Environmental Policy

Greenpeace: 80% of Austrian Short-haul EU Flights are Substitutable by Train

According to a Greenpeace report, 80 percent of Austria's short-haul flights can be replaced by rail travel. For 53 percent of all top-30 short-haul flights within the EU, there are direct overnight train connections, the report states.

3 hours ago

Austria Opposes Further Expansion of Hungarian Nuclear Power Plant Paks II

All five Austrian parliamentary parties are opposed to the expansion of the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary due to serious safety concerns. The Environment Committee in parliament has unanimously called on the government to take all possible actions to oppose its construction. Read why Austria considers the power plant's expansion dangerous.

October 25, 2021

Are "Green Bonds" also Coming to Austria?

At the European Forum Alpbach, Austrian Finance Minister Gernot Blümel announced that Austria wants to issue a so-called "green bond" in the first half of 2022. The Ministry of Finance and Federal Financing Agency (OeBFA) have already completed the necessary technical work to issue the bonds. Read more about "green bonds" and Austria's plans to begin issuing them.

September 1, 2021

Miss Europe: The Most Beautiful Woman in Europe to be Crowned in Vienna

Some 30 beauties from 21 nations, including three finalists from Austria, are vying for the title of "Miss Europe".

August 17, 2021

World's Most Influential Climate Scientist Works in Research Institute Near Vienna

The Laxenburg-based research institute IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis is proud to announce that its Director of Energy, Climate and Environment, Keywan Riahi, has been ranked first on the Reuters Hot List of the Worlds Top Climate Scientists. In total, nine IIASA researchers made it onto the ranking of the 1,000 most influential scientists. Read about who these researchers are and why they made it onto the list.

May 13, 2021

Austria Continues to Invest In Bicycle Transportation

Austria's Ministry of Climate Protection continues to support the purchase of e-bicycles and transport bikes. Enterprises, associations and individuals will benefit from the increased subsidy amount and a reduction of value-added tax for bicycle repair services.

February 26, 2021

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

City of Vienna And Global 2000: Clean Drinking Water for Children From Chernobyl

The City of Vienna together with the environmental protection organization Global 2000 will provide another 15 drinking water purification systems that will be installed in the eastern Ukraine. These installations will provide fresh drinking water for thousand of children and their families.

November 17, 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

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

Official Visit of President of Hungary - Criticism of Expansion of Paks Nuclear Power Plant

President János Áder of Hungary paid an official visit to Austria. The main topic of discussion between Áder and Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen was climate protection.

February 25, 2019

Vienna is Europe's Greenest Capital City

A new study has ranked 25 of Europe’s capitals on 10 green factors to reveal the continent’s most eco-friendly capital cities. Vienna - how else could it be expected - has once again emerged as the number one.

January 30, 2019

Environment Day: The World Must Unite to Beat Plastic Pollution

The world is being ‘swamped’ by harmful plastic waste says United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, marking Environment Day. Microplastic particles in the ocean, now outnumber stars in our galaxy.

June 5, 2018

OSCE: Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Water Governance are Priorities

The experience and knowledge of local communities are crucial to effectively reduce the risks of disasters, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council Ambassador Vuk Žugić and OSCE Secretary General Ambassador Lamberto Zannier said today, on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

October 13, 2015

The Miss Earth Beauty Pageant is Coming to Vienna

Miss Earth, an annual international beauty pageant promoting environmental awareness is celebrating its 15th year in Vienna. Along with its rivals Miss Universe and Miss World, Miss Earth is one of the three largest beauty pageants in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions to participate in the world finals and one of the most publicized beauty contests in the world. The reigning titleholders dedicate their year to promote specific projects and often address issues concerning the environment and other global issues. Climate Change will be the focus of Miss Earth for its Crystal Year celebration. Around 90 delegates from all over the world will be arriving on November 18, to start their activities and converge at the Marx Halle in Vienna on December 5, 2015 for the Coronation Night.

October 9, 2015

Poland: Reshufflement at Government

A major reshufflement is currently under way at the Polish government.

November 20, 2013

Austria: Kapsch Demands Reform Agenda From New Government

Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) demands the next federal government to introduce a comprehensive reform agenda.

September 27, 2013

Turkey: Government Alleged to Have Known About Project Fail

A week before the forceful clearing of Gezi Park in Istanbul, the Turkish government was supposed to know about the fact that it had lost before court with its constructions plans. Protests went on, despite of that.

July 5, 2013

OMV Continues Expansion in Norway

OMV has been awarded six additional offshore exploration licenses in Norway, acting as operator for two of them.

July 5, 2013

Poland To Enhance Supervision Over State Companies

Around twenty state-controlled enterprises will be watched more closely.

July 2, 2013

US: Active Investor in Romania

US companies remained active investors in Romania last year. Particulary the IT sector, automotive industry and oil/gas sector are increasingly strengthening their local position. Foreign direct investments from the US came at more than $ 1bn.

June 24, 2013

Eder Appeals for Reindustrialization in Europe

In an interview with Austrian daily „Kurier“, Wolfgang Eder, CEO of Austrian steel producer voestalpine talks about the future of the European steel industry and the differences to the US energy policy.

June 20, 2013

Turkey: Erdogan Gives In

In the dispute about Gezi Park in Istanbul, which has led to weeks of protests and even violence, the Turkish government leadership now wants to give in.

June 14, 2013

Turkey: Erdogan Considers Referendum

After international criticism was voiced for the use of tear gas by the Turkish police against tens of thousands of demonstrators, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the issue of a referendum.

June 13, 2013

Turkey: Taksim Square Forcefully Cleared

Protests expected to continue despite of severe measures.

June 12, 2013

S Immo AG: Green Building Certification And Another Award In SEE

BREEAM certificate and SEE Green Building Award for S Immo properties.

June 4, 2013

Voestalpine Hopes for Participation in South Stream Project

CEO Eder announced the Austrian Steel Manufacturer was leading “intensive” talks with Russian energy company Gazprom.

May 16, 2013

Romania: US Chevron to Explore for Shale Gas

Chevron gets green light for exploration of shale gas in Dobrogea blocks.

May 2, 2013

FDI: Hungary Popular With German Enterprises

The majority of German companies would again choose Hungary for their investments

April 11, 2013

Gazprom to Be Joined By Shell

Russian energy giant Gazprom and British-Dutch oil producer Shell announced cooperation.

April 9, 2013

Austria Showing Less Reforming Zeal

According to the so-called „D-A-CH-Reformbarometer“, a study which was commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce, Austria’s will to reform has diminished.

March 20, 2013

Russia: Gazprom Runs the Risk of Losing Market Shares

According to the newspaper “RBC Daily”, Gazprom stands to lose a further market share for gas supply as German energy enterprises are prompting the government to start producing shale gas.

March 19, 2013

Bulgaria: EVN Under Surveillance

While the Austrian power supplier EVN is currently kept under surveillance of the Bulgarian judiciary and government, protests by the citizens all over the country continue.

March 11, 2013

Hungary: Expropriation of Foreign Farmers

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced further steps and plans the dispossession of foreign investors.

March 7, 2013

Bulgaria: Electricity Rate to be Reduced by 7 %

Experts still fear that the reduction in electricity prices will not help stopping protests.

March 6, 2013

Bulgaria: Protests About to Escalate

The political frustration of Bulgaria’s population comes to new high as the promised reduction of energy prices stays out.

March 5, 2013

Bulgaria: Stop of Constructing Nuclear Power Plant in Belene

Together with Russia, Bulgaria stopped the controversial construction of a nuclear power plant in Belene close to the Danube.

March 1, 2013

Austria: Economic Outlook Remains Cautious

Although Austria´s economy suffers from a number of major defects, the performance is still better than in the Eurozone.

February 25, 2013

Voestalpine Leaves Europe Step by Step

The Austrian steel company wants to reduce the dependence on Europe. Growth will take place elsewhere, CEO Wolfgang Eder says.

December 20, 2012

Austrian Environmental Minister Against Fracking

Nikolaus Berlakovich thinks that shale gas is no alternative. Fracking would be „extremely environmentally harmful“.

July 3, 2012

Austria Stresses Support for Rio+20

State Secretary Waldner: “Rio+20 brings a real opportunity for our environment and sustainable development”

June 18, 2012

Trade Unions Wants „Just Taxation“

The Austrian Trade Unions warn of a strict austerity policy and pushes for growth stimulating measures.

June 2, 2012

Austrian Industrial Sector Pushes for Austerity

The Federation of Austrian Industries sees still a huge potential to reduce public expenses and underlines the importance of the industrial sector.

May 22, 2012

Competitiveness: Austria Among Top Five

Concerning its competitiveness, Austria ranks fifth among the 27 EU members.

April 6, 2012

Kyoto Protocol: Austria Spends € 160m

Austria will invest € 160m ($213.4 million) in climate protection projects in Europe to cover the gap it faces to meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich said.

April 4, 2012

Voestalpine to Invest € 500m at Main Site

The Austrian steel company builds a new strand casting house. Voestalpine warns of excessive greenhouse gas regulations.

March 22, 2012

Resistance Against „Fracking“ Grows

The oil and gas group OMV plans to exploit shale gas in Northern Austria. Environmental activists claim a prohibition.

February 28, 2012