The FPÖ and ÖVP want to save 6.39 billion euros this year, of which 3.18 billion euros through cuts. In addition to the climate bonus, another prestige project of the Greens is reportedly in danger: the climate ticket. The ‘crown’ knows how much it costs the state and therefore how much ‘there is to gain’ for the budget.
The economic research institute (Wifo) has calculated how much the climate ticket costs the state, for example through subsidies and financial transfers to the ÖBB, the transport associations, etc. “The balance of incoming and outgoing payments was budgeted at 544.5 million euros for 2024,” says Wifo spokesperson Markus Kiesenhofer.
A free climate ticket for 18 year olds is expensive
Particularly expensive is the initiative that was launched on July 1 last year and whereby anyone who turns 18 (or turned 18 retroactively from January 1, 2024) can receive the climate ticket for free for a year. Young people can even take advantage of this offer until their 21st birthday.
According to Wifo calculations, this concerns a total of around 88,000 people. With a price of 1,179 euros per climate ticket this year, this initiative alone would cost 103.8 million euros if all rights holders were to actually use it. However, Wifo assumes that only 35 percent actually do this. However, this would still result in a cost of 36.3 million euros.
Of course: as announced on Monday, they will only announce this Thursday to what extent the FPÖ and ÖVP want to save on the climate ticket. The following scenarios would be possible:
- A complete one Removal Climate tickets
- A Expose of the climate ticket until the budget situation has improved sustainably
- A Increase in price Climate tickets.
The price rose this year from 1095 to 1179.30 euros
The climate ticket, first introduced on October 26, 2021 – the national holiday – was valid for one year until the end of 2024 and cost 1,095 euros, or exactly three euros per day. This year the price has been increased to 1179.30 euros, or 3.23 euros per day. For certain groups, such as people over 65 or people with disabilities, it currently costs 884.20 euros.
With the climate card you can use almost all public transport. B. Train, bus, tram and metro. Infrastructure Minister Leonore Gewessler’s goal was to encourage more people to switch from cars to public transport.
Danger of a ‘run’ on the climate ticket if there is a deadline for savings
Holger Bonin, head of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), had also described the climate ticket as an expensive measure. If the FPÖ and ÖVP decide to make cuts here, the question is when they will apply – immediately or later, from a certain point in time. According to Johannes Holler of the Budget Council, there is a risk that there will be a ‘run’ on the climate ticket in the short term if there is a deadline.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
