Savings Package: Totschnig Defends Cuts in Climate and Environmental Sector

"We need a budget consolidation, while at the same time climate change does not take a break. Our aim is to combine both. Not less climate protection, but more efficiency per euro spent," said Agriculture and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) to journalists on Wednesday.

Climate law to be introduced before summer according to Totschnig

His ministry is making a balanced contribution to the overall state consolidation course, said the minister. Totschnig reiterated that a climate law should be introduced before the summer. It is more about "incentives and not bans" to create the societal shift towards climate neutrality. The new budgetary framework conditions would certainly necessitate adjustments in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP). The presentation of a new text is already planned for 2028.

Overall, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management has nearly five billion euros available for this year. For the coming year, 4.2 billion are budgeted. The ministry speaks of "targeted measures instead of over-subsidization." Many programs have been expanded in the past and have shown positive effects. However, it is now time to "bring the level of subsidies back to a sustainable level." Externally commissioned experts are also evaluating all subsidies for their effectiveness and will present a study on this by the summer.

Totschnig: 2.19 billion euros for environment, climate, and circular economy

From the ministry's budget, 2.19 billion euros will flow into the environment, climate, and circular economy sector this year. This will also fully finance all promised subsidies from the previous year. For the coming year, 1.37 billion euros are available. Overall, according to Totschnig, "essential funding lines" are still secured: By 2030, 1.8 billion euros will be available for boiler replacement, one billion for "Clean Heating" for low-income households, and 266.9 million euros for climate-friendly district heating infrastructure. All approximately 78,000 outstanding applications from the renovation offensive - including the "Get out of Oil and Gas" funding campaign - from the previous year are to be processed this year, and new funds for this are expected to be available again next year according to Totschnig.

Additionally, there are 150 million euros annually for environmental subsidies domestically and 72.5 million euros for the resized Climate and Energy Fund - with a focus on the heat transition and regional initiatives. Each year, 51 million euros are allocated for the circular economy plus two million euros for land recycling. The repair bonus continues to be supported with 30 million euros. The rest of the total budget, 2.84 billion euros this year and 2.88 billion next year, is earmarked for agriculture and forestry. Around 61 million euros annually flow into research and development, such as the Forest Fund, school projects, and the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). The ministry aims to save around 30 million in material expenses over the next two years.

"Politico": Austria Backtracks on EU Climate Target

Recently, a report from the usually well-informed magazine "Politico" caused a stir. It reported that Austria's government had refused to support the European Commission's recommendation for a 90 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. This meant that Brussels lost an expected ally, according to the report. Although Vienna never explicitly agreed to the target, former Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Green Party) was one of the first responsible ministers to welcome the initiative.

Totschnig emphasized that he is committed to the government program, where the 2040 climate target is enshrined. Climate neutrality in Austria by 2040 remains a vision for him, and the first step is to achieve the legally established goals by 2030. However, the economic environment must also be taken into account. "Austria is committed to the goal of climate neutrality of the Union and Austria, as well as to the implementation of the previously decided Union legal requirements," stated an official response from the ministry.

However, it is crucial to ensure competitiveness, for example in green technologies, food security, and a fair transition: "We must now wait for the concrete Commission proposal, which we will then examine in detail, because even the fine print is relevant for achieving the 2040 target. Austria will coordinate well domestically and contribute constructively to a discussion about the 2040 target once a proposal is available."

(APA/Red)

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