Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) has indicated that the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP) will be ready soon. The climate plan is expected to be submitted to Brussels “very soon”. Austria should have submitted this in June and is therefore already subject to an EU infringement procedure.
The reason for the postponement was a dispute in the governing coalition between the ÖVP and the Greens, which was fought out publicly, mainly by Gewessler and European Minister Karoline Edtstadler (ÖVP).
Austria is seriously behind on its climate plan
This meant that the draft for the NEKP – which was actually due to arrive in Brussels in June 2023 – was only presented in August this year. Edtstadler withdrew a draft previously submitted by Gewessler because no agreement had been reached with the government. The climate minister had a different opinion.
The European Commission quickly assessed the Austrian design. In view of the final plan, the government in Vienna must further explain how it intends to achieve the planned 48 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 (measured against 2005 emissions), the committee ruled in October.
The EU demands further explanation
She would like further explanation on how Austria intends to strengthen its energy security, “in particular by diversifying its energy supply, including by reducing energy imports from Russian fossil fuels and those from other third countries, and by reducing further increase the demand for gas. .”
It must also be explained what amount of CO2 can be stored annually until 2030. Nearly half of EU member states had not yet submitted a final plan by November.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
