the responsibility of man and the Protestant Church before God were central points of the discussion.

September 10, 2019

The European Way: Meet the Team of Ursula von der Leyen

At the heart of the new Commission's work is the need to address the changes in climate, technology and demography that are transforming European societies and way of life. Von der Leyen has structured and presented her team according to these requirements. Read below where the 27 commissioners come from and what they represent.

September 10, 2019

Western Balkans: Meeting of Austria with the Heads of State of Croatia and Slovenia

Traditional meeting of the presidents of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Slovenia, Borut Pahor, and Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Croatian coastal town of Šibenik. The objective was more common EU foreign policy.

September 5, 2019

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová's First Visit to Vienna

The first visit of the newly elected Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová to Vienna led to Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlein.

September 2, 2019

Opening of the Salzburg Festival in the Context of the Climate Crisis

The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) is the world's most important festival of classical music and the performing arts. The opening speeches in 2019 were dominated by the themes of climate change and environmental protection. The keynote speaker was US director Peter Sellars.

July 30, 2019

Bregenz Festival: Austria's Artistic Showpiece all over the World

On the occasion of the opening of the Bregenz Festival 2019 (Bregenzer Festspiele) Alexander Van der Bellen reminded the audience that many challenges can only be solved together and with great efforts, and Alexander Schallenberg pointed out that the festival is like big multilateral meetings, where people from different backgrounds meet for a few days and exchange ideas.

July 22, 2019

Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg at EU Foreign Affairs Council for the First Time

In Luxembourg, Federal Minister Alexander Schallenberg represented Austria for the first time at the FAC Foreign Affairs Council and the Council of the European Union.

June 21, 2019

Cooperation of the Metropolises Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich

The three German-speaking cities of Hamburg, Vienna and Zurich want to cooperate more closely in their sustainable development within the framework of a city trialogue in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

June 12, 2019

Combat Climate Change - António Guterres' Remarks at the R20 Austrian World Summit

Because of climate change all around the world the sea level is rising, floods, drought, wildfires and extreme storms appear, and people are now losing their homes and being forced to migrate. Read what António Guterres had to say in Vienna after a trip to the South Pacific.

May 30, 2019

Kurz Met Bill Gates: "He is a Source of Inspiration"

Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met billionaire and Microsoft founder Bill Gates at the EU summit in Brussels. Gates was in Brussels this week to create a pilot fund that will invest €100 million in European companies working to stop climate change.

October 19, 2018

UNIDO: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals through Chemical Leasing

In 2004, with the support of the Government of Austria, UNIDO launched its Global Chemical Leasing Programme, promoting a business model that marks a paradigm shift from increasing the sales volume of chemicals toward a value-added approach. The fourth Global Chemical Leasing award ceremony will take place on 6 November 2018 in Vienna, Austria. It will be part of the Green Chemistry Conference 2018 within the Trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) programme, "Smart and Sustainable Europe", held during Austria's EU Presidency.

June 8, 2018

Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit 2018: Feedback of a Participant

At the Vienna Energy Forum and the R20 Austrian World Summit recently held in Vienna, Beatriz Mayor of IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis also participated, who shares her interesting insights as follows.

June 6, 2018

The Future of the EU: Europe Day Is To Be Given Greater Importance

On Europe Day, one pupil from each member state of the European Union came to the Hofburg for a discussion. More political education in schools and a more comprehensive climate policy are their main demands. "We are 20 percent of the population, but 100 percent of the future."

May 11, 2018
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