The level of CO 2 per capita is also quite low when compared with IEA averages. Given existing trends, this seems very difficult. The scenarios for achieving this target in the remaining eight years do not appear realistic. The economic impacts of such policies are also unclear. Austria's efforts and progress in energy efficiency in the last two decades are significant.
Energy efficiency needs continued attention.
In particular, the Government should assess the extent to which past improvements were brought about by specific policies, including economic instruments such as higher taxation or regulatory instruments such as labelling, standards and voluntary agreements. Although the Government considers biomass and solar energy use to be major fields of research, their share of research expenditures in the total budget seems small when compared with some other European countries. Such cases should be kept to a minimum. Ensure that the process is not too lengthy and cumbersome. At the least, the utility should be an independent legal entity, corporatised and with unbundled accounts for each part of its business.