New Laws to Undergo Climate Test in the Future

Laws, regulations, and major federal projects are to undergo a mandatory climate check starting January 1, 2026. This was announced by the ministry led by Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP). The goal is to identify and avoid climate-damaging impacts as early as possible.

Climate Check Becomes Part of Existing Impact Assessment

The climate check is to become part of the so-called Impact-Oriented Impact Assessment (WFA). According to the ministry, this serves to present the effects of political measures in a comprehensible and transparent manner – both in terms of costs and desired and undesired effects.

As reported by the Ö1 "Morning Journal" on Saturday, the result of the climate check is not binding. Even with a negative climate impact, a project does not have to be automatically revised or stopped.

Service Center and Tool for Authorities

To support the administration, a dedicated service center will be established in the Ministry of Climate Protection. This is to provide a digital "climate check tool" with which the impacts of new projects can be systematically recorded. The examination is to be carried out in a simplified or detailed form, depending on the significance of the project.

The design is being worked on by the Ministry of Agriculture and Climate, as well as the Federal Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance. Further details are to follow in the coming months.

Expert Calls for More Binding Measures

Climate economist Sigrid Stagl welcomes the initiative in principle. "Because you first need to know what climate impacts laws and regulations have in order to take them into account," she told Ö1. At the same time, she emphasized that clear regulations are needed on how to deal with measures that have negative climate impacts.

(APA/Red)

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