COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022 Country Report - AUSTRIA Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance
Date: 2022-09-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: Austria, EU environmental policy, application of EU law, biodiversity, circular economy, climate change policy, environmental law, governance, pollution control measures, waste management

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 8.9.2022  SWD(2022) 274 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022               Country Report - AUSTRIA                             Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance {COM(2022) 438 final} - {SWD(2022) 252 final} - {SWD(2022) 253 final} - {SWD(2022) 254 final} - {SWD(2022) 255 final} - {SWD(2022) 256 final} - {SWD(2022) 257 final} - {SWD(2022) 258 final} - {SWD(2022) 259 final} - {SWD(2022) 260 final} - {SWD(2022) 261 final} - {SWD(2022) 262 final} - {SWD(2022) 263 final} - {SWD(2022) 264 final} - {SWD(2022) 265 final} - {SWD(2022) 266 final} - {SWD(2022) 267 final} - {SWD(2022) 268 final} - {SWD(2022) 269 final} - {SWD(2022) 270 final} - {SWD(2022) 271 final} - {SWD(2022) 272 final} - {SWD(2022) 273 final} - {SWD(2022) 275 final} - {SWD(2022) 276 final} - {SWD(2022) 277 final} - {SWD(2022) 278 final}  
 
 
Austria  1 

This  report  has  been  written  by  the  staff  of  the  Directorate-General  for  Environment,  European 
Commission. Comments are welcome. Please send them to: ENV-EIR@ec.europa.eu 

More information on the European Union is available at: http://europa.eu. 

Photographs:  

For reproduction or use of these photos, permission must be sought directly from the copyright 
holder. 

©European Union, 2022 

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria  2 

Table of contents 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... 3 

PART I: THEMATIC AREAS ...................................................................................................................................... 4 

1. CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................. 4 
Measures towards a circular economy ................................................................................................................ 4 
Waste management ............................................................................................................................................. 6 
2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL CAPITAL ............................................................................................................................. 9 
Nature protection and restoration ....................................................................................................................... 9 
Ecosystem assessment and accounting ............................................................................................................. 15 
3. ZERO POLLUTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 
Clean air ............................................................................................................................................................. 16 
Industrial emissions ............................................................................................................................................ 17 
Major industrial accidents prevention – SEVESO ............................................................................................... 20 
Noise .................................................................................................................................................................. 21 
Water quality and management ........................................................................................................................ 21 
Chemicals ........................................................................................................................................................... 25 
4. CLIMATE ACTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 
Key national climate policies and strategies ...................................................................................................... 27 
Effort sharing target ........................................................................................................................................... 27 
Key sectoral developments ................................................................................................................................. 28 
Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances .............................................................................. 29 

PART II: ENABLING FRAMEWORK: IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS .............................................................................. 30 

5. FINANCING ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 
Environmental investment needs in the EU ....................................................................................................... 30 
EU environmental funding 2014-2020 ............................................................................................................... 32 
EU environmental funding 2021-2027 ............................................................................................................... 33 
National environmental protection expenditure ................................................................................................ 35 
Green budget tools ............................................................................................................................................. 36 
Overall environmental financing compared to the needs .................................................................................. 38 
6. ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................................................. 39 
Information, public participation and access to justice...................................................................................... 39 
Compliance assurance ........................................................................................................................................ 40 
Effectiveness of environmental administrations ................................................................................................ 42 
Reforms through the Commission’s Technical Support Instrument ................................................................... 42 
TAIEX EIR peer-to-peer ....................................................................................................................................... 42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austria  3 

Executive summary 

status.  Austria  needs  to  continue  to  mitigate  pressures 
resulting  from  changes  to  the  physical  shape  of  water 
bodies 
through 
renaturalising the flow of rivers or removing obstacles to 
fish migration, especially  in view of the further planned 
expansion of hydropower.  

(hydromorphological 

pressures), 

Air  quality  in  Austria  is  generally  good,  although  there 
are  exceptions,  for  example,  exceedances  of  ozone.  For 
2020, no exceedances above the EU air quality standards 
were  registered  for  nitrogen  dioxide  and  particulate 
matter or fine particulate matter. The current submission 
of  air  pollutant  emission  projections  under  the  National 
Emission Reduction Commitments Directive demonstrate 
for  all 
reaching  emission 
pollutants apart from ammonia for 2020-2029 and for all 
pollutants  apart  from  ammonia  and  nitrogen  oxides  for 
2030  onwards.  According  to  the  latest  inventory  data 
submitted  by  Austria,  which  are  still  to  be  reviewed  by 
the  Commission,  Austria 
in  compliance  with  the 
is 
emission reduction commitments for all  pollutants apart 
from ammonia in 2020.  

reduction  commitments 

and 

environmental  objectives, 

Austria's recovery and resilience plan (RRP) devotes 59% 
of  the  plan's  total  allocation  to  measures  that  support 
climate 
including 
measures on the circular  economy to tackle problematic 
waste  streams,  as  well  as  for  the  new  national 
biodiversity fund, sustainable mobility and decarbonising 
businesses.  Austria’s  overall  financing  for  environmental 
investments  is  estimated  to  be  around  0.44 %  of  GDP 
annually    in  2014-2020,  with  over  90%  coming  from 
national financing.  

Given  the  overall  small  allocation  of  EU 
funding 
compared to GDP, the main source of funds to deal with 
investment  needs must  come from national and private 
sources (with private sources already accounting for 60 % 
of  the  total)  to  close  the  investment  gap  in  relation  to 
Austria’s environmental implementation priorities. In the 
environmental 
2021-2027 
investment needs are estimated to reach over 0.60 % of 
GDP,  suggesting  an  environmental  financing  gap  of    at 
least  0.16 %  of  GDP.  This  needs  to  be  addressed  by 
for  environmental 
mobilising  additional 
implementation priorities. 

country’s 

financing 

period, 

the 

In  previous  Environmental 
Implementation  Reviews 
(EIRs),  the  main  challenges  identified  for  Austria  for  the 
implementation  of  EU  environmental  policy  and  law 
were: 

  ensuring  better  protection  of  Natura  2000  areas  and 
reducing  pressures  on  surface  waters  resulting  from 
changes to the physical shape of rivers, and  
further improving air quality. 

 

including 

Austria  remains  one  of  the  leading  countries  for  waste 
treatment,  with  a  recycling  rate  of  58.2 %  in  2019.  Its 
circular  material  use  rate  is  still  slightly  below  the  EU 
average.  .  With  588  kg/capita  Austria  was  significantly 
above  the  EU  average  of  502  kg/capita  for  municipal 
waste  generation  .  The  country  has  taken  a  number  of  
initiatives, 
reduce  waste 
legislation, 
generation,  and  has    started  work  on  a  comprehensive 
cicular  economy  strategy  covering  the  whole  life  cycle. 
However,  in  view  of  the  ambitious  post-2020  recycling 
targets,  efforts  needs  to  be  continued    to  strengthen 
waste prevention, reuse, recycling and remanufacturing. 
Making  better  use  of  the  potential  of  circularity  in 
in 
industry  will  help  reduce  resource  dependency, 
particular for fossil-fuel based raw materials. 

to 

in 

the 

On  nature,  the  picture  is  mixed:  Austria  is  the  country 
with  the  highest  share  of  ecological  farming  in  the  EU. 
level  of 
improvements 
Despite  evident 
conservation  and 
recent  
restoration  efforts  over 
decades,  the  status  of  many  habitats  and  species 
continued  to  deteriorate,  which  is  of  serious  concern. 
While  the  share  of  habitats  in  good  status  has  slightly 
improved,  the  share  of  habitats  in  bad  status  has  also 
grown.  The  picture  for  species  shows 
little  change 
compared 
last  reporting  period.  Austria’s 
territorial coverage of Natura 2000 areas is below the EU 
average, and  the  coherence and  quality of site-specific 
measures  need  further  improvment.  As  regards  the 
conservation  status  of  forests,  more  than  75%  of  the 
assessments show a bad to poor status. Austria’s national 
energy and climate plan implies an increase of bioenergy 
through sustainable forest management. In this context it 
will  be 
is 
sustainable and that biodiversity is protected.  

important  to  ensure  that  biomass  use 

the 

to 

Water quality in Austria overall is good, and there is full 
compliance  with  urban  waste  water  treatment  rules. 
Pollution from  nitrates in ground water and excess plant 
and algae growth due to high concentrations of nutrients 
(euthrophication)  in  f  surface  waters  has  decreased 
further,  although  hotspots  remain  in  certain  regions, 
especially  in  the  agriculture-intensive  areas.  In  Austria, 
46.6 % of all surface water bodies reach good ecological 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Part I: Thematic areas 

1. Circular economy and waste management  

Austria  4 

Figure 1:  Circular material use rate (%) 2010-20201 

The circular  (secondary) use  of material in Austria rose 
to 12 % in 2020. Austria managed to  lower the gap with  
the EU average of 12.8 %, but remains below it and far 
behind the leading leaders countries - Netherlands (30.9 
%), Belgium (23 %), and France (22.2  %).  

Resource  productivity  expresses  how  efficiently  the 
economy  uses  material  resources  to  produce  wealth. 
Improving  resource  productivity  can  help  to  minimise 
impacts  on  the  environment  and  reduce 
negative 
dependency on volatile raw-material markets. As shown 
in Figure 2, with EUR 2.09 generated per kg of material 
consumed in 2020, resource productivity in Austria  isat 
the EU average. 

Measures towards a circular economy 

The  new  circular  weconomy  action  plan  adopted  in 
March  2020  is  one  of  the  main  building  blocks  of  the 
European  Green  Deal.  The  EU’s  transition  to  a  circular 
economy will reduce pressure on natural resources and 
will  create  sustainable  growth  and  jobs.  It  is  also  a 
prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality 
target  and  to  halt  biodiversity  loss.  The  ction  Plan 
announces  initiatives  along  the  entire  life  cycle  of 
products,  aiming  to  reduce  the  EU's  consumption 
footprint  and  to  double  the  EU's  circular  material  use 
rate  by  2030.  It  targets  how  products  are  designed, 
promotes  circular  economy  processes,  encourages 
sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste 
is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU 
economy for as long as possible. 

The  circular  material  use  rate  is  a  good  indicator  of  an 
economy’s  circularity,  as  it  includes  all  the  materials 
that are fed back into our economy. Large differences in 
the  circularity  rate  exist  between  countries.  To  help 
achieve  the  EU  circular  economy  action  plan’s  goal  of 
doubling  the  EU’s  circular  material  use  rate  by  2030, 
ambitious  measures  targeting  the  whole  product  life 
cycle are needed at Member State level. Such measures 
range  from  sustainable  product  design  that  make  it 
possible  to  able  to  increase  the  durability,  reparability, 
upgradability  and  recyclability  of  products,  to  other 
measures  like  :  (i)  ‘remanufacturing’1;  (ii) increasing 
(iii) recycling; 
circularity 
in  production  processes; 
(iv) boosting  eco-innovation;  (v)  and 
increasing  the 
uptake  of  green  public  procurement.remanufacturing, 
in  production  processes, 
increasing  the  circularity 
recycling,  as  well  as  boosting  eco-innovation  and 
increasing the uptake of green public procurement. . 

1 Eurostat, Circular Economy Monitoring Framework.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Figure 2: Resource productivity 2010-20202 

Austria  5 

and  sustainable  production  and  consumption.  This 
remains  a  key  programme  for  promoting  the  circular 
initiative 
economy. 
In  2020  the  Green  chemistry 
’Plattform  Grüne  Chemie’  was 
its 
principles  of  design,  efficient  synthesis,  the  use  of 
renewable  raw  materials,  safe  production,  low  toxicity 
chemicals  and  waste  and  recycling  there  is  a  strong 
connection to the circular economy. 

launched.  With 

As part of its RRP, Austria has committed to reforms to: 
(i)  increase  the  reuse,  collection  and  recycling  rate  of 
beverage  packaging  and  containers;  (ii) 
introduce 
effective  take-back  systems  for  single-use  plastics  and 
metal beverage packaging; and  (iii) increase the supply 
of reusable beverage containers in the retail sector. 

Circular economy strategies 

Eco-innovation 

A  successful  transition  to  a  circular  economy  requires 
social and technological innovation. This is because the 
full  potential  of  the  circular  economy  can  only  be 
reached when it is implemented across all value chains. 
Eco-innovation  is  an  important  enabling  factor  for  the 
circular  economy.  New  approaches  to  product  design 
and  new  business  models  can  help  to  produce 
circularity 
business 
opportunities. 

innovations, 

creating 

new 

Austria's  eco-innovation  performance  continues  to 
improve.  The  country  ranked  third  in  the  list  of  EU 
countries  with  a  total  score  of  150  in  the  2021  Eco-
Innovation  Scoreboard  ,  resulting  in  an  eco-innovation 
leader performance. In three out of five components of 
this  eco-innovation  index  Austria  performs  above  the 
EU  average,  namely  eco-innovation  activities,  eco-
innovation  outputs  and  socio-economic  outcomes. 
However,  its  performance  is  below  the  EU  average 
regarding  eco-innovation  input  and  resource  efficiency 
outcomes. 

The  Commission  encourages  Member  States  to  adopt 
implement  national/regional  circular  economy 
and 
strategies  covering  the  whole  life  cycle  of  products,  as 
such  strategies  are  one  of  the  most  effective  ways  to 
progress  towards  a  more  circular  economy  at  Member 
State  level.  Since  the  launch  of  the  online  European 
in  20173, 
Circular  Economy  Stakeholder  Platform 
national,  regional  or  local  authorities  have  used  the 
platform to share their strategies and roadmaps. 

Austria  has  not  yet  have  a    dedicated  strategy  or 
roadmap  for  the  circular  economy  .    However  the 
current government programme does make a provision 
for  a  circular  economy  strategy,  whose  development  
started  in  spring  2021  through  a  series  of  expert 
workshops  and  a  public  stakeholder  consultation 
process open the until end of January 20224. Generally, 
the circular economy has been given a more prominent 
role in the government’s programme: it is mentioned as 
a  key  topic  for  a  new  location  strategy  supporting 
business development in rural areas, as well as a cross-
sectoral  climate  protection  and  circular  economy 
strategy focusing on the energy and emissions intensive 
sectors  (steel,  chemicals,  cement).  The  government’s 
program also includes  an action plan for microplastics. 
Austria has no sectoral strategies for plastics overall, nor 
for  the  textiles  and  construction  sectors,  although  the 
new circular economy strategy may cover these sectors. 

As  mentioned  in  the  2019  EIR  report,  Austria  also  has 
the  RESET2020  initiative,  aiming  to  integrate  resource 
efficiency  in  the  areas  of  environmental  technologies 

2 Eurostat, Resource productivity 
3 European Commission, Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform 
4  Bundesministerium  für  Klimaschutz,  Umwelt,  Energie,  Mobilität, 
Innovation und Technologie, Circular Economy Strategy. 

Environmental Implementation Review  – Austria 2022 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
Figure 3:  Eco-innovation performance 2010-20195 

Green public procurement 

Public  procurement  accounts  for  a  large  proportion  of 
European 
consumption,  with  public  authorities’ 
purchasing  power  representing  14%  of  EU  GDP.  Public 
procurement can help drive the demand for sustainable 
products 
that  meet  reparability  and  recyclability 
standards.  To  date  reporting  to  monitor  the  uptake  of 
green public procurement (GPP) is voluntary. 

A  national  strategy  for  sustainable  public  procurement 
has been in place in Austria since 2010, adopted by the 
Council of Ministers. It covers 16 product groups, which 
are  partly  based  on  the  core  criteria  in  the  EU-toolkit6, 
and which are binding  for the federal authorities.  . The 
action  plan  for  sustainable  public  procurement  was 
updated in 2020, to reflect i.a. the EU plastics and farm 
to fork strategies. Monitoring through surveys has been 
regularly  carried  out  at  different  levels.  Automatic 
monitoring  based  on  purchases,  and  in  relation  to  the 
criteria  for all product groups determined in the  action 
plan is planned at federal level. 

Austria  6 

EU Ecolabel and the eco-Management and auditing 
scheme (EMAS) 

The  number  of  EU  Ecolabel  products  and  EMAS-
licensed7 organisations in a given country provides some 
indication of the extent to which the private sector and 
national  stakeholders  are  actively  engaged 
in  the 
transition  to  a  circular  economy.  It  also  shows  how 
supporting 
committed  public  authorities  are 
instruments designed to promote the circular economy.  

to 

As of September 2021, Austria had 787 products out of 
83 590, and 194 licences out of 2 057 registered  in the 
EU Ecolabel scheme, a  continuing low take-up of these 
licences8.  As  of  October  2021,  268  organisations 
(covering  1 257  sites)  from  Austria  were  registered  in 
EMAS9.  Since  2019,  there  have  been  19 
fewer 
registrations  of  EU  Ecolabel  products    and  22  fewer 
EMAS  registrations,  but  there  have  been  8  more  EU 
Ecolabel licences. 

in 
Overall,  Austria  has  made  significant  progress 
strengthening  its  circular  economy  policy  framework, 
including through the development of a comprehensive 
circular economy strategy, currently under way. 

2022 priority action 

  Adopt 

the 

comprehensive 

circular  economy 
strategy  currently  being  developed  covering  the 
entire life cycle of products, with clear targets and a 
monitoring framework. 

Waste management 

Turning waste into a resource is supported by:  
(i)  fully 
legislation,  which 
implementing  EU  waste 
includes  the  waste  hierarchy,  the  need  to  ensure 
separate  collection  of  waste,  the 
landfill  diversion 
targets, etc.;  
(ii) reducing waste generation and waste generation per 
capita in absolute terms;  
(iii)  limiting  energy  recovery  to  non-recyclable  waste. 
This  section  focuses  on  the  management  of  municipal 

5 Eurostat, Eco-innovation index 
6 Bundesministerium  für  Klimaschutz,  Umwelt,  Energie,  Mobilität, 
Innovation  und  Technologie,  naBe  -  Aktionsplan  für  eine  nachhaltige 
öffentliche Beschaffung 

7 EMAS  is  the  European  Commission’s  Eco-Management  and  Audit 
Scheme,  a  programme  to  encourage  organisations  to  behave  in  a 
more environmentally sustainable way. 
8 
9 
Scheme, Nov. 2021. 

European Commission, Ecolabel Facts and Figures. 
European  Commission,  Eco-Management  and  Audit 

Environmental Implementation Review  – Austria 2022 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
waste10  for  which  EU  law  sets  mandatory  recycling 
targets. 

Austria  7 

resource  efficiency  and 

Preventing  products  and  materials  from  becoming 
waste for as long as possible is the most efficient way to 
improve 
the 
environmental  impact  of  waste.  Waste  prevention  and 
re-use  are  the  most  preferred  options,  and  are 
therefore at the top of the waste hierarchy. The amount 
of  municipal  waste  generated  is  one  possible  indicator 
of the effectiveness of waste prevention measures. 

reduce 

to 

is  yet  not  decoupled  from 

With 588 kg per capita Austria has the  seventh highest 
rate  of  municipal  waste  generation  in  2019,  far  above 
the EU average of 502 kg per capita. In addition, rather 
than decreasing, the amount has  – albeit moderately – 
increased  over  time.  The  steady  increase  in  both  GDP 
and  population  over  the  last  decade,  but  Austria’s 
economic  growth 
its 
generation  of  total  waste11.  The  waste  prevention 
programme  has  not  been  sufficiently  effective,  as  the 
measures  in  Austria´s  programme  have  not  yet  had  a 
positive effect on waste generation.  The plan also does 
not  pay  sufficient  attention  to  food  loss  and  waste  at 
the primary production level and the early stages of the 
supply  chain.  More  effective  measures  should  be 
included  in  the  new  waste  prevention  programme,  as 
Austria  will  need  to  significantly  reduce  its  municipal 
waste generation rate. 

Figure 4: Municipal waste by treatment in Austria, 2010-
201912 

10 Municipal  waste  consists  of  (a)  mixed  waste  and  separately 
collected  waste  from  households,  including  paper  and  cardboard, 
glass,  metals,  plastics,  bio-waste,  wood,  textiles,  packaging,  waste 
electrical  and  electronic  equipment,  waste  batteries  and 
accumulators, and bulky waste, including mattresses and furniture; (b) 
mixed  waste  and  separately  collected  waste  from  other  sources, 
where such waste is similar in nature and composition to waste from 
households. (Directive 2008.98/EC, Art. 3 2b). 

11 European Environment Agency - Austria Waste Prevention Country 
Profile 2021  
12 Eurostat,  Municipal  waste  by  waste  operation,  April  2022  (2020 
data not yet available for Austria). 

Austria  is  using  EUR  130  million  from  the  RRP  for  a 
measure  to  help  prevent  e-waste.  Under  the  so-called 
‘repair-bonus’  programme,  households  will  receive  a 
voucher, which coverS  part of the costs for repairing or 
renewing electoral and electronic equipment. This is to 
incentivise  the  repair  of  electrical  and  electronic 
equipment.  As  another  incentive  to  boost  repairs,  in 
2020  Austria  lowered  its  VAT  rate  on  certain  services 
(clothing, bicycles) using the possibility provided by the 
VAT Directive. Starting with 2025 there will be a deposit 
return  system  for  beverage  containers  (cans  and 
plastics). 

Figure  4  also  shows  municipal  waste  by  treatment,  in 
terms  of  kilos  per  capita.  Austria  remains  one  of    the 
best performers in the EU in waste management, but its 
good  performance  has  stagnated  over  the  past  few 
years.  Given  the  growing  amount  of  waste,  and 
increasing waste treatment there have been some small 
increases 
in  recycling  and  composting  rates,  and 
incineration since the 2019 EIR report. 

Austria has one of the highest  waste  management  and 
recycling  rates  for  municipal  waste  across  Europe.  In 
2019,  it  recycled  58.2 %  of  its  municipal  waste,  which 
represents the third highest recycling rate in Europe and 
is  well  above  the  EU  2020  municipal  waste  recycling 
target.  To 
increase  the  collection  rate  for  plastic 
packaging, and preparation for reuse and recycling, EUR 
110  million  from  the  RRP  go  to  reverse  vending 
machines, and upgrading plastics sorting capacity.  

Figure  5:  Recycling  rate  of  municipal  waste,  2010-
201913 

13 Eurostat, Recycling rate of municipal rate, April 2022 (2020 data not 
yet available for Austria). 

Environmental Implementation Review  – Austria 2022 

 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Austria  8 

prevention, separate collection for a number of specific 
waste  streams,  recycling  and  landfill  targets).  Directive 
(EU)  2018/851  makes  substantial  amendments  to  the 
provisions  of  Directive  2008/98/EC  which  specified  the 
content  of  waste  management  plans  and  waste 
prevention  programmes.  Adjustments  to  these  plans 
and  programmes  are  therefore  necessary  in  order  to 
bring  them  into  line  with  Directive  (EU)  2018/851. 
Revised plans and programmes were due by 5 July 2020.  

Austria has not  notified the  Commission  of  its updated 
waste  management  plan  and  waste  prevention 
programme. Work  on updating the waste management 
plan  and  waste  prevention  programme  is  well  under 
way and expected to be completed by 2022. 

There has been some progress as regards new measures 
for  prevention  and  reuse,  in  particular  for  plastics 
packaging  and  e-waste,  but  there  has  otherwise  been 
limited  progress  since  the  2019  EIR.  In  light  of  the 
upcoming  2022 Early Warning  report  the other priority 
actions are being made again, and a new action on the 
waste management  plan/waste prevention programme 
has been added. 

2022 priority actions  

 

Improve  the  functioning  of  extended  producer 
responsibility  systems  by  covering  more  waste 
streams.   

  Shift  reusable  and  recyclable  waste  away  from 

incineration 

  Ensure that a  national waste management plan and 
line  with  the 

waste  prevention  programme 
revised Waste Framework Directive are in place. 

in 

As  a  result,  the  Commission's  2018  ‘early  warning 
report’14  did  not  list  Austria  as  one  of  the  countries  at 
risk  of  missing  the  EU  2020  target  of  recycling  50 %  of 
municipal waste. The Commission is currently finalising 
its  analysis  of  progress  made  on  the  recommendations 
from  the  2018  reports  as  a  well  as  an  analysis  of 
progress  towards  achieving  the  2025  waste  recyling 
targets.  This  report  will  be  presented  at  the  end  of 
2022and  will  assess    progress  made  to  date,  and  will 
make recommendations, as appropriate. 

Implementation of the 2018 waste legislative package 

By  5  July  2020,  Member  States  had  to  bring  their 
national  laws  in  line  with  modifications  in  the  revised 
Waste  Framework  Directive,  the  1516Packaging  and  the 
Landfill  Directive17.  Austria 
the 
transposition  of  the  2018  waste  package14  to  the 
Commission. A conformity assessment is now ongoing.   

notified 

has 

are 

Waste  management  plans  and  waste  prevention 
effectively 
programmes 
implementing  the  EU's  waste  legislation.  They  set  out 
key  provisions  and  investments  to  ensure  compliance 
with  existing  and  new  legal  requirements  (e.g.  waste 

instrumental 

in 

14 European  Commission,  Report  on  the  implementation  of  waste 
legislation,  including  the  early  warning  report  for  Member  States  at 
risk  of  missing  the  2020  preparation  for  re-use/recycling  target  on 
municipal waste, SWD(2018)422 accompanying COM(2018)656. 

15 Directive 2008/98/EC 
16 Directive 94/62/EC 
17 Directive  (EU)  2018/851,  Directive  (EU)  2018/852,  Directive  (EU) 
2018/850  and  Directive  (EU)  2018/849  amend  the  previous  waste 
legislation and set more ambitious recycling targets for the period up 
to 2035. 

Environmental Implementation Review  – Austria 2022 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
2. Biodiversity and natural capital 

Austria  9 

The 2030 EU biodiversity strategy adopted in May 2020 
aims to put the EU’s biodiversity on a path to recovery 
and  sets  out  new  targets  and  governance  mechanisms 
to achieve healthy and resilient ecosystems.  
In particular, the strategy sets out ambitious targets to: 
(i) protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land area and 
30% of its sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as 
part of a true trans-European nature network;  
(ii) strictly protect at least a third of the EU’s protected 
areas,  including  all  remaining  EU  primary  and  old-
growth forests;  
(iii)  effectively  manage  all  protected  areas,  defining 
clear  conservation  objectives  and  measures,  and 
monitoring them appropriately.  
The strategy also sets out an EU nature restoration plan 
–  a  series  of  concrete  commitments  and  actions  to 
restore  degraded  ecosystems  across  the  EU  by  2030, 
and  manage  them  sustainably,  addressing  the  key 
drivers of biodiversity loss. 

In  2020  the  Government  started  a  broad  public 
consultation  called  Biodiversitätsdialog  2030  on  a  new 
biodiversity  strategy.  This  will  reflect  the  objectives  of 
the  EU  2030  biodiversity  strategy,  and  identify  targets 
and  implementation  measures  to  restore  and  protec 
biodiversity in settlement areas, agricultural landscapes, 
forests,  bodies  of  water  and  wet  habitats,  mountain 
landscapes and special locations. 

A  new  biodiversity  fund  has  been  set  up  tor  finance 
nature  protection  and  restoration  measures.  monitor 
biodiversity  and  raise  awareness.    It  will  receive  a  top-
up of EUR 50 million from the RRP. 

Nature protection and restoration  

The EU’s Habitats and Birds Directives are key legislative 
tools  to  deliver  on  the  targets  in  the  EU’s  biodiversity 
strategy for 2030, and are the cornerstone of European 
legislation aimed at conserving the EU’s wildlife18. 

Natura  200019,  the  largest  co-ordinated  network  of 
protected  areas  in  the  world,  is  the  key  instrument  to 

18 These  should  be  strengthened  by  the  Nature  Restoration  Law, 
according to the new EU biodiversity strategy. 
19  Natura  2000  comprises  Sites  of  Community  Importance  (SCIs) 
designated  pursuant  to  the  Habitats  Directive  as  well  as  Special 
Protection  Areas  (SPAs)  classified  pursuant  to  the  Birds  Directive. 
coverage  figures  do  not  add  up  due  to  the  fact  that  some  SCIs  and 
  SCIs 
SPAs  overlap.  Special  Areas  of  Conservation  (SACs)  are 
designated by Member States. 

achieve  the  objectives 
in  the  Birds  and  Habitats 
Directives' . These objectives are (i) to ensure the long-
term  protection,  conservation  and  survival  of  Europe’s 
most valuable and threatened species and habitats; and 
(ii)  to  maintain  or  restore  the  favourable  conservation 
status  of  these  species  and  habitats.  Key  milestones 
towards  meeting  the  objectives  of  the  Birds  and 
Habitats Directives are: (i) the setting up of a  coherent 
Natura  2000  network;  (ii)  the  designation  of  sites  of 
Community  importance  (SCIs)  as  SACs20;  and  (iii)  the 
setting of conservation objectives and measures for the 
Natura 2000 sites. 

Setting up a coherent network of Natura 2000 sites 

Austria  hosts  71  habitat  types21  and  207  species22 
covered  by  the  Habitats  Directive.  The  country  also 
hosts  populations  of  90  bird  taxa  listed  in  the  Birds 
Directive Annex I.23  

By January 2022, 15.4 % of the of Austrian territory was 
covered  by  Natura  2000  (EU  coverage  18.5 %),  with 
special protection areas (SPAs) classified under the Birds 
Directive covering 12.3 % (EU coverage 12.8 %). Sites of 
(SCIs)  under  the  Habitats 
community 
Directive  covered  11.2 %  of  the  country  (EU  coverage 
14.2 %).  

importance 

Despite  significant  progress  in  the  number  of  sites 
last  10  years,  the  ecological 
proposed  over  the 
coherence  of  the  Austrian  Natura  2000  network 
remains  questionable.  Several  key  areas  in  the  Alpine 
region do not have any site protection, despite carrying 
labels  recognising  their  outstanding  value  as  wetlands 
of 
the  Ramsar 
Convention. The proportional coverage of many species 
and  habitats 
in  bad 
conservation  status)  remains  unsatisfactory.  Many  of 
the  recently  proposed  Natura  2000  sites  are  too  small 

(including  priority  habitats 

importance  under 

international 

20 SCIs are designated under the Habitats Directive whereas SPAs are 
designated under the Birds Directive; figures of  coverage do not add 
up since some SCIs and SPAs overlap. SACs are SCIs designated by the 
Member States. 
21 EEA, Article 17 dashboard, Annex I total, 2019 
22 EEA,  Article  17  dashboard,  Annex  II  +  Annex  IV  excluding  those  in 
Annex  II  +  Annex  V  excluding  those  in  Annex  II,  2019.  This  counting 
only takes into account species and habitats for which assessment of 
conservation status was requested. 

23 EEA, Article 12 dashboard, Annex I, 2020. This counting only takes 
into account birds taxa for which information was requested 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Austria  10 

Given  the  lack  of  coherence  in  the  way  the  Länder  
publicise  their  information  about  SAC  designations, 
conservation objectives and conservation measures, it is 
currently  not  possible  to  provide  reliable  statistics  on 
the quality and completeness of conservation objectives 
and  measures.  Generally  speaking  however,  given  the 
general    absence  of  clear  site-specific  objectives  for 
restoring 
in  unfavourable 
conservation  status,  the  current  site-specific  objectives 
(and  therefore  also,  presumably,  the  conservation 
measures)  cannot  be  considered  to  be  in  compliance 
with the requirements of the Habitats Directive. 

species  and  habitats 

Compliance would require  the full  consideration of the 
Article  17  conservation  status  assessments  in  setting 
site-specific  conservation  objectives  and  a  coherent 
approach  to  all  sites  in  a  given  biogeographical  region, 
so  as  to  ensure  that  the  Natura  2000  network  would 
facilitates  the  recovery  of  favourable  conservation 
status  for  all  relevant  species  and  habitats  currently 
reported by Austria as being in bad conservation status. 

Progress 
in  maintaining  or  restoring 
conservation status of species and habitats 

favourable 

To measure the performance of Member States, Article 
17  of  the  Habitats  Directive  and  Article  12  of  the  Birds 
Directive  require  reporting  on  the  progress  made 
towards  maintaining  or  restoring 
favourable 
the 
conservation status of species and habitats. 

According  to  the  most  recent  reporting  by  Austria 
(2019) and despite evident improvements in the level of 
conservation  and  restoration  efforts  over  recent 
decades,  the  status  of  many  habitats  and  species 
continued  to  deteriorate  over  the  last  6-year  reporting 
period,  in  particular  in  the  Continental  biogeographical 
region. Thee has been a negative trend for most species 
protected  under  the  Habitats  Directive.  Populations  of 
bird  species  listed  in  Annex  I  of  the  Birds  Directive 
mostly  appear  to  be  faring  better  than  Habitats 
Directive  species,  but  some  species  have  decreased  in 
numbers or  have become  extinct recently (e.g. Ortolan 
and Roller). Many populations of common farmland bird 
species have declined. 

According to the most recent report on Article 17 of the 
Habitats Directive, covering 2013-2018, 18 % of habitats 
are  classed  as  having  a  favourable  status,  35 %  a  poor 
status,  and  44 %  a  bad  status..As  in  the  previous 
reporting period, habitats in the Alpine biogeographical 
region were found to be faring better than those in the 
Continental region. 

and  disconnected  to  be  able  to  deliver  sustainable 
conservation outcomes  whereas others, that have  long 
been  recognised  as  sites  of  national  and  international 
importance  for  priority  habitats  or  species,  are  still 
waiting to be proposed as SCIs. 

Considering  both  Natura  2000  and  other  nationally 
designated  protected  areas,  Austria  legally  protects 
29 % of its terrestrial areas (EU-27 coverage 26,4 %)24.  

Figure  6:  EU-27  terrestrial  protected  area  coverage 
202125  

Figure  7:  Natura  2000  terrestrial  protected  area 
coverage 202126 

Designating special areas of conservation (SACs) and 
setting conservation objectives and measures 

As  competence  for  nature  conservation  is  devolved  to 
the Länder, Austria does not have a unified approach to 
setting site-level conservation objectives and measures. 

24  Eurostat,  Protected  Areas,  terrestrial  protected  area  percentage 
(2021)  March 2022. 
25 EU  Biodiversity  Strategy  Dashboard,  indicators  A1.1.1  and  A1.2.1, 
February 2022. 
26  European  Environment  Agency,  Natura  2000  Barometer,  February 
2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Figure  8:  Assessments  on  conservation  status  for 
habitats  for  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  reporting 
periods 27 

Figure  9:    Assessments  on  conservation  status  for 
species 
for  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  reporting 
periods28 

Austria  11 

The groups of habitat types of particular concern are: (i) 
bogs  and  fens;  (ii)  floodplain  forests;  (iii)  rivers  and 
other  freshwater  habitats;  (iv)  the  priority  habitats  
Pannonic  inland  dunes,  Pannonic  salt  steppes  and  salt 
marshes. None of these have favourable status in either 
the Continental or Alpine biogeographical regions. 

The  biggest  decline  has  been  reported  for  biodiversity-
rich  habitat  types  within  the  agricultural  landscape,  in 
particular  extensively  managed  grasslands  such  as 
meadows, mountain pastures, dry calcareous grasslands 
and  steppic  grasslands.  Only  two  grasslands  habitats 
had  a  favourable  status  in  the  Alpine  region,  and  none 
did  in  the  Continental  regions.  48%  of  assessments  of 
grasslands  were  reported  as  bad.  Improvement  in  the 
status  for  grasslands  seems  unlikely  to  be  achieved, 
unless 
and 
atmospheric nitrogen deposition are  reduced.  

abandonment, 

intensifcation 

land 

The  only  habitat  types  found  to  be  generally 
in 
favourable  condition  are  rocky  habitats  and  heath  and 
scrubs. 

The picture  for species is similar to that for habitats. It 
shows  little  change  compared  to  the  last  reporting 
period, and ahigh proportion of species in unfavourable 
status continued to decline over the past 12 years. 

The  most  recent  Article-12  Birds  Directive  reporting 
data indicate that Annex I bird populations appear to be 
faring  better  than  Habitats  Directive  species.  About 
74 %  of  bird  species  have 
increasing,  stable  or 
fluctuating breeding population trends.  

In  2019,  Austria  received  a  priority  action  on  defining 
conservation  objectives  and  measures  for  designated 
sites.  Given  limited  progress  on  this  and  in  view  of  in 
view of the findings of the fourth report on the state of 
nature  in  the  EU,  the  following  priority  actions  are 
proposed: 

Bringing nature back to agricultural land and restoring 
soil ecosystems 

Agricultural land 

The biodiversity strategy works alongside the new farm 
to fork strategy and the new common agricultural policy 
(CAP)  to  support  and  achieve  the  transition  to  fully 
sustainable agriculture.  
The  biodiversity  and  farm  to  fork  strategies  have  set 
four important targets for 2030:  
- a 50% reduction in the overall use of – and risk from – 
chemical pesticides; 
-  a  50%  reduction  in  the  use  of  more  hazardous 
pesticides; 
-  a  50%  reduction  in  losses  of  nutrients  from  fertilisers 
while  ensuring  there  is  no  deterioration  of  soil  fertility 
(which  will  result  in  a  20%  reduction  in  the  use  of 

27  Note:    the  figures  shown  for  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  are  not 
necessarily  directly  comparable  because  changes  in  the  Member 
State’s conservation status may result from changes of methods or to 
better data rather than reflecting genuine changes. 

28 idem.. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
fertilisers);  
- bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-
diversity  landscape  features  and  increase  areas  under 
organic farming to at least 25% 

With  an  estimated  25.33 %  of  area  under  organic 
farming, Austria is the leading country in the  EU in this 
respect,  as  it  is  far  above  the  EU  average  of  9.07  %.  
(2020 data, Eurostat). 

Figure  10:  Share  of  total  utilised  agricultural  area 
occupied by organic farming per Member State, 202029  

Good  topographical  conditions  with  rich  biodiversity 
resources lay down the foundation for maintaining high 
biodiversity  through  extensive  farming.  However,  the 
status  of  biodiversity  in  terms  of  bird  indicators  and 
habitats  conservation  show  a  downward  trend30.  The 
Austrian  Farmland  Bird  Index  has  shown  a  steady 
decline  in  many  common  farmland  bird  species  over 
recent  decades.  On  cropland  habitats  and  species  are 
increasingly  endangered  due  to  intensification  and  the 
trend  towards  more  vegetable  and  maize  cultivation, 
and less cereal cultivation 31.  

In  the  2014-2020  programming  period,  77  local  action 
groups  were  set  up  under  the  LEADER  programme  to 
advance the bottom-up approach engaging local actors 
in  developing  their  rural  areas.  This  approach  is  very 
well  perceived  in  Austria,  achieves  great  results  and  is 
considered  necessary  to  be  continued.  Under  the 
Austrian  rural  development  programmes,  5 %  of 
(EAFRD) 
rural  development  programme 
Austria’s 

Austria  12 

envelope  were  allocated  to  the  implementation  of 
LEADER. 

Soil ecosystems 

soil 

new 

strategy, 

Soil  is  a  finite  and  extremely  fragile  resource.  It  is 
increasingly degrading in the EU. 
The 
EU 
adopted 
on 
importance  of  soil 
17 November 2021,  stresses  the 
protection,  of  sustainable  soil  management  and  of 
restoring  degraded  soils  to  achieve  the  Green  Deal 
objectives  as  well  as  land-degradation  neutrality  by 
2030.  
This entails:  
(i) preventing further soil degradation;  
(ii)  making  sustainable  soil  management  the  new 
normal;  
(iii) taking action for ecosystem restoration 

One factor in the degradation of soil ecosystems is the 
area of soil that is sealed or artificialised32. The net land 
taken  (land  ‘taken’  means 
is  sealed  or 
artificialised)  per  year  in  2012-2018  can  be  seen  as  a 
measure  of  one  significant  pressure  on  nature  and 
biodiversity  –  land  use  change.  At  the  same  time,  land 
use  change  constitutes  an  environmental  pressure  on 
people living in urbanised areas. 

land  that 

land  take 

Despite  a  reduction  in  the  last  decade  (land  take  was 
over  1 000  km2/year  in  the  EU-28  between  2000  and 
2006), 
in  the  EU-28  still  amounted  to 
539km2/year  in  2012-201824.  The  concept  of  ‘net  land 
take’ combines land take with the return of land to non-
artificial  land  categories  (re-cultivation).  While  some 
land  was  re-cultivated  in  the  EU-28  in  2000-2018,  11 
times more land was taken than returned.   

Austria ranks above33 the EU average with net land take 
rate of 132.5m2/km2 (EU-27 average: 83.8 m2/km2). 

in  Austria 

Land-take  and  soil  sealing  are  among  the  biggest 
its 
environmental  pressures 
topography.  According  to  national  figures  (Statistics 
Austria  2020),  surface  sealing  grew  significantly  faster 
than the Austrian population in the observation period 
2001–2019. In 2019 land-take was 44 km²/year; Austria 
loses 0.5 % of its agriculatural land every year, and has 

given 

29 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_02_40/default/
table?lang=en  (Eurostat,  a  Area  under  organic  farming  February 
2022). Please note that for Austria, the data is for 2019 as no data was 
avalaible for 2020.   
30 SWD(2020) 367 final 
31 Teufelbauer and Seaman, 2019 

32 Artificial land cover is defined as the total of: roofed built-up areas 
(including  buildings  and  greenhouses),  artificial  non-built-up  areas 
(including sealed area features, such as yards, farmyards, cemeteries, 
car  parking  areas  etc.  and  linear  features,  such  as  streets,  roads, 
railways, runways, bridges) and other artificial areas (including bridges 
and  viaducts,  mobile  homes,  solar  panels,  power  plants,  electrical 
substations, pipelines, water sewage plants, and open dump sites). 
33 European Environment Agency - Land take in Europe  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
  
                                                                 
Austria  13 

Forests are important carbon sinks and conserving them 
is vital if the EU is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. 

Of  the  27  %  of  EU  forest  area  protected  under  the 
Habitats Directive, less than 15% of assessments show a 
favourable  conservation  status27.  Bad  conservation 
status increased from 27 % to 31 % in the EU compared 
to 2015.37 

In Austria, forests cover  44.7 % or 3 722  680 ha  of  the 
territory.38  More  than  75  %  of  the  assessments  in 
Austria show a bad to poor status.39 63 000 ha in Austria 
is covered by primary forests.40  

Forest  habitat  types in the Continental biogeographical 
region  are  subject  to  high  pressures  from  forestry, 
whereas  significant  areas  of  forest  in  the  Alps  are 
subject  to  little  or  no  forest  management  (hence  22  % 
were  reported  as  having  a  favourable  status).  It  is 
positive that the forest area is growing as is the share of 
broad-leaved  tree  species  in  managed  forests.  The 
proportion  of  deadwood,  a  resource  particularly 
important  for  many  species  of  animals  and  fungi,  is 
around  6.2  %  (target  value  is  10  %)  There  is  uneven 
distribution of deadwood in  Austrian forests, with little 
deadwood  in  commercial  forests,  and  high  levels  in 
protected forests, with most in alpine areas.41  

Although  forest  coverage  is  increasing  there  is  strong 
pressure  on  forested  areas.  In  view  of  the  expected 
demand  increase  for  biomass  for  energy    generation 
due  to,  among  othere  things,  the  phase-out  of  oil/gas 
heating  systems,  sustainable  biomass  production  and 
use  in  line  with  the  sustainability  criteria  of  Directive 
2018/2001/EU needs to be ensured.  

In  view  of  the  more  frequent  occurrence  of  extreme 
weather  conditions  due  to  climate  change,  forest 
ecosystems  need  to  be  made  more  resilient.  Forests 
should  be  supported  to  adapt  to  climate  change 
through  measures  such  as  planting  more  diverse  and 
site-adapted  tree  species  as  part  of  sustainable  forest 
management to  achieve  a  high  level  of  carbon  dioxide 
(CO2)  binding,  making  forests  less  vulnerable  to  pests 
(such as spruce beetles) and diseases and other impacts 
of climate change. 

one  of  the  highest  per  capita  numbers  in  Europe  of  
road  kilometres  and  supermarket  surface.34  More 
effective  multi-level  governance  on  planning,  mobility 
and  housing  development  could  help  tackle  these 
problems. 

A new national soil strategy is under development, with 
the  headline  target  of  limiting  land  use  to  a  net  2.5 
ha/day  by  2030,  and  included  as  a  reform  in  the 
recovery and resilience plan.  

Figure  11:  Land  take  and  re-cultivation  in  the  EU27 
(m2/km2), 2012-201835 

Austria  has  not  yet  committed  to  setting 
land 
degradation neutrality targets under the United Nations 
Convention 
and  Desertification 
(UNCCD).36  

Combating 

on 

Forests and timber 

The EU forest strategy for 2030, adopted in July 2021, is 
a part of the Fit for 55 package. The strategy promotes 
the many services that forests provide. Its key objective 
is  to  ensure  healthy,  diverse  and  resilient  EU  forests, 
that  contribute  significantly 
the  strengthened 
to 
biodiversity and climate ambitions.  

34 Umweltbundesamt, 2020  
35 European Environment Agency, Land-take assessment. 
36 UN  Convention  to  Combat  Desertification,  LDN  Target  Setting 
Programme.  

37  European Environment Agency, State of Nature in the EU. 
38  European  Environment  Agency,  Forest  information  system  for 
Europe. 
39 COM SWD (2021) 652. 
40 European  Copmmission,  JRC,  Mapping  and  assessment  of  primary 
and old-growth forests in Europe, p. 13. 
41 Enzenhofer and Schrank, 2019 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure  12:  Conservation  status  of  forests  protected 
under  the  Habitats  Directive  in  EU  Member  States, 
2013-2018 (% assessments)42 

(EUTR)43 
The  European  Union  Timber  Regulation 
prohibits  the  placing  on  the  EU  market  of  illegally 
harvested  timber.  In  accordance  with  the  EUTR,  EU 
Member  States’  competent  authorities  must  conduct 
regular  checks  on  operators  and  traders,  and  apply 
penalties 
the 
amendment of Article 20 of the EUTR, reporting every 2 
years has been changed to annual reporting, and covers 
the calendar year as of 2019. 

in  case  of  non-compliance.  With 

Between  March  2017  and  February  201944,  Austria 
carried out 894 checks on domestic timber operators. It 
also  carried  out  29  checks  on  operators  importing 
timber. 
is  estimated  that  Austria  had  140 000 
operators placing domestic and 7 000 operators placing 
imported  timber  types  onto  the  internal  market  over 
the reporting period. 

It 

The  new  Deforestation  Regulation45  will  repeal  and 
replace  the  EUTR,  as  it  will  essentially  integrate  and 
improve  the  existing  system  to  check  the  legality  of 
timber. 

Invasive alien species 

Inavise alien species (IAS) are a key cause of biodiversity 
loss  in  the  EU  (alongside  changes  in  land  and  sea  use, 
overexploitation, climate change and pollution).  
Besides  inflicting  major  damage  on  nature  and  the 
economy,  many  IAS  also  facilitate  the  outbreak  and 
spread of infectious diseases, posing a threat to humans 

42  European  Environment  Agency,  Conservation  status  and  trend  in 
conservation status by habitat group - forests, January 2022. 
43 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 20 October 2010. 
44 COM(2020) 629  
45COM(2021) 706   

Austria  14 

and wildlife.  
The  implementation  of  the  EU  Invasive  Alien  Species 
Regulation  and  other  relevant 
legislation  must  be 
stepped up.  
The  biodiversity  strategy  for  2030  aims  to  manage 
recognised  invasive  alien  species  and  decrease  the 
number of ‘red list’ species they threaten by 50%.  

The core of Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on IAS46 (‘the IAS 
Regulation’) is the list of ‘invasive alien species of Union 
concern’.  The  total  number  of  IAS  of  Union  concern  is 
currently  66,  of  which:  30  are  animal  species;  36  are 
plant species; 41 are primarily terrestrial species; 23 are 
primarily  freshwater  species;  1  is  a  brackish-water 
species; and 1 is a marine species. 

According  to  a  2021  report47  on  the  review  of  the 
application  of  the  IAS  Regulation,  progress  was  being 
made  towards  certain  objectives,  such  as  creating  a 
coherent  framework for addressing IAS at EU level and 
increasing awareness of the problem of IAS. The report 
for 
also 
improvement.  However,  given  that 
implementation 
deadlines  for  the  IAS  Regulation  were  staggered  from 
July  2016  to  July  2019,  it  is  still  too  early  to  draw 
conclusions on several aspects of implementation. 

some  challenges  and  areas 

identified 

A 2021 report48 on the baseline distribution shows that 
from  the  66  species  on  the  Union  list,  28  have  been 
observed in the environment in Austria. The spread can 
be checked in the figure below. 

Figure  13:  Number  of  invasive  alien  species  of  EU 
concern, 
georeferenced 
based 
information for Austria, 2021 

available 

on 

46 
Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament 
and  of  the  Council  of  22 October  2014  on  the  prevention  and 
management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species. 
47  Report  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  on  the  review  of  the  application  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
1143/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  22 
October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction 
and spread of invasive alien species, COM(2021) 628 final, 13.10.2021. 

48 Cardoso  A.C.,  Tsiamis  K.,  Deriu  I.,  D'  Amico  F.,  Gervasini  E.,  EU 
Regulation 1143/2014:  assessment  of  invasive  alien species of  Union 
concern  distribution,  Member  States  reports  vs  JRC  baselines,  EUR 
30689  EN,  Publications  Office  of  the  European  Union,  Luxembourg, 
2021, ISBN 978-92-76-37420-6, doi:10.2760/11150, JRC123170. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Austria  15 

services in the EU and  its Member States (MESEU)  and 
making contributions, e.g. to the creation of the map of 
European  ecosystem  types  based  on  the  EUNIS 
classification  and  ecosystem  assessment  as  part  of 
for  spatial 
ETC/SIA, 
information and analysis . Further activities are planned. 
Austria has provided updated information and progress 
has  been  made  since  January  2016.  This  assessment  is 
based  on  27  implementation  questions  and  updated 
every six months. 

the  European 

topic  centre 

Figure 14: ESMERALDA MAES Barometer (January 2016 
- March 2021)49 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Improve  the  quality,  completeness  and  ambition 
level  of  site-specific  conservation  objectives  and 
measures, including management plans, for species 
and habitats in Natura 2000 sites; 
Improve  the  conservation  of  extensively  managed 
grasslands and increase the share of grasslands that 
is managed for conservation purposes (in particular 
seminatural grassland habitats listed in Annex I and 
habitats for meadow bird species) 

  Restore  river  and  floodplain  habitats  and  improve 

 

river connectivity 
Further improve the ecological condition of forests, 
in  particular  in  terms  of  increasing  the  amount  of 
deadwood and old trees. 

Ecosystem assessment and accounting  

The  EU  biodiversity  strategy  for  2030  calls  on  Member 
States  to  better  integrate  biodiversity  considerations 
into  public  and  business  decision  making  at  all  levels 
and to develop natural capital accounting. The EU needs 
a  better-performing  biodiversity-observation  network 
and  more  consistent  reporting  on  the  condition  of 
ecosystems. 

Ecosystem  assessment-related  activities 
in  Austria 
focused  on  the  development  of  biodiversity  indicators. 
The aim was to assess the condition and importance of 
biological  diversity  in  Austria,  to  describe  ecosystem 
services  in  a  common  language  and  to  depict  possible 
conflicts. The Austrian Environment Agency  carried out 
a  nation-  wide  mapping  of  ecosystems  based  on  the 
EUNIS classification. 

At  the  European  level,  Austria’s  activities  included  the 
in  mapping  of  ecosystems  and  their 
participation 

Progress  on  ecosystem  accounting  implementation  is 
assessed  at  national  level  based  on  13  questions  (see 
Figure 14). 

2022 priority action 

 

Continue  supporting  the  mapping  and  assessment 
of  ecosystems  and  their  services,  and  ecosystem 
accounting  development, 
through  appropriate 
indicators 
integrating  ecosystem  extent, 
for 
condition  and  services  (including  some  monetary 
values) into national accounts; continue supporting 
the  development  of  national  business  and 
biodiversity  platforms, 
including  natural  capital 
accounting  systems  to  monitor  and  value  the 
impact of business on biodiversity. 

49 European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Publication Office, EU 
Ecosystem  assessment:  summary  for  policymakers,  page  80,  May 
2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Austria  16 

3. Zero pollution

reaching 

and  for  2030  onwards.  The  projections  however  do  not 
demonstrate 
reduction 
commitments  for  NH3  for  2020-2029  and    the  emission 
reduction  commitments  for  NH3  and  NOx 
  for  2030 
onwards.  

emission 

the 

According  to  the  latest  inventory  data  submitted  by 
Austria,  which  are  still 
the 
Commission,  Austria  is  in  compliance  with  the  emission 
reduction  commitments  for  all  pollutants  in  2020  with 
the exception of NH3 in 2020.  

to  be  reviewed  by 

Austria  submitted 
programme on 31 July 2019. 

its  national  air  pollution  control 

Clean air 

its 

EU  clean-air  policies  and  legislation  need  to  significantly 
improve air quality in the EU, moving the EU closer to the 
quality recommended by the WHO and curbing emissions 
of key air pollutants.  
Air  pollution  and 
impacts  on  ecosystems  and 
biodiversity  should  be  further  reduced  with  the  long-
term  aim  of  not  exceeding  critical  loads  and  levels.  This 
requires  strengthening  efforts  to  reach  full  compliance 
with EU clean-air legislation and defining strategic targets 
and actions for 2030 and beyond.  
The 2030 zero-pollution action-plan targets are to reduce 
the health impacts of air pollution by 55% and to reduce 
the EU ecosystems threatened by air pollution by 25%.  

The EU has developed a comprehensive suite of clean-air 
sets  health-based  air  quality 
legislation,  which 
standards50  and  emissions  reduction  commitments51  by  
Member State for a number of air pollutants. 

Air quality in Austria is generally good with exception of, 
for example,  exceedances of ozone and benzo(a)pyrene. 

The  latest  available  annual  estimates  (for  2019)  by  the 
European  Environment  Agency52  indicate  about  5 200 
premature  deaths  (or  53 700  years  of  life  lost  (YLL)) 
attributable  to  fine  particulate  matter  concentrations53, 
360 (3 900 YLL) to ozone concentration54 and 550 (5 700 
YLL)  to nitrogen dioxide concentrations5556.  

The  emissions  of  key  air  pollutants  have  decreased 
significantly in Austria in recent years, while GDP growth 
continued (see graph). According to the latest projections 
submitted  under  Article  10(2)  of  the  National  Emission 
Reduction  Commitments  Directive  (NECD)57,  Austria 
projects  to  reach  emission  reduction  commitments  for 
SO2, NOx, PM2.5 and NMVOC for the period 2020 to 2029 

50 European Commission, 2016. Air quality standards. 
51 European Commission, Reduction of national emissions 
52  European  Environment  Agency,  Air  quality  in  Europe  –2021  report 
Please  see  details  in  this  report  of  the  underpinning  methodology, 
p.106. 
53 Particulate  matter  (PM)  is  a  mixture  of  aerosol  particles  (solid  and 
liquid) covering a wide range of sizes and chemical compositions. PM10 
(PM2.5) refers to  particles with a  diameter  of  10  (2.5) micrometres or 
less. PM is emitted from many human sources, including combustion. 
54 Low-level ozone is produced by photochemical action on pollution. 
55 NOx  is  emitted  during  fuel  combustion  e.g.  from  industrial  facilities 
and  the  road  transport  sector.  NOx  is  a  group  of  gases  comprising 
nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). 
56 Please  note  that  these  figures  refer  to  the  impacts  of  individual 
pollutants, and to avoid double-counting cannot be added up to derive 
a sum. 
57  Directive 2016/2284/EU 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
                                                                 
Figure 15: Emission trends of main pollutants/ GDP in 
Austria, 2005-201958

Figure 16: PM2.5 and NOx emissions by sector in 
Austria (2019)59 

Austria  17 

For 2020, no levels exceeding the EU air quality standards 
were  registered  for  nitrogen  dioxide  (NO2)  particulate 
matter  (PM10),  or  fine  particulate  matter  (PM2.5).  2020 
was the year with the lowest ozone pollution of the last 
three decades, however, for several air quality zones the 
target  values  regarding  ozone  concentration  have  not 
been met.60 

Persistent  breaches  of  air  quality  requirements,  which 
have severe negative effects on health and environment, 
are  being  followed  up  by  the  European  Commission 
through  infringement  procedures  (mainly  for  PM10  and 
NO2  exceedances)  for  all  relevant  Member  States 
concerned, including Austria for exceedances of NO2 limit 
values  in  several  air  quality  zones.  The  aim  is  that 
appropriate  measures  are  put  in  place  to  bring  all  air 
quality zones within the limit values. 

Austria  has  not  yet  ratified  the  Gothenburg  Protocol 
under the UNECE Air Convention. 

In the 2019 EIR, Austria received four priority actions. The 
first  and  second  related  to  taking  specific  actions  under 
the  national  air  pollution  control  programme  (NAPCP) 
and  the  NECD  ;  given  the  situation  with  regard  to 
reaching  ammonia  reduction  commitment  remains 
unchanged,    the  priority  action  as  regards  the  NAPCP  is 
retained    The  others  addressed  air  quality  standards  , 
where Austria reported no more exceedences of EU limit 
values in 2020 for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, 
but still for ozone. 

2022 priority actions  

  As  part  of  the  NAPCP,  take  action  towards  reducing 
emissions from the main sources  mentioned above. 
  Ensure  full  compliance  with  the  EU  air  quality 
standards  and  maintain  downward  emissions  trends 
of  air  pollutants,  to  reduce  adverse  air  pollution 
impacts  on  health  and  economy  with  a  view  to 
reaching WHO guideline values in the future. 

  Accelerate  the  ratification  of  the 

  Gothenburg 

Protocol under the UNECE Air Convention. 

Industrial emissions 

The  main objectives of EU  policy on industrial emissions 
are to:  
(i) protect air, water and soil;  
(ii) prevent and manage waste;  
(iii) improve energy and resource efficiency;  
(iv) clean up contaminated sites.  

58 European Environment Agency. 
59 European Environment Agency 

60 European Environment Agency, Eionet Central Data Repository 

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Austria  18 

To  achieve  this,  the  EU  takes  an  integrated  approach  to 
the  prevention  and  control  of  routine  and  accidental 
industrial emissions. The cornerstone of the policy is the 
Industrial  Emissions  Directive61  (IED).    As  announced  in 
the European Green Deal, the Commission carried out  an 
impact  assessment  for  the  revision  of  the  IED  in  2021 
with  a  view  to  tabling  a  proposal  in  early  202262.  The 
revision seeks to enhance the  Directive’s contribution to 
the  zero  pollution  objective,  as  well  as  its  consistency 
with climate, energy and circular economy policies. 

The overview of industrial activities regulated by the IED 
is based on data reported to the EU Registry (2018).63 

In  Austria,  around  680 
installations  are 
required  to  have  a  permit  based  on  the  IED.  The 
distribution of installations is shown in the figure below. 

industrial 

Figure  18:  Emissions  to  air  from  IED  sectors  and 
rest  of  national  total  air  emissions  in  Austria, 
201864 

The  industrial  sectors  in  Austria  with  the  most  IED 
installations in 2018 were the waste management sector 
(38%), 
surface 
treatment  of  metals  (8%),  energy  sector  (6%)  and  food 
and drink sector (6%). 

chemicals  production 

(12%), 

the 

The  industrial  sectors 
identified  as  contributing  the 
largest  burden  to  the  environment  for  emissions  to  air 
‘Other  activities’  (mostly,  surface  treatment, 
were: 
intensive  rearing  of  poultry  or  pigs  and  pulp  paper)  for 
non-methane  volatile  organic  compounds  (NMVOCs), 
ammonia  (NH3),  nitrogen  oxides  (NOx),  cadmium  (Cd), 
lead  (Pb),  mercury  (Hg)  and  particulate  matter  (PM2.5); 
metal  production  for  sulphur  oxides  (SOx),  Pb,  Hg,  Cd, 
dioxins and NOx; the energy–power sector for Hg, Cd, Pb, 
NOx,  SOx,  dioxins  and  PM2.5;  chemicals  production  for 
NMVOCs and SOx; and the waste management sector for 
dioxins and Hg. 

Figure  17:  Number  of  IED  industrial  installations  per 

sector in Austria, 2018 

61 Directive  2010/75/EU  covers  industrial  activities  carried  out  above 
certain thresholds. It covers energy industry, metal production, mineral 
and chemical industry and waste management, as well as a wide range 
of  industrial  and agricultural  sectors  (e.g.  intensive  rearing  of  pigs  and 
poultry, pulp and paper production, painting and cleaning). 
62 The revision of the IED is carried out in parallel with  the revision of 
Regulation  (EC)  No  166/2006  on  the  European  Pollutant  Release  and 
Transfer Register (E-PRTR). 
63 European Environment Agency, European Industrial Emissions Portal 

The  environmental  burdens  for  industrial  emissions  to 
water  mainly  result  from  the  production  of  pulp  and 
paper,  food  and  drink  sector  and  the  metals  sector  for 

64 European  Environment  Agency,  LRTAP,  Air  pollutant  emissions  data 
viewer  (Gothenburg  Protocol,  LRTAP  Convention)  1990-2019  (data 
retrieved on 3 November 2021). 

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Austria  19 

nitrogen,  phosphorous  and  total  organic  carbon,  from 
waste  management  activities  for  polycyclic  aromatic 
hydrocarbons, from metals and pulp and paper industries 
for heavy metals. The breakdown, based on E-PRTR data, 
is presented in the figure below. 

Figure  19:  Relative  releases  to  water  from  industry  in 
Austria65, 201866 

Site visits are carried out between once a year and once 
every  3  years,  depending  on  the  environmental  risks 
posed  by  the  installations.  In  2018,  Austria  undertook 
162  site  visits,  the  majority  of  which  were  to  waste 
management activities other than landfills (25%), landfill 
sites (10%), installations for chemicals production (10%), 
followed by the power sector (10%) and pulp and paper 
production (10%). 

Figure 20: Number of inspections in IED installations in 
Austria in 201868  

The  EU  approach  to  enforcement  under  the  IED  creates 
strong  rights  for  citizens  to  have  access  to  relevant 
information and to participate in the permitting process. 
This empowers citizens and NGOs to ensure that permits 
are appropriately granted and their conditions respected. 
inspection,  competent 
As  part  of  environmental 
authorities  undertake  site  visits  at  IED  installations  to 
take samples and to gather necessary information.  

Austria  transposed  the  IED  differently  in  each  industrial 
sector  and  in  each  of  the  nine  Länder.  Due  to  the  large 
number of legal acts, which  are not always adopted in a 
co-ordinated  way,  some  obligations  have  not  been  fully 
in  each  Land.  This  
implemented  in  each  sector  or 
particularly  affects  rules  on  public  consultation  and 
access  to 
justice.  Affected  members  of  the  public 
concerned are not guaranteed to have access to justice in 
all  cases  specified  by  the  Directive.  An  infringement 
procedure on this subject is pending and the Commission 
called on Austria to remedy the situation.67 

The  development  of  Best  Available  Techniques  (BAT) 
Reference  Documents  (BREFs)  and  BAT  Conclusions 
ensures  a  good  collaboration  with  stakeholders  and 
enables  a  better  implementation  of  the  IED69.  Since  the 
last  EIR  report,  BAT  Conclusions  were  adopted  for  (i) 
waste 
food,  drink  and  milk 
industries;  and  (iii)  surface  treatment  using  organic 
solvents  including  the  preservation  of  wood  and  wood 
products with chemicals. 

incineration; 

(ii)  the 

The  Commission  relies  on  the  efforts  of  national 
competent  authorities  to  implement  the  legally  binding 
BAT  conclusions  and  associated  BAT  emission  levels  in 
environmental permits, resulting in continuous pollution 
reduction.  

In  2019,  Austria  received  priority  actions  to  review 
permits  and  to  strengthen  control  and  enforcement  to 
ensure  compliance  with  BAT  conclusions.  These  actions 
have  been  followed  up  by  the  Commission  through  the 

65 The  heavy  metals  are  presented  both  as  a  weighted  sum  of  eco 
toxicity and human toxicity factors to illustrate both the ecological and 
human impact (based on USEtox). 
66 European  Environment  Agency,  E-PRTR,  European 
Emissions Portal (data retrieved on 3 November 2021). 
67 April infringements package: key decisions (europa.eu) 

Industrial 

68  European  Environment  Agency,  EU  Registry,  European  Industrial 
Emissions Portal (data retrieved on 3 November 2021). Some categories 
in  the  figure  combine  more  than  one  IED  Annex  I  sub-activities,  e.g. 
‘Cement  ‘  combines  IED  Annex  I  3.1  activities  (a,b,c),  and  ‘Pulp  and 
paper’ combines IED Annex I 6.1 activities (a,b,c).  
69 European Commission, BAT reference documents 

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Austria  20 

reporting  by  Austria  to  the  EU  Registry  and  the 
Commission 
is  currently  verifying  with  Austria  the 
reported information about the permits granted for each 
installation in the scope of the IED. In addition, as already 
mentioned, an infringement on the correct transposition 
is pending.  

essential  to  allow  proper  preparation  and  effective 
implementation  of  the  necessary  actions  to  protect  the 
environment  and  the  population  should  a  major 
industrial accident occur at them.)  

Figure 21: Number of Seveso establishments in Austria, 
2011, 2014 and 201874 

industrial  accidents  prevention  – 

Major 
SEVESO 

The  main  objectives  of  EU  policy  on  the  prevention  of 
major industrial accidents are to: 
(i)  control  major  accident  hazards  involving  dangerous 
substances, especially chemicals;  
(ii)  limit  the  consequences  of  such  accidents  for  human 
health and the environment;  
(iii)  continuously  improve  prevention,  preparedness  and 
response to major accidents.  
. 

The cornerstone of the policy is the Directive 2012/18/EU 
(the Seveso-III Directive70). 

Austria  transposed  Directive  2012/18/EU  (Seveso  III 
Directive) differently in each industrial sector and in each 
of the nine Länder. Due to the large number of legal acts, 
not  always  adopted 
in  a  co-ordinated  way,  some 
obligations  have  not  been  fully  implemented  in  each 
sector or in each Land. In particular, it is not  ensured in 
all  cases  the  public  concerned 
is  given  an  early 
opportunity  to  give  its  opinion  on  specific  individual 
projects.  An  infringement  procedure  on  this  subject  is 
pending71.  

The below overview of industrial plants regulated by  the 
Seveso-III  Directive,  (‘Seveso  establishments’),  is  based 
on data reported to the eSPIRS database (2018)72 and the 
Austria  report  on  the  implementation  of  the  Seveso-III 
Directive for the period 2015-201873. 

In  Austria,  an  EEP 
is  required  for  87  upper-tier 
establishments.  In  2018,  85  such  establishments  had  an 
EPP  and  all  of  these  plans  had  been  tested  within  the 
previous  3  years.  The  summary  is  shown  in  Figure  22 
below.  

Figure 22: Situation regarding EEP in Austria, 201875 

In Austria, among the 163 Seveso establishments, 75 are 
categorised as lower-tier establishments (LTEs) and 88 as 
upper-tier  establishments  (UTEs,    based  on  the  quantity 
of  hazardous  substances  likely  to  be  present.  Upper-tier 
stringent 
subject 
establishments 
requirements. 

to  more 

are 

Many  Seveso  establishments  are  required  to  draw  up 
(EEPs).  These  EEPs  are 
external  emergency  plans 

The  information  forthe  public  referred  to  in  Annex  V  of 
the Seveso-III Directive – especially in relation to how the 

70 Directive 2012/18/EU  
71 European Commisson infringements; INFR(2020)2104 
72 European Commission, Seveso Plants Information Retrieval System  
73 As provided for by Article 21(2) of the Seveso-III Directive 

74 European Commission, Assessment and summary of Member States’ 
implementation  reports  for 
Implementing  Decision  2014/896/EU 
(implementing  Directive  2012/18/EU  on  the  control  of  major  accident 
hazards involving dangerous substances), 2022. 
75 idem. 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
                                                                 
public  concerned  will  be  alerted  if  there  is  a  major 
accident,  appropriate  behaviour  to  take  in  such  a  case  , 
and  the  date  of  the  last  site  visit  –  are  permanently 
available  for  100%  of  the  Seveso  establishments  in 
Austria.  This  is  an  important  provision  in  the  Seveso-III 
Directive  as  the  public  knowledge  of  this  information 
reduce the consequences of a major industrial accident. 

The  share  of  upper-tier  establishments 
for  which 
information on safety measures and requisite behaviours 
were actively made available to the public in recent years 
is presented in Figure 23 below.  

Austria has  an infringement  as regards the transposition 
of the Seveso-III Directive (see also IED Directive). 

Figure 23: Share of UTEs for which information on safety 
measures  and  requisite  behaviours  was  actively  made 
available to the public in Austria, 2011, 2014 and 201876 

2022 priority action 

 

Strengthen  control  and  enforcement  to  ensure 
compliance  with  Seveso-III  Directive  provisions, 
especially on EEPs. 

Noise 

The  Environmental  Noise  Directive77  provides  for  a 
common  approach  to  avoid,  prevent  and  reduce  the 
harmful  effects  of  exposure  to  environmental  noise 
although  it  does  not  set  noise  limits  as  such.  The  main 
instruments  it  uses  in  this  respect  are  strategic  noise 
mapping  and  planning.  A  relevant  2030  zero  pollution 
action  plan  target  is  a  reduction  by  30%  of  the  share  of 
people 
transport  noise 
compared to 2017. 

chronically  disturbed  by 

76 idem. 
77 Directive 2002/49/EC 

Austria  21 

Excessive noise from aircraft, railways and roads is one of 
the  main  causes  of  environmental  health‐related  issues 
in  the  EU.  It  can  cause  ischaemic  heart  disease,  stroke, 
interrupted sleep, cognitive impairment and stress78. 

is  estimated  to  cause  at 

In Austria, based on a limited set of data79, environmental 
noise 
least  around  460 
premature  deaths  and  1100  cases  of  ischaemic  heart 
disease  annually80.  Moreover,  some  225  000  people 
suffer  from  disturbed  sleep.  In  Austria,  overall  noise 
exposure  increased  by  10%  between  2012  and  2017 
based on reported data. On the basis of the latest full set 
of information that has been analysed noise mapping of 
agglomerations, roads and railways has been completed. 

Water quality and management 

EU  legislation  and  policy  requires  that  the  impact  of 
pressures  on  transitional,  coastal  and  fresh  waters 
(including  surface  and  ground  waters)  be  significantly 
reduced.  Achieving,  maintaining  or  enhancing  a  good 
status  of  water  bodies  as  defined  by  the  Water 
Framework Directive  will  ensure that  EU citizens benefit 
from good quality and safe drinking and bathing water. It 
will  further  ensure  that  the  nutrient  cycle  (nitrogen  and 
phosphorus)  is  managed  in  a  more  sustainable  and 
resource-efficient way. 

Water Framework Directive 

The  Water  Framework  Directive 
the 
cornerstone of EU water policy in the 21st century82. The 
WFD    with  other  water-related  legislation83  set  the 
integrated  water 
sustainable  and 
framework 
management, which aims at a high level of protection of 

(WFD)81 

for 

is 

78 WHO 2018, Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region 
79 For  further  information:  European  Environment  Agency,  Noise  Fact 
Sheets 2021. 
80 These  figures  are  an  estimation  by  the  European  Environmental 
Agency  based  on  :  (i)  the  data  reported  by  Member  States  on  noise 
exposure  covered  by  Directive  2002/49/EC;  (ii)  ETC/ATNI,  2021,  Noise 
indicators under the Environmental Noise Directive 2021: Methodology 
for  estimating  missing  data,  ETC/ATNI  Report  No  2021/06,  European 
Topic Centre on Air Pollution, Transport, Noise and Industrial Pollution; 
(iii)  the  methodology  for  health  impact  calculations,  ETC/ACM,  2018, 
Implications of environmental noise on health and wellbeing in Europe, 
Eionet  Report  ETC/ACM  No  2018/10,  European  Topic  Centre  on  Air 
Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation. 
81 The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). 
82 The EU Water Policy. 
83 Groundwater Directive (GWD) (2006/118/EC); Environmental Quality 
Standards  Directive  (EQSD)  (2008/105/EC);  Floods  Directive  (FD) 
(2007/60/EC);  Bathing  Waters  Directive  (2006/7/EC);  Urban  Waste 
Water  Treatment  Directive  (91/271/EEC);  Drinking  Water  Directive 
(2020/2184/EC),  Nitrates  Directive  (91/676/EEC),  Marine  Strategy 
Framework  Directive  (MSFD)  (2008/56/EC), 
Industrial  Emissions 
Directive 
(2010/75/EU)  and  the  Regulation  on  minimum 
requirements for water reuse (2020/741). 

(IED) 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
 
of 
water 
deterioration and restoration to good status.  

prevention 

resources, 

Austria  22 

further 

Figure 24:  Proportion  of  surface  water  bodies  (rivers, 
lakes, transitional and coastal waters) in less than good 
ecological status per River Basin District89 

By  March  2022,  Member  States  had  to  report  the  third 
generation  of  river  basin  management  plans  (RBMPs) 
under  the  WFD.  Austria  has  recently  reported  the  third 
RBMPs.  The  Commission  will  assess  the  reported  status 
and progress, checking how the findings identified in the 
second  RBMPs84  have  been 
assessment  of 
addressed..  When  it  carried  out  its  assessment  of  the 
second  generation  of  plans,  the  Commission  informed 
Austria.    about  the  main  shortcomings  it  had  identified. 
These  related  to  the  timely  adoption  of  RBMPs,  funding 
of  measures 
for  hydromorphological 
pressures),  tackling  chemical  pollution  and  ensuring  the 
implementation of Article 9 of the WFD.  

(particularly 

the 

In December 2021, the Commission also published the 6th 
Implementation Report, which assess implementation of 
the WFD and the Floods Directive85. This report includes 
implementation  of  the 
an  assessment  of:  (i)  the 
programmes  of  measures;  and  (ii)  the  new  priority 
substances.  The  assessment  report  for  Austria86  showed 
that the measures listed in the second RBMP have been 
implemented  as  planned,  both  in  substance  and  timing, 
but  national and international efforts are  still needed to 
meet  the  objectives  in  the  WFD.  One  of  the  tasks 
remaining 
of 
hydromorphological  pressures  and  diffuse  sources  of 
nutrient pollution in agricultural areas. 

mitigation 

ongoing 

the 

is 

Based  on  the  reporting  in  the  second  RBMPs  and  data 
published  in  202087,  in  Austria   46.6 %   of  all  surface 
water  bodies88 have  good  ecological  status  (with  1.3 % 
having  an  unknown  status ),  but 100 %  fail  to   achieve 
persistent, 
good 
bioaccumultive 
(uPBTs) 
toxic 
included.  For groundwaters, 2.9 % failed to achieve good 
chemical  status,  but  100 %  are  in  good  quantitative 
status. 

substances 

ubiquitous 

chemical 

status, 

and 

The  following  figure  presents  the  percentage of surface 
water  bodies  in Austria and  other  European  countries 
failing  to  achieve  good  chemical  status.   For  Austria  this 
percentage is 100 %, if one includes water bodies failing 
due  to  substances  behaving  as  uBTPs..  Without  these, 
100  %  of  surface  water  bodies  achieve  good  chemical 
status. 

Figure 25: Percentage  of  surface  water  bodies  not 
achieving good chemical status90 

The  figure  below  illustrates  the proportion  of  surface 
water  bodies in Austria and  other  European  countries 
that failed to achieve good ecological status.  

84  Detailed  information  can  be  found  in  the  5th  Report  from  the 
Commission on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 
and the Floods Directive, as well as in the 2019 EIR. 
85 See the 6th Implementation Report of the WFD and FD. 
86 See the assessment report for Austria. 
87 WISE freshwater 
88 Rivers, lakse, transitional, coastal, and territorial waters 

Under  the  IED  framework,  Austria  showed  a  significant 
decrease  over  the  last  decade  (33.6  %)  in  industrial 

89 European Environment Agency, 2O21   
90 European Environment Agency, December 2019 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
releases  of  heavy  metals  like  Cd,  Hg,  Ni,  Pb  and  in  total 
organic carbon (22.6 %) to water91. 

in  Austria 

Total  water  abstracted  annually  from  surface  and 
groundwater  sources 
is  approximately 
5480 hm3    92.  The  percentage  for  water  abstraction  per 
sector is 0.41 % for agriculture, 16.84 % for public water 
supply, 
for 
manufacturing,  as  illustrated  in  the  following  figure. 
Austria uses  a  register to  control  water  abstractions. All 
abstractions subject to a permit in Austria are  registered. 

electricity, 

49.09 % 

33.66 % 

for 

Figure 26: Water abstraction per sector in Austria93 

In  Austria, 
index  plus 
the  water  exploitation 
(WEI+)94  is 1.78 % (in 2017) – far below the 20 % which is 
indication  of  water 
generally  considered  to  be  an 
scarcity95. Austria  ranks  17th  (from  high  to  low  score)  in  
EU level in terms of WEI+ . 

Figure 27 :  Water  exploitation  index  plus  (WEI+)  inside 
EU, 201796 

91 European Environment Agency, June 2021. 
92 European Environment Agency, 2022 
93 European Environment Agency, December 2019 
94 The Water exploitation index plus (WEI+) is a measure of total fresh 
water use as a percentage of the renewable fresh water resources 
(groundwater and surface water) at a given time and place. It quantifies 
how much water is abstracted and how much water is returned after 
use to the environment. 
95 By May 2022, EEA will develop seasonal WEI+ at river basin and 
NUTS2 level, which provide a more complete picture of water stress 
and water scarcity for each Member State. 
96 Eurostat, Water exploitation index plus, 2022 

Austria  23 

It  can  be  highlighted  as  a  good  practice  that  Austria,  in 
order to adapt the level of capacity to the complexity of 
water  challenges,  promotes  the  education  and  certified 
training  of  water  professionals, 
institutions  and 
stakeholders, via professional associations97 

Floods Directive  

In  December  2021,  the  Commission  published  the  6th 
Implementation  Report.  It  includes  the  review  of  and 
updates to the preliminary flood risk assessments during 
the  second  cycle  (2016-2021).The  assessment  report 
showed  that  Austria  comprehensively  identified  past 
floods,  and  reported  the  extent  or  area  of  all  floods,  as 
well as any recurrence. Damage has been reported for all 
floods,  with  qualitative  descriptions 
some 
quantitative  information,  as  far  as  possible.  It  is  worth 
highlighting  that  very  transparent  and  clear  quantitative 
thresholds are being used to designate areas of potential 
significant  flood  risk  However,  Austria’s  preliminary 
assessment of flood risks needs further improvement.  

and 

Austria has recently  adopted  and  reported the  second 
generation  of  flood  risk  management  plans  (FRMPs) 
under 
Directive.The European 
Commission will assess  progress  since  the  adoption  of 
the  first  FRMPs  and  publish  a  new  report,  as  it  did  in 
2019. 

Floods 

the 

Drinking Water Directive  

On the Drinking Water Directive 98, no new assessment of 
the quality of  drinking water became available  since the 
2019 EIR. The quality of drinking water in Austria has not 
been indicated as an area of concern. 

The  recast  Directive99  entered  into  force  on  12  January 
2021, and Member States have until 12 January 2023 to 
transpose  it  into  their  national  legal  system.  Austria  will 
have to comply with these reviewed quality standards. 

Bathing Water Directive  

Regarding  the  Bathing  Water  Directive,  Figure  28  shows 
that in 2020, out of the 261 Austrian bathing waters 97.7 
%  were  of  excellent  quality,  1.9  %  were  of  good  quality 
and  none  were  of  poor  quallity100.  Detailed  information 
on    Austrian  bathing  waters  is  available  from  a  national 

97 OECD,2021 
98 OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, pp. 32–54 
99 OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1–62. 
100 European Environment Agency, 2021. State of bathing water   

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
  
                                                                 
portal 101  and  via  an  interactive  map  viewer  from  the 
European Environment Agency. 

Figure  28:  Bathing  water  quality  in  Europe  in  the  2020 
season102 

Figure 29: Bathing water quality 2017-2020103 

Austria  24 

improved as compared to the previous reporting perdiod, 
with the percentage of stations exceeding 50 mg nitrate 
per  litre  going  from  8.1 %  to  7.2 %.  There  is  a  well-
developed  network  of  monitoring 
stations.  The 
groundwater  quality  is  good  in  most    regions,  although 
hotspots  remain  in  certain  regions,  especially  in  the 
agriculture-intensive  parts  in  Lower  and  Upper  Austria. 
The updated nitrate action programme dating from 2018 
includes stricter measures for hotspots. 

Nitrate  loads  have  room  to  fall  further,  in  particular  in 
areas  that  currently  have  high  nitrate  concentrations, 
thanks to the measures taken. The favourable conditions 
reported  so  far  in  large  parts  of  Austria,  where  nitrate 
concentrations  have  been  comparatively  low  and  stable 
for years, are expected to continue. 

, There  has been  a  marked improvement  eutrophication 
in inland waters since the last reporting period. The share 
of  surface  waters  that  are  non  eutrophic  rose  from 
19.6  % to 81.2 %. 

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 

Austria  has  excellent  compliance  rates 
wastewater treatment.104 

for  urban 

Figure  30: Proportion of urban waste water that  meets 
all  requirements  of  the  UWWTD  (collection,  biological 
treatment,  biological  treatment  with  nitrogen  and/or 
phosphorus  removal)  in  compliant  urban  areas  of  the 
UWWTD (‘compliance rate’), 2018105 

Nitrates Directive 

According  to  the 
lates  Commission  report  on  the 
implementation  of  the  Nitrates  Directive  covering  2016-
in  Austria  has  slightly 
2019,  groundwater  quality 

101 Österreichische  Agentur  für  Gesundheit  und  Ernährungssicherheit, 
Badegewässermonitoring  
102 European Environment Agency, bBathing water quality in 2020 

103 European  Environment  Agency,  European  Bathing  Water  Quality  in 
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 

The  2022  priority  actions  for  Austria  arise  from  the  6th 
Implementation  Report  on 
the  Water  Framework 
Directive. 

104 European  Environment  Agency  Freshwater  Information  System  for 
Europe 
105 European Commission, WISE Freshwater, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
  
 
 
                                                                 
2022 priority actions 

 

 

current 

to 
and 

mitigate 
Continue 
efforts 
hydromorphological  pressures 
counteract 
diffuse  sources  of  nutrient  pollution  in  agricultural 
areas. 
Ensure  sufficient  funding  to  implement  measures 
from 
in  addressing 
hydromorphological pressures. 

in  particular 

the  RBMPs, 

Chemicals 

The EU seeks to ensure that chemicals are produced and 
used  in  a  way  that  minimises  any  significant  adverse 
effects  on  human  health  and  the  environment. 
In 
October  2020,  the  Commission published  its  chemicals 
strategy  for  sustainability  -  “Towards  a  Toxic-Free 
Environment106  which  lead  to  some  systemic  changes  in 
EU chemicals legislation.  The strategy is part of the EU’s 
zero-pollution-ambition  –  a    key  commitment  of  the 
European Green Deal. 

EU 

chemical 

legislation107 provides  baseline 
The 
protection for human health and the environment. It also 
ensures  stability  and  predictability 
for  businesses 
operating within the single market. 

Since 2007, the Commission has gathered information on 
the  enforcement  of  the  Regulation  on  the  Registration, 
Evaluation,  Authorisation  and  Restriction  of Chemicals 
(‘the  REACH  Regulation’)  and 
the  Regulation  on 
Classification, Labelling and Packaging (‘CLP Regulation’). 
In  December  2020,  the  Commission  assessed  the 
Member  States’  reports  on  the  implementation  and 
enforcement  of  these  Regulations108,  in  line  with  Article 
117(1) of the REACH Regulation and  Article 46(2) of the 
CLP  Regulation.  According  to  the  latest  available  data, 
national enforcement structures have not changed much 
in recent years. However, it is apparent from this report 
that 
the 
implementation  of  the  REACH  and  CLP  Regulations,  and 
notably  in  the  area  of 
law  enforcement.  Recorded 
compliance  levels  in  Member  States  seem  to  be  quite 
stable over time, but with a slight worsening trend, which 
is  likely  due  to:  (i)  enforcement  authorities  being  more 
effective 
non-compliant 
(ii)  more  non-compliant 
products/companies;  and 
products  being  put  on  the  EU  market.  According  to  the 
latest  available  data,  national  enforcement  structures 
have  not  changed  much.  However,  it  is  apparent  from 
this  report  that  there  are  still  many  disparities  in  the 
REACH-CLP  implementation  and  notably  in  the  area  of 

still  many  disparities 

detecting 

there 

are 

in 

in 

106 COM(2020) 667 final 
107 REACH: OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p.1. -  CLP: OJ L 252, 31.12.2006, p.1 
108 European Commission, Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting, 2020 

Austria  25 

the  law  enforcement  among  the  Member  States.  The 
recorded compliance levels seem to be quite stable over 
time,  but  with  a  slight  worsening  trend  likely  due  to 
enforcement  authorities  being  more  effective 
in 
detecting  noncompliant  products/companies  and  more 
non-compliant products being put on the EU market. 

In August 2021, the Commission published an assessment 
of the enforcement109 of the two main EU Regulations on 
chemicals using a set of indicators on different aspects of 
enforcement.   

Responsibility  for  checking  compliance  with  REACH  in 
Austria  rests  with  the  state  authorities  of  the  Länder.110 
Austria  has  devised  and  fully  implementedenforcement 
strategies  for  both  REACH  and  CLP111.  These  focus  on 
programmes on special duties of REACH and CLP, mixing 
proactive and reactive enforcement. 

As  a  rule,  all  infringements  of  REACH  are  classed  as 
serious  or  very  serious  environmental  administrative 
offences.  If  the  infringement  is  sufficiently  serious,  the 
impose  further 
competent  authority  may  decide  to 
penalties  in  addition  to  a  fine.  That  authority  may 
also, where  necessary, order  the  provisional  seizure  of 
assets and documents.  

In Austria, 18 staff (two in each Bundesland) are allocated 
to  REACH  and  CLP  enforcement112. There  were  1 124 
REACH  controls  during    the  reporting  period  and  2 061  
CLP controls. The percentage of non-compliance cases out 
of  the  total  number  of  REACH  and  CLP  controls,  is  far 
below the EU-average113. 

109 European  Commission,  REACH  and  CLP  enforcement:  EU  level 
enforcement indicators 
110 European Commission, Final report_REACH-CLP MS  reporting , p. 68 
111 idem, p. 76 
112 idem, p. 74 
113 idem, p. 87f 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Figure 31: Percentage % of non-compliance cases out of 
the total number of REACH and CLP controls during 
2019 per Member State and compared to the EU 
average114 

Austria  26 

2022 priority ction 

  Upgrade 

the 

on 
administrative 
implementation  and  enforcement  towards    zero 
tolerance of non-compliances. 

capacities 

114 idem, pp.87 - 88 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
Austria  27 

4. Climate action 

In its RRP, Austria allocates an amount equivalent to 57 % 
of the EU contribution to climate objectives and outlines 
crucial  reforms  and  investments  to  further  the  green 
transition (see Chapter 5). 

Austria adopted its national adaptation strategy in 2012, 
and  revised  it  in  2019.  As  a  part  of  the  strategy,  the 
national adaptation plan has been adopted. 

Economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions in Austria have 
decreased 6 %  between 1990 and 2020. 

Figure  32:  Total  greenhouse  gas  emissions 
international aviation) in Austria, 1990-2020  

(incl. 

Effort sharing target  

For emissions not covered by the EU's emissions trading 
system  (ETS),  Member  States  have  binding  national 
targets  under  the  Effort  Sharing  Regulation  for  2021-
2030.  Under  EU  legislation,  Austria  has  a  target  of 
reducing  greenhouse  gas  emissions 
in  the  non-ETS 
sectors (buildings, road and domestic maritime transport, 
agriculture, waste and small industries) by 16 % by 2020 
and 36 % by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. The country’s 
non-ETS  emissions  in  2019  were  slightly  above  its  2020 
target  of  reducing  by  -36 %  compared  to  2005.  In  its 
National  Energy  and  Climate  Plan,  Austria  intends  to 
achieve  less  reductions  than  its  current  ESR  target  for 
2030 of -36 %. 

to 

(NDC) 

contributions 

The  EU  and  its  Member  States  submitted  updated 
nationally-determined 
the 
UNFCCC in December 2020.  
The  EU  is  working  across  all  sectors  and  policies  to  cut 
GHG  emissions  and  make  the  transition  to  a  climate-
neutral  and  sustainable  economy,  as  well  as  addressing 
the unavoidable consequences of climate change.  
EU  climate  legislation  incentivises  emissions  reductions 
from  transport,  the  maritime  sector  and  fluorinated 
gases (F-gases) used in products.  
For  road  transport,  EU  legislation  requires  the  GHG 
intensity  of  vehicle  fuels  to  be  cut  by  6%  by  2020 
compared  to  2010115  and  sets  binding  GHG  emission 
standards for different vehicle categories116.  
Under the F-gas Regulation, the EU’s F-gas emissions will 
be cut by two thirds by 2030 compared with 2014 levels. 
From  2021,  emissions  and  removals  of  GHGs  from 
LULUCF have been included in the EU emission-reduction 
efforts.  

to 

report  on 

The  EU  adaptation  policy  is  an  integral  part  of  the 
European  Green  Deal.  From  2021,  Member  States  are 
required 
their  national  adaptation 
policies117,  as  the  EU  Climate  Law  recognises  adaptation 
as a key component of the long-term global response to 
climate change. Member States will be required to adopt 
national  strategies,  and  the  EU  will  regularly  assess 
progress  as  part  of  its  overall  governance  on  climate 
action. The updated EU adaptation strategy, published in 
February  2021,  sets  out  how  the  EU  can  adapt  to  the 
unavoidable  impacts  of  climate  change  and  become 
climate resilient by 2050. 

Key national climate policies and strategies 

Austria  has  an  integrated  national  energy  and  climate 
plan  (NECP)  covering  2021-2030.  The  work  is  consistent 
with its 2050 long-term strategy. The national objective is 
to reduce emissions by 36% by 2030 and become climate 
neutral by 2050 at the latest, without the use of nuclear 
energy.  To  this  end,  additional  measures  to  reach  the 
climate  targets  are  needed.  The  new  government  has 
committed to adjust the national energy and climate plan 
to  ensure  it  meets  the  2030  GHG  emissions  goal,  and 
seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. 

115  The Fuel  Quality  Directive (Directive 98/70/EC)  sets  strict  quality 
requirements  for  fuels  used  in  road  transport  in  the  EU  to  protect 
human health and the environment, and to make road travel across the 
EU safer. 
116 Directive 98/70/EC. 
117 Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
Austria  28 

Road transport  in Austria in 2019 represented 29.6 % of 
the  total  greenhouse  gas  emissions.  Emissions  have 
decreased by 3% compared to 2005. Reducing transport-
related  emissions  is  key  for  Austria’s  shift  to  climate 
for  meeting  air  quality  standards. 
neutrality,  and 
According  to  the  NECP,  the  transport  sector  has  the 
greatest  potential 
(-7.2 million t CO2eq by 2030 compared to 2016).  

for  GHG  emission 

reduction                   

Austria’s  RRP  comprises  the  following  reforms  and 
investments  for  eco-friendly  mobility:  the  Klimaticket, 
and  the  “Mobility    Masterplan”,  support    for  zero-
emission  buses,  and  a  large-scale  rollout  of  electric 
vehicles and charging stations of EUR 256 million as well 
as expanding the electrified rail network between regions 
with EUR 543 million. 

Figure  35:  Greenhouse  gas  emissions  by  sector  in 
Austria118  –  historical  emissions  1990-2019,  projections 
2021-2030119 

Figure  33:  Emissions  and  targets  under  the  Effort 
Sharing  Decision/  Effort  Sharing  Regulation  in  Austia, 
2020 and 2030 as percentage change from 2005 

Figure 34: Emissions, annual emission allocations (AEAs) 
and  accumulated  surplus/  deficit  of  AEAs  under  the 
Effort Sharing Decision in Austria 2013-2020 

Key sectoral developments 

In  road  transport,  the  GHG  intensity  of  vehicle  fuels  in 
Austria  has  decreased  by  3.2  %  from  2010  to  2019.  The 
country needs to act swiftly to meet the reduction target 
of  6%  by  2020.  There  are  several  types  of  action  that 
Member  States  can  take  in  this  regard,  for  example:  (i) 
further expanding the use of electricity in road transport; 
(ii) supporting the use of biofuels, and advanced biofuels 
in  particular;  (iii)  incentivising  the  development  and 
deployment  of  renewable  fuels  of  non-biological  origin; 
and  (iv)  reducing  upstream  emissions  before  refining 
processes. 

Emissions  from  buildings  have  seen  a  continuous 
downward  trend  since  1990;  they  were  40 %  lower  in 
2020  than  they  had  been  in  1990.  The  RRP  includes  a 
number of measures to further reduce GHG emissions in 
this sector, including from old oil heating. 

GHG  emissions  from  agriculture  decreased  by  12  % 
between  1990  and  2003,  but  have  remained  broadly 
stable since then.  

118  The  sectors  in  the  figure  correspond  to  the  following  IPCC  sectors: 
Energy supply: 1A1, 1B and 1C. Energy use in manufacturing industries: 
1A2.  Industrial  processes  and  product  use:  2.  Transport:  1A3.  Other 
energy  use:  1A4,  1A5  and  6.  Agriculture:  3.  Waste:  5.  International 
aviation: 1.D.1.a. 
119 European Environmental Agency, Total GHG trends and projections. 

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
In  the  land  use,  land  use  change  and  forestry  (LULUCF) 
sector,  Austria  expects  a  further  decrease  of  net 
removals  from  the  land  use  and  forestry  sink  by  2030. 
Quantities  reported  under  the  Kyoto  Protocol  for  the 
LULUCF  sector  in  Austria  show  net  removals  of,  on 
average,  -5.3 Mt  CO2-eq for the period 2013 to  2019. In 
this  regard,  Austria  contributes  with  1.5%  to  the  annual 
average  sink  of  -344.9  Mt  CO2-eq  of  the  EU-27. 
Accounting for the same period depicts net credits of, on 
average,  -4.4  Mt  CO2-eq,  which  corresponds  to  3.8%  of 
the EU-27 accounted sink of -115.0 Mt CO2-eq. Reported 
net  removals  increase  moderately  over  the  period,  but 
accounted net credits show no noticeable trend.  

Figure  36:  Reported  and  accounted  emissions  and 
removals from LULUCF in Austria 120  

Austria  29 

2022 priority actions  

 

The  energy  system 
infrastructure  needs  to  be 
adapted  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  green 
storage 
in 
transition. 
infrastructure, 
distribution 
networks is needed to support the transformation of 
the energy system. 

investment 
and 

transmission 

Significant 

  Reaching EU and national climate targets will require 
further  broadening  and  improving  the  pricing  of 
greenhouse  gas  emissions  to  accelerate  the  green 
transition. 

  Austria’s  NECP  implied  an  increase  of  bioenergy 
through 
forest  management.  The 
sustainability  of  biomass  use  must  be  ensured  and 
biodiversity must be taken into consideration. 

sustainable 

Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU ETS 
allowances 

Total  revenues  from  auctioning  emissions  allowances 
under the EU ETS in 2012-2021 were over EUR 1,2 billion. 
In  Austria  revenues  are  not  earmarked.  National 
spending  on  climate  and  energy  is  >100 %  of  auctioning 
revenues.  In  several  years,  climate  and  energy  projects 
financed  from  national  budget  were  reported,  even 
though  their  funding  cannot  be  directly  linked  to  the 
auctioning revenues. 

120  The  differences  between  reported  and  accounted  emissions  from 
LULUCF under the Kyoto Protocol are described in the ‘explanatory note 
on  LULUCF  –  accounted  and  reported  quantities  under  the  Kyoto 
Protocol’.   

Environmental Implementation Review  2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part II: Enabling framework: Implementation tools 

5. Financing

Austria  30 

Environmental investment needs in the EU 

Financing  environmental  measures  is  essential  for  their 
success.  Although  most  financing  comes  from  national 
sources, various EU funds contribute significantly, helping 
to close the financing gaps between countries. 

Post-2020,  environmental  measures  will  also  be 
supported by the EU’s  COVID-19 Recovery  Fund (via  the 
‘do  no 
Recovery  and  Resilience  Facility)  and  the 
significant  harm’  principle,  which  runs  across  the  EU 
budget. 
The  renewed  commitments  made  at  COP26  (Glasgow, 
Biodiversity 
October-November 
Convention(April-May  2022)121  will  also  be  reflected  in 
the EU budget. 

2021) 

and 

the 

Overall environmental investment gaps (EU-27) 

The EU’s green transition investment needs cover a range 
of  interlinked  areas.  The  additional  investment  needs 
over  the  baselines  (i.e.  the  gap)  for  climate,  energy  and 
transport  were  estimated  at  EUR  390  billion  a  year  (EU-
27)122,  with  further  EUR  130  billion  to  deliver  the  EU's 
core  environmental  objectives123.  Climate  adaptation 
costs can also be significant,  reaching  a  total of  EUR 35-
62 billion (narrower scope) or EUR 158-518 billion (wider 
scope)  per  year124.  Those  investment  needs  reflect  the 
implementation  objectives  to  2020  and  to  2030  (except 
for climate adaptation which costs are expected to linger 
on for a longer time horizon). 

A  preliminary  update  of 
the  EU’s  environmental 
investment  gap  is  provided  in  the  following  table125. 
Almost  40  %  of  the  environmental  investment  needs 
relate  to  dealing  with  pollution,  accounting  for  nearly 
two-thirds  if  combined  with  water  management.  The 
investment  gap  in  circular  economy  and  waste    is 

estimated  to  be  between  EUR  13-28  billion  p.a.,  
depending  on  levels  of  circularity  implemented.  The 
annual  biodiversity  financing  gap  is  estimated  at  around 
EUR 20 billion. 

1: 

Table 
environmental 
objective, 2021-2030 per year126 

Estimated  breakdown  of 

EU’s 
investment  gaps,  by  environmental 

the 

Estimated investment gap (EU27, 
p.a.)  

EUR billion 

 42.8 

 % 

 39% 

 26.6 

 24% 

Environmental 
objective 

Pollution 
prevention 
control 

& 

Water 
management  & 
industries 

Circular  economy 
& waste 

 13.0 

Biodiversity 
ecosystems127 

& 

 21.5 

R  &  D  &  I  and 
other 

 6.2 

 12% 

 20% 

 6% 

Total 

 110.1 

 100% 

Environmental investment needs in Austria 

There  is  a  clear  shift  of  investment  priorities  in  Austria 
towards the  support  of the green transition as it can be 
appreciated  in  the  national  recovery  and  resilience  plan 

121 The Convention on Biological Diversity; Post-2020 Global Biodiversity 
Framework | IUCN. 
122 SWD(2021)621,  accompanying  proposal  COM(2021)557  to  amend 
the REDII Directive (EU) 2018/2001. 
123 SWD(2020) 98 final/2 
124 SWD(2018)292 
125  With  decreases  due  to  Brexit  and  some  reconciliation  among  the 
objectives.  DG  ENV  ”Study  supporting  EU  green  investment  needs 
analysis” 
internal  analysis 
”Environmental  Investment  needs  and  financing  in  the  EU’s  green 
transition“,  July 2020. 

(ongoing,  2021-2023)  and  DG  ENV 

126 European Commission, DG Environment, ”Study supporting EU green 
investment needs analysis” (ongoing, 2021-2023) and DG Environment 
internal analysis ”Environmental Investment needs and financing in the 
EU’s green transition“,  July 2020.  
127  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  2030  Biodiversity  Strategy  (Natura 2000, 
green infrastructure), at least EUR 20 billion a year should be unlocked 
for  nature  (COM(2020)  380  final)  while  to  fully  cover  the  strategy 
(including  restoration)  EUR  30-35  billion  may  be  needed,  indicating  a 
gap  of  EUR  10-20  billion  a  year  compared  to  current  baseline 
expenditure.  

Environmental Implementation Review  – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
  
 
 
                                                                 
(NRRP).128 Austria's plan devotes 59 % of the plan's total 
allocation  (EUR  3.46  billion)  to  measures  that  support 
climate  and  envrionmental  objectives, 
i.a.  through 
investments  in  sustainable  mobility,  phasing-out  of  oil 
and  gas  heating  in  private  homes,  biodiversity  and 
climate  adaptation,  circular  economy  as  well  as  energy 
efficiency 
for  companies,  and  eco-
innovation.  

improvements 

Pollution prevention & control 

The  EU  First  Clean  Air  Outlook129  under  the  Clean  Air 
Programme estimated that the total air pollution control 
costs  for  Austria  to  reach  the  NECD  Emission  Reduction 
Requirements  (ERRs)130  by  2030  amount  to  EUR  1 589 
million  per  year,  including  EUR  1  billion  for  capital 
investment (assuming the achievement the 2030 climate 
and energy targets).   

The  Second  EU  Clean  Air  Outlook131   suggests  that,  if  all 
relevant  legislation adopted  up to 2018  (including all air 
pollution and the 2030 climate and energy targets set in 
2018) delivered its full benefits and if Member States also 
implemented  the  measures  announced  in  their  NAPCPs, 
the  EU would 
largely  achieve  the  reductions  of  air 
pollutant  emissions  that  correspond  to  the  obligations 
under the NEC Directive for 2030, except for 15 Member 
States for ammonia (NH3), including Austria.    

Water management  

investment  needs  exist 

Significant 
to  accelerate 
compliance with the Water Framework Directive, such as 
the  renaturalisation  of  the  flow  of  rivers  or  removal  of 
obstacles to fish migration. Floods are one of the costliest 
in  Austria,  aggravated  by  climate-
natural  disasters 
change 
in 
mountainous  areas.  Adaption  of  existing  infrastructure, 
such  as  the  sewer  systems  to  manage  heavier  rainfalls, 
will be an important challenge in the near future. Austria 
has  high  compliance  with  the  Urban  Wastewater 
Treatment. 

induced  heavy  rainfalls,  and  mudflows 

recent  OECD  study132  estimates  a  cumulative  
A 
additional  financing  need  of  EUR  260  billion  (over 

Austria  31 

baselines)  to  ensure  continued  compliance  with  the 
Drinking  Water  Directive  and  the  Urban  Wastewater 
Treatment  Directives  to  2030  in  the  EU27.  Of  this,  a 
cumulative  EUR  4.5  billion  relates  to  Austria  (with  EUR 
2.2 billion on capital costs) corresponding to around EUR 
445 million per annum (with EUR 221 million on capital) 
on  average  (beyond  baseline  water  investment  levels). 
Around  95  %  of  this  cost  relate  to  wastewater133. 
Moreover, the recent 6th Water Framework Directive and 
Implementation  Report134  and  the 
Floods  Directive 
financial - economic study135 accompanying it, are also a 
relevant source of information in this domain. 

Waste & circular economy 

A  successful  transition  to  a  circular  economy  requires 
social  and  technological  innovation,  as  the  full  potential 
of  circular  economy  can  only  be  reached  when  circular 
economy  solutions  are  implemented  across  all  value 
chains. In addition to investments in R&I, and support for 
start-ups and SMEs to commercialize innovations, Austria 
will  need  to  invest  in  upgrading  and  digitalising  existing 
waste  infrastructure  for  meeting  the  post-2020  waste 
targets, in particular plastics packaging targets (including 
separate collection). For  municipal and packaging waste, 
(over  baseline 
investment  needs 
the  additional 
investments)  for  the  EU27  were  calculated  to  be  EUR 
14.7  billion  in  2021-27  (ca.  EUR  2.1  billion  p.a.)  to 
upgrade  the  waste  system  improving  collection,  sorting, 
biowaste 
reprocessing  and  digitalising 
registries – of which around EUR 195 million is estimated 
for  Austria  (EUR  28  million  per  annum,  additional  to 
current  baselines).136  This  does  not  include  investment 
needs  for  other  key  waste  streams  (plastics,  textiles, 
furniture) or to reach higher levels of circular solutions.  

treatment, 

Biodiversity & ecosystems 

In  the  new  Prioritized  Action  Framework  (PAF)  the 
Austrian  government  identifies  the  yearly  investment 
needs  as  EUR  117  million  covering  both  one-off 
investments  and  annually  recurring  maintenance  costs, 
needed  to  achieve  or  maintain  favourable  conservation 
status  of  protected  species  and  habitats  in  the  Natura 

128 Council  of  the  European  Union,  Council  Implementing  Decision  on 
the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for 
Austria 
129 International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Progress 
towards  the  achievement  of  the  EU's  air  quality  and  emissions 
objectives, 2018 
130  Covering  the  reductions  of  and  the  emission  ceilings  for  5 
atmospheric  pollutants,  SOx,  NOx,  PM2.5,  NH3  and  VOC  by  2030, 
compared  to  2005.  Source:  Progress  towards  the  achievement  of  the 
EU’s air quality and emissions objectives, Directive (EU) 2016/2284 
131 COM(2021) 3, Support to the development of the  Second Clean Air 
Outlook, 2020 and Annex  
132 OECD, Financing a Water Secure Future, 2022 

  Country  fact  sheet-  Financing  Water  Supply, 

133 OECD,  Austria 
Sanitation and Flood Protection 
134 WFD and FD Implementation Reports – DG Environment – European 
Commission. 

135 European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Economic  data  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  WFD  and  the  FD 
and the financing of measures, Final report. Publications Office, 2021. 

136  European  Commission,  Study  on  investment  needs  in  the  waste 
sector and on the financing of municipal waste management in Member 
States, 2019 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Austria  32 

investments, 

2014-2020141 

2000  network137.  This  excludes  additional  costs  to 
implment the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, including on 
increased protection and restoration. 

EU environmental funding 2014-2020 

for 

The multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the years 
2014-2020  allocated  almost  EUR  960  billion 
(in 
commitments,  2011  prices)138 
the  EU.  The 
commitment  to  green  transition  included  a  20%  climate 
target and funding opportunities for the environment, in 
particular, under the European Structural and Investment 
(ESI)  Funds139.  The  2014-2020  budget  was  subsequently 
topped up with over EUR 50 billion (current prices) from 
REACT-EU  (Recovery  Assistance  for  Cohesion  and  the 
Territories  of  Europe)  for  cohesion  policy  action  against 
coronavirus (COVID-19)140. 

in 

invest 

Austria  received  EUR  6 634.7  million  from  the  ESI  Funds 
over  2014-2020  to 
job  creation  and  a 
sustainable  and  healthy  European  economy  and 
The  planned  direct  environmental 
environment. 
investment  amounted  to  EUR  65.5  million  with  further 
71 million 
environmental 
investment  value,  totalling  to  EUR  136.6  million.  The 
below  figure  givens  an  overview  of  (planned)  individual 
ESI  Funds  earmarked  specially  to  Austria  (EU  amounts, 
without national amounts) for the 2014-2020 period and 
the  environmental  investments  contained.Figure  37:  ESI 
Funds  allocated  to  Austria,  including  environmental 

identified 

indirect 

as 

137  The  N2K  Group,  Strengthening  investments  in  Natura  2000  and 
improving  synergies  with  EU  funding 
instruments  report  to  the 
European Commission, 2021 
138 Regulation (EU) 1311/2013 
139 The  European  Structural  and  Investment  (ESI)  Funds  include  the 
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Cohesion Fund (CF), 
the  European  Social  Fund  (ESF)  with  the  Youth  Employment  Initiative 
(YEI),  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development  (EAFRD) 
and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).   
140 Regulation (EU) 2020/2221 

Table 2: Direct and indirect environmental investments 
under the ESI Funds in Austria, 2014-2020142 

Instrument 

Allocations  
for the environment  
(EUR million) 

Under Cohesion policy (ERDF) 
Direct environmental investments 
biodiversity and nature 
Climate and risk management 
Indirect environmental investments 
energy efficiency 

71.4 
38.4 
0.7 
37.7 
33.0 
24.4 

(EU)  No  215/2014. 

(EU)  No  1303/2013,Regulation 

141 European Commission, DG Environment - Data analysis based on ESI 
Funds  Open  Data  Portal  (cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu),  Integration  of 
in  Cohesion  Policy  Funds  (COWI,  2017), 
environmental  concerns 
(EU)  2021/1060  and 
Regulation 
Implementing  Regulation 
Environmental 
investments  here  are  captured  via  the  combined  use  of  intervention 
fields  and  coefficients  under  the  Regulation  (EU)  No  1303/2013  and 
Regulation  (EU)  2021/1060    allowing  for  a  more  precise  identification 
and  valuation  of  relevant  environmental  investments.  N.B.  Indirect 
environmental investments are valued using the Annex I environmental 
coefficients of the Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 (as opposed to full value).    
142  European  Commission,  DG  Environment  -  Data analysis.  The  values 
of  environmental 
the  specific 
in 
environmental  areas  may  differ 
from  the  tracking  values  at 
cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu, e.g. for clean air or biodiversity due to two 
factors:  the  set  of  environmental  coefficients  used  and  the  range  of 
funds assessed. DG Environment’s analysis here  covered the full range 
of ESI Funds. See also previous footnote. 

identified  here 

investments 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
sustainable transport 
business development, R&I 

Under EAFRD/rural development 
Direct environmental investments 
water 
climate and risk management 
Indirect environmental investments 
renewable energy 
energy efficiency 

Under EMFF 
Direct environmental investments 
environment  protection  &  resource 
efficiency 
Indirect environmental investments 
Business development, R&I 

Under ESI Funds total  
Direct environmental investments 
Indirect environmental investments 

4.3 
4.3 

62.8 
24.8 
10.7 
14.0 
38.0 
37.1 
1.0 

2.4 
2.4 
2.4 

0.01 
0.01 

136.6 
65.5 
71.0 

supplemented  by  other  EU 

Funding  for  the  environment  from  the  ESI  Funds  has 
been  also 
funding 
programmes available to all Member States, such as, the 
LIFE  programme,  the  Horizon  2020  or  loans  from  the 
European  Investment  Bank  (EIB),  that  add  up  to  an 
estimated  total  of  EUR  505  million  EU  environmental 
financing for Austria in 2014-2020.  

is  entirely  dedicated 

to 
The  LIFE  programme143 
environmental  and  climate  objectives. 
finances 
demonstration  and  best  practice  actions  for  green 
solutions  to  be  deployed.  In  the  2014-2020  period, 
Austria has received EU support for 26 LIFE projects with 
EUR 94.4 million from the LIFE programme for nature and 
environment  projects  (out  of  1 028  EU27  LIFE  projects 
with a total EU contribution of EUR 1.74 billion) 144.  

It 

In 2014-2020, the Horizon 2020 allocated about EUR 58.2 
million for Austria for the environment, in particular, for 
climate action, circular economy and raw materials which 
is 3 % of Austria’s total allocation145. From the European 
Fund  for  Strategic  Investments  (EFSI),  Austria  received  a 
total  of  EUR  1,339.8  million  financing.  Of  this,  EUR  41.5 
million  belonged  to  multi-purpose  projects  that  also 
included the environmental objective (among others)  146. 
The  environment-related  EIB  loans  to  Austria  amounted 
to 199.5 million (supporting water and sewerage), out of 
an overall EUR 10,466.9  million EIB lending to Austria in 

143 European Commission, LIFE Programme. 
144 LIFE Country Fact Sheet Austria. 
145 Source: https://sc5.easme-web.eu/, accessed: 15-12-2021. 
146  See  approved  and  signed  EFSI  financing  -  EIB,  2015-2020  -  
https://www.eib.org/en/products/mandates-
partnerships/efsi/index.htm. 

Austria  33 

the period (1.9 %)147148. The country ranks number 10 by 
the size in total EIB lending.  

In 2020, the EIB provided EUR 24.2 billion to fight climate 
change,  37 %  of  its  total  financing  (a  marked  increase) 
and  EUR 1.8  billion  (3 %  of 
its  financing)  for  the 
environment149. 

EU environmental funding 2021-2027 

The 2020 European Green Deal  Investment  Plan (EGDIP) 
calls  upon  EUR  1  trillion  green  investments  (public  and 
private)  by  2030.  The  multiannual  financial  framework 
(MFF) 2021-2027 and the NextGenerationEU will mobilise 
EUR  2.018  trillion  (in  current  prices)  to  support  the 
COVID-19  recovery  and  the  EU's  long-term  priorities, 
including  environmental  protection.150  Following  the  EU 
Green  Deal’s151 
the 
Interinstitutional  Agreement  on  the  2021-2027  MFF152, 
30 %  of  the  EU  budget  will  support  climate  efforts  and 
7.5 % (as of 2024) and 10% (as  of 2026) biodiversity that 
requires  increased  programming  of  financial  resources 
for  biodiversity,  specifically  under 
the  2021-2027 
Cohesion  policy  and  the  2023-2027  CAP  to  reach  those 
targets. 

‘do  no  harm’  pledge  and 

reporting 

Sustainable  finance  significantly  increases  transparency 
(EU  Taxonomy)153, 
on  environmental  sustainability 
strengthens  non-financial 
requirements, 
facilitates  green  bond  issuance  (by  the  EU  Green  Bond 
Standard154).  Reinforced  by  the  Renewed  Sustainable 
Finance  Strategy  (2020)155  it  will  increase  investment 
flows to climate and environment. In support of financing 
climate  adaptation,  the  new  strategy  on  adaptation  to 
climate  change156  can  facilitate  to  close  the  insurance 
protection  gap 
climate-related 
from  non-insured 
events157.  The  EIB  will  align  50 %  of  its  lending  with 

that 

finance 

several  programs 

147  EIB  loans  in EU  countries  in  2014-2020.  See:  EIB  Open  Data  Portal: 
https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/eib-open-data.htm  
148  The  EIB  Group  jointly  works  with  the  European  Commission  in 
implementing 
environmental 
implementation: InvestEU,  the  successor  of  EFSI,  Pillar  II  and III  of  the 
Just Transition Mechanism. The EIB Group stands as a key implementing 
partner for InvestEU with responsibility for managing 75% of the overall 
budgetary capacity of the mandate. 
149 EIB Activity Report, 2021. 
150  European  Commission,  2021-2027 
NextGenerationEU. 
151 COM/2019/640 final. 
152 Interinstitutional Agreement, OJ L 433I. 
153 
finance/sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainable-activities_en. 
154 EU Green Bond Standard - 2021/0191 (COD). 
155 COM (2021) 390 Final - European Commission, Strategy for Financing 
the Transition to a Sustainable Economy. 
156 COM(2021) 82 final. 
157  The  strategy  would  support  improved  insurance  gap  coverage 
including through the natural catastrophe markets as reflected with the 
EIOPA  (the  Association  for  European  Insurance  and  Occupational 

https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-

long-term  EU  budget  & 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
Austria  34 

climate  and  environment  by  2025158  with  an  EUR  250 
billion contribution to the Green Deal Investment Plan by 
2027. 

Table 3: Key EU funds allocated to Austria (current 
prices), 2021-2027 

Instrument 

Country funding allocation 

Cohesion policy 

Total: 1 150.6 159 

(million EUR) 

537.4 

393.6 

219.6160 

135.8161 

2 600.1163 

EUR 6.7164 

3 461.4 166 (grants) 

ERDF 

ESF+ 

ETC (ERDF) 

Just Transition Fund 

EAFRD/rural 
development  

under  CAP  Strategic 
Plans 2023-2027162 

European  Maritime, 
and 
Fisheries 
Aquaculture 
Fund 
(EMFAF) 

Recovery 
Resilience 
(RRF)  

and 
Facility 

2021 – 2026165  

Austria  under  the  RRF  Regulation  of  EUR  3.46  billion. 
Overall, the RRP contributes to climate objectives and the 
green  transition  through  investments  corresponding  to 
58.7 % of the financial contribution by the Recovery and 
Resilience Facility, which is well above the required 37 %. 
The  RRP  contains  also  measures  promoting  biodiversity, 
circular  economy,  climate  adaptation  and  prevention  of 
climate related risks. 

Through the new biodiversity fund, EUR 50 million will be 
spent  on  projects  for  the    preservation  of  biodiversity, 
restoration  of  degraded  ecosystems,  and  a  new 
biodiversity monitoring system.  

investments 

Circular  economy  will  benefit  from 
in 
reverse  vending  systems  and  measures  to  increase  the 
reuse quota of beverage containers, in retrofitting of old 
and construction of new waste sorting facilities, and from 
a repair bonus that aims to raise the share of reused and 
repaired  electronic  equipment.  As  result  of  these 
investments,  the  collection  rate  of  plastic  beverage 
packaging  is  expected  to  increase  from  70 %  to  80 %, 
whereas by 2026 at least 50 % of Austrian plastic waste is 
expected to be sorted for further recycling (it was 33 % in 
2018).  

With  a  focus  on  adaptation  to  climate  change  in  town 
centres, the plan includes support for municipalities and 
businesses  for  their  investment  in  building  renovation, 
façade  greening,  high-efficiency  district  heating,  and 
rehabilitation of brownfield sites. 

Figure 37: Climate expenditure in RRP, 2021-2026167 

In Austria, the programming for the majority of EU funds 
(cohesion  policy  funds,  EAFRD  and  EMFAF)  is  ongoing. 
However,  the  negotiations  have  been  concluded  under 
the RRF.  

Austria’s  RRP  has  a  total  value  EUR  4.5  billion,    which  is 
above  the  non-repayable  financial  support  available  to 

Pension Authorities) dashboard on insurance protection gap for natural 
catastrophes. See: The pilot dashboard on insurance protection gap for 
natural catastrophes | Eiopa (europa.eu). 
158 EIB Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025, November 2020. 
159 European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
160  Interreg  initial  allocations  per  MS  including  ETC  transnational  and 
ETC cross-border cooperation.  
161 European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
162 European Commission, CAP strategic plans.  
163 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, Annex XI. 
164 Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, Annex V. 
165 The  actual  reforms  and  investments  under  the  RRF  have  to  be 
implemented until 31 December 2026.   
166 Council Implementing Decision, FIN 520. 

Under  NextGenerationEU,  the  Commission  will  issue  up 
to EUR 250 billion of EU green bonds (1/3 of NGEU) until 
2026 that will comply with the general spirit of the DNSH 
principle,  but  will  not  be  subject  to  the  currently 
developed  Delegated  Acts  related  to  the  EU  Taxonomy 
and will not fully align with the proposed EU Green Bond 
Standard because negotiations (trilogue) will likely not be 

167 European Commission. The contributions to climate objectives have 
been calculated using Annexes VI of the RRF Regulation (EU) 2021/241. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
 
                                                                                                        
 
 
                                                                 
concluded  at  the  moment  of  issuance  of  the  EU  green 
bonds. 

In addition to EU funds earmarked specifically for Austria 
funding 
in  the  2021-2027  period,  there  are  also 
programmes that can been accessed at the EU level and 
which  are  open  to  all    Member  States.  These  include,  , 
the  LIFE  programme168  (EUR 5.4  billion),  Horizon  Europe 
(EUR 95.5  billion)169,  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility170 
(EUR  33.7 billion)171 or the funds to be mobilised via the 
InvestEU programme172. They will also support the green 
transition, including research and innovation activities for 
environmental  protection  (Horizon  Europe)173,  clean 
transport  and  energy  (the  Connecting  Europe  Facility)174 
or sustainable infrastructure (InvestEU)175. 

National environmental protection 
expenditure 

Total  national  environmental  protection  expenditure 
(including all relevant current and capital expenditure)176 
in the EU-27 was EUR 272.6 billion in 2020, representing 
2 %  of  the  common  GDP  being  quite  stable  over  time. 
While  absolute  expenditure  is  concentrated  in  a  few 
countries,  as  a  share  of  GDP,  most  countries  spend 
between  1-2 %,  with  Austria  (and  Belgium)  leading  with 
over 3%.  

Of  the  above  total,  the  EU27's  capital  expenditure 
(Capex)  on  environmental  protection  (i.e.  investment) 
amounted  to  EUR  56.3  billion  in  2018,  lowering  to 
EUR   54.5  billion  in  2020,  representing  around  0.4 %  of 
GDP.  Most  Member  States  invested  0.2-0.5 %  of  their 
GDP in environmental protection.  Austria invested 0.2 % 
of  its  GDP  in  environmental  protection.  During  2014-

168 European Commission, LIFE Programme. 
169 European  Commission,  Multiannual  financial  framework  2021-2027 
(in commitments) - current prices. 
170 The  CEF  (Transport)  includes  also  EUR  11.3  billion  transferred  from 
the  Cohesion  Fund.  30  %  of  the  transferred  amount  will  be  made 
available,  on a competitive  basis,  to  all  Member  States eligible  for  the 
Cohesion Fund. The remaining 70% will respect the national envelopes 
until  31  December  2023.  Any  unspent  amount,  by  that  date,  under 
national envelopes will support all Cohesion Fund’s Member States. 
171 Regulation (EU) 2021/1153. 
172  The  InvestEU  Fund  is  foreseen  to  mobilise  over  EUR  372  billion  of 
investment through an EU budget guarantee of EUR 26.2 billion to back 
the  investment  of  financial  partners  such  as  the  European  Investment 
Bank (EIB) Group and others. 
173 European Commission, Horizon Europe. 
174 European Commission, Connecting Europe Facility. 
175 European Union, https://investeu.europa.eu/index_fr. 
176  At  economy 
intermediate 
including  final  consumption, 
consumption and  capital  expenditure  of  households,  corporations  and 
governments related to environmental protection goods and services. It 
excludes  EU  funds,  while  may  include  some  international  expenditure 
beyond  domestic.  Data  source:  Environmental  Protection  Expenditure 
Accounts (EPEA), Eurostat. EPEA accounts are based on the CEPA 2000 
classification, excluding climate, energy and circular economy. 

level, 

Austria  35 

2020,  this  totalled  to  around  EUR  376  billion  of 
environmental investment in the EU27, and to EUR 5 471 
million for Austria. 

Figure 38: Environmental protection investments in the 
EU-27 (EUR million and % of GDP), 2018177 

protection 

investments 

institutional  sector,  around  60 %  of  Austria’s 
By 
environmental 
(capital 
expenditure)  came  from  the  specialist  and  secondary 
producers  of  environmental  protection  services  (e.g. 
waste  and  water  companies),  8.5 %  from  general 
government  and  around  a  third  from  industry  (business 
sector) that normally pursues environmental activities as 
ancillary to their main activities.  At EU level, 37 % comes 
from  governments,  33 %  from  specialist  producers  and 
30 % from industry (business). 

177 Eurostat, Environmental Protection Expenditure Account, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Figure  39:  EU-27  Member  States'  environmental 
protection  investments  (Capex)  by  institutional  sectors 
(Total economy = 100%), 2018178 

Austria  36 

27  Member  States  only,  the  2020  annual  green  bond 
issuance  was  EUR  124  billion.  83 %  of  the  green  bond 
issued by European countries served energy, buildings or 
transport  objectives  between  2014-2020,  8 %  supported 
water and waste, with further 6 % supporting land use – 
with  links  to  ecosystem  conservation  &  restoration, 
based  on  the  Climate  Bonds  Taxonomy  being  broadly 
similar  to  the  EU  Taxonomy182.  Austria  was  among  the 
countries  that  issued  green  bonds  in  2020  (EUR  1.49 
billion).  

Figure 40: Annual EU green bond issuance in 2020 (EUR 
billion)183 

to 

Breakdown  of  investment  by  environmental  topic  is 
partially available, at the level of institutional sectors only 
(instead  of  economy  level),  due  to  different  reporting 
patterns.179 At Austria’s general government level,  based 
on  reported  values,  18 %  of  environmental  protection 
investments  went 
to 
tackling  pollution,  11 % 
wastewater,  8 % 
to  waste  management,  while  a 
significant  part  (around  50 %)  appeared  jointly  for  R&D 
and  non-classified. 
In  case  of  country’s  specialist 
producers,  waste  management  is  dominant  with  42 %, 
wastewater  receiving  28 %,  water-  and  soil  pollution 
14 %.  As  regards  the  business  sector,  the  main  concern 
was  air  pollution  (56 %),  wastewater  16 %  and  waste 
11 %.  

In  2020,  the  total  annual  European  green  bond 
issuance180  was  USD  156  billion  (EUR  137  billion181), 
growing  from  USD  117  billion  (EUR  105  billion)  in  2019, 
also  including  some  non-EU  European  countries.  By  EU-

178 Eurostat, Environmental Protection Expenditure Accounts 
179 Data reporting is different  for the 3 institutional sectors, leading to 
aggregation  difficulties.  Specialist  companies  provide  comprehensive 
data  across  all  environmental  areas  (CEPA  1-9),  while  this  is  less  the 
case  for  general  government  and  industry  that  often  report  (the  non-
obligatory)  data  in  merged  categories  only  (with  difficulty  to  split)  or 
not at all.  
180  Green  bonds  were  created  to  fund  projects  that  have  positive 
environmental  and/or  climate  benefits.  The  majority  of  green  bonds 
issued are green “use of proceeds” or asset-linked bonds. The very first 
green  bond  was  issued  in  2007  with  the  AAA-rated  issuance  from 
multilateral  institutions,  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB)  and  the 
World Bank. 
181 At Eurostat’s annual average EUR/USD exchange rates. 

Green budget tools 

Green taxation and tax reform 

Austria’s  revenue  from  environmentally-related  taxes 
was 2.1 % of GDP in 2020, and thus among the lowest in 
the  EU,  as  shown  in  the  graph.  Within  this,  energy  and 
transport  taxation  represents  the  57  %  and  41  % 
arespectivley,  while 
is 
negligible.184  

pollution/resource 

tax 

The  2019  European  Green  Deal  underlines  that  well-
designed  tax  reforms  can  boost  economic  growth  and 
resilience, foster a fairer society and a just transition, by 
sending the right price signals and incentives to economic 
actors.  The  Green  Deal  creates  the  context  for  broad-
based  tax  reforms,  fossil  fuel  subsidies  removal,  shifting 
the tax burden from labour to pollution, also accounting 

information 

182 Further 
https://www.climatebonds.net/standard/taxonomy 
Platform at www.climatebonds.net. 
183 Climate Bonds Initiative, 2022 

Climate 

on 

Bonds 

Taxonomy: 
Interactive  Data 

184 Eurostat, Environmental Taxes 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
for social considerations. The application of the ‘polluter 
pays principle’ (PPP)185 stipulating that polluters bear the 
cost  of  measures  to  prevent,  control  and  remedy 
pollution;  is  facilitated  by  the  EU  Commission’s  TSI 
flagship  on  greening  taxes.  In  2021  Austria  adopted  an 
eco-social tax reform. Its cornerstone is the introduction 
of  a  price  for  CO2  emissions  on  fossil  energy  sources  in 
non-ETS  sectors  as  of  mid-2022,  starting  at  EUR  30/ton 
and  rising  to  EUR  55/ton  by  2025.  A  climate  bonus 
compensates  for  the  additional  energy  costs  depending 
on regional factors such as the quality of public transport. 
And as part of the tax shift, income tax as well as health 
insurance  contributions  for  low  income  earners  have 
been lowered. The eco-social tax reform presents a  step 
change  and    has  paved  the  way  for  CO2  pricing,  but  the 
impact  will  be  limited  in  the  beginning186.  Figure  41: 
2020187 
in 
Environmental 

EU-27, 

taxes 

the 

Austria  37 

Ireland,  managed  to 
Lithuania  Sweden,  Greece  or 
decrease subsidies for fossil fuels. In the EU, subsidies on 
petroleum  products,  in  sectors  such  as  transport  and 
agriculture,  kept  on  growing  over  this  period,  whereas 
lignite  decreased,  due  to 
subsidies  on  coal  and 
diminishing role of solid fuels in electricity generation. As 
a share of GDP, fossil fuel subsidies ranged from 1.2 % in 
Hungary to less than 0.1 % in Malta in 2019 (being 0.4 % 
on  EU  average).  In  2019  For  Austria  total  fossil  fuel 
subsidies  amounted  to  EUR  0.3  billion,  representing 
0.07  % of the GDP.  

In  2020,  the  EU27’s  total  amount  of  fossil  fuel  subsidies 
decreased  to  EUR  52  billion  (due  to  falling  consumption 
amid  the  COVID-19-related  restrictions)  which,  without 
Member State actions, are likely to rebound as economic 
activity picked up from 2020189.  

Figure 42: Trends in fossil fuel subsidies in Austria190  

Environmentally harmful subsidies 

Addressing  and 
removing  environmentally  harmful 
subsidies  (EHS)  is  a  further  step  towards  wider  fiscal 
reforms188.  

Fossil  fuel  subsidies  are  costly  for  public  budgets  and 
adversely  impact  the  achievement  of  the  Green  Deal 
objectives. In many cases they also go against incentives 
for  investments  in  green  technologies,  not  contributing 
to levelling the playing field. They varied around EUR 55 
billion  in  the  EU  since  2015:  they  rose  by  4%  between 
2015 and 2019, however some countries, such as Latvia, 

185  Article  191(2)  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European 
Union:  “Union  policy  on  the  environment  (…)  shall  be  based  on  the 
precautionary  principle  and  on  the  principles  that  preventive  action 
should  be  taken,  that  environmental  damage  should  as  a  priority  be 
rectified at source and that the polluter should pay”. 
186 European Commission. Semester Counbry Report Austria 2022 . 
187 Eurostat, Environmental taxes accounts 
188  European  Commission,  Study  on  assessing  th  environmental  fiscal 
reform potential for the EU 28, 2016.  

% GDP 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020 

Electricity 

0.02 

0.02 

0.02 

0.02 

0.02 

Natural 
gas 

0.06 

0.06 

0.06 

0.06 

0.06 

Petroleum   0.11 

0.11 

0.11 

0.11 

0.12 

Coal 

0.01 

0.01 

0.01 

0.01 

0.01 

0.02 

0.06 

0.05 

0.01 

Green budgeting practices  

Green  budgeting  encompasses  various  climate  and 
environmental  tagging  and  tracking  practices  in  budgets 
and  some  EU  Member  states  already  use  green 

189 COM(2021) 950 and Annex  
190 OECD, Fossil Fuel SubsidyTracker. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
  
 
 
                                                                 
Austria  38 

Austria’s  environmental  financing  for  investments  came 
to an estimated  0.44 % of GDP in 2014-2020 (lower than 
the  EU  average),  in  over  90 %  coming  from  national 
financing.  In  2021-2027,  the  country’s  environmental 
investment needs are estimated to reach over 0.60 % of 
GDP (with partial information, available at country level), 
suggesting  an  environmental  financing  gap  of  at  least  
0.16 %  of  the  GDP, 
likely  to  be  higher  when  also 
accounting  for  needs  identified  at  EU  level  (e.g.  water 
protection,  circularity,  biodiversity  strategy  etc.)  –  to  be 
addressed  by  mobilising  additional 
for 
environmental implementation priorities. 

financing 

2022 priority action 

 

To  ensure  an  increased  level  of  financing  for  the 
environment  to  cover  the  investment  needs  across 
the  environmental  objectives  and  priorities  and  to 
avoid investment gaps. 

budgeting  elements191.  Green  budgeting  helps  identify 
and  track  green  expenditure  and  green  revenues  to 
increase  transparency  on  the  greenness  of  budgetary 
policies, 
improving  policy  coherence  and  supporting 
green  policies  (including  climate  end  environmental 
objectives).192 

framework194  and 

EU climate proofing and sustainability proofing guidance 
have  also  been  developed,  as  tools  to  assess  project 
eligibility  and  compliance  with  environmental  legislation 
and  criteria193.  The  EU  Commission  established  a  green 
budgeting  reference 
launched  a 
technical  support  project  (TSI)  on  green  budgeting  in 
2021  to  assist  Member  States  in  developing  or  further 
developing national green budgeting frameworks to reap 
the  benefits  for  policy  coherence  and  for  the  green 
transition.  So  far,  Austria  makes  no  use  of  green 
budgeting  practices195,  but  participates 
in  the  EU 
Commission’s green budgeting TSI started in 2021.  

Overall environmental financing compared to 
the needs 

The EU’s overall environmental financing for investments 
is estimated to have been  0.6-0.7 % of GDP in the 2014-
2020  period,  taking  into  account  major  EU  funds  and 
national  financing.  This  ranged  from  0.3 %  (Ireland)  to  
1.91 %  (Bulgaria),  linked  to  the  level  of  environmental 
challenges  in  Member  States.  In  the  2021-2027  period, 
the  overall  EU  environmental  investment  needs  are 
estimated  to 
  range  between  0.9  and1.5 %  of  the 
projected  2021-2027  GDP,  suggesting  a  potential 
environmental  financing  gap  of 
  0.6-0.8 %  of  GDP, 
previous financing levels assumed 196. 

Figure 43: Total environmental financing baseline (2014-
2020)  and  estimated  needs  (2020-2030)  in the  EU27 (% 
of GDP)197 

191 European Commission, Green Budgeting Practices in the EU: A First 
Review, 2021. 
192  European  Commission,  European  Commission  Green  Budgeting 
Reference  Framework.  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  in  the 
EU Key insights from the 2021 Commission survey. 
193 European Commission, Technical guidance on sustainability proofing 
for the InvestEU Fund. 
194  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  Reference  Framework, 
based  on  the  review  of  the  OECD  Paris  Collaborative  on  Green 
Budgeting initiative, 2017. 
195 SWD(2021) 160 
196 Source: DG Environment data analysis. EU financing sources covered: 
ESI  Funds  (ERDF,  CF,  ESF,  YEI,  EAFRD,  EMFF),  Horizon  2020,  LIFE,  EFSI 
(EU amount), EIB loans. National financing: total national environmental 
protection  capital  expenditure  (investments)  -  source:  Eurostat  EPEA 
dataset.  Cut-off  date  for  data:  end  2021.  N.B.  The  total  financing  may 
be  higher,  in particular  through further  indirect  investments,  requiring 
further analysis in the future.   
197 Eurostat, ESI Funds open data, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
6. Environmental Governance  

Austria  39 

Information, public participation and access to 
justice 

Citizens  can  more  effectively  protect  the  environment  if 
they  can  rely  on  the  three  "pillars"  of  the  Aarhus 
Convention: 
(i) access to information;  
(ii) public participation in decision making; 
(iii) access to justice in environmental matters.  
It is of crucial importance to public authorities, the public 
and businesses that environmental information is shared 
efficiently  and  effectively198.  Public  participation  allows 
authorities  to  make  decisions  that  take  public  concerns 
into account. Access to justice is a set of guarantees that 
allows  citizens  and  NGOs  to  use  national  courts  to 
protect the environment199. It includes the right to bring 
legal challenges (‘legal standing’)200.  

Environmental information 

The  INSPIRE  Directive  aims  to  create  a  European  spatial 
data  infrastructure  for  sharing   environmental  spatial 
information  between  public  authorities  across  Europe, 
in  policy-making  across  boundaries  and 
assisting  
facilitating  public  access  to  this  information.  Geographic 
information  is  needed  for  good  governance  at  all  levels 
and should be readily and transparently available. 

Austria’s  implementation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  is 
good.  Its  performance  has  been  reviewed  based  on  the 
country's  2021  country  fiche201.  Data  identification  and 
documentation  have  made  good  progress,  and 
implementation levels are good. 

Table  4:  Country  dashboard  on  implementation  of  the 
INSPIRE Directive, 2016-2020202 

for 

legal 

together 

create  a 

foundation 

198  The  Aarhus  Convention,  the  Access  to  Environmental  Information 
Directive  (Directive  2003/4/EC)  and  the  INSPIRE  Directive(Directive 
2007/2/EC) 
sharing 
environmental  information  between  public  authorities  and  with  the 
public. This EIR focuses on the INSPIRE Directive's implementation.  
199 These guarantees are explained in the Commission Notice on access 
to  justice  in  environmental  matters,  OJL  275,  18.8.2017  and  a  related 
Citizen's Guide. 
200  This  EIR  focuses  on  the  means  implemented  by  Member  States  to 
guarantee  rights  of  access  to  justice,  legal  standing  and  to  overcome 
other major barriers to bringing cases on nature and air pollution. 
201 European Commission, INSPIRE-in-your country   
202 INSPIRE knowledge base, 2021. 

2016 

2020 

Legend 

Effective  coordination  and  data 
sharing 

Ensure 
coordination  

effective 

■  ■ 

Data 

without obstacle   ■  ■ 

sharing 

INSPIRE performance indicators 

i.  Conformity  of 
metadata  

■  ■ 

ii.  Conformity  of 
spatial data sets203 

■  ■ 

iii.  Accessibility  of 
spatial  data  sets 
through  view  and 
download services 

■  ■ 

iv.  Conformity  of 

network services  ■  ■ 

■  Implementation  of 
is  well 
this  provision 
advanced  or 
(nearly) 
completed. 
Outstanding  issues  are 
can  be 
minor  and 
addressed 
easily. 
Percentage: >89% 

■  Implementation  of 
has 
provision 
this 
started and made some 
or  substantial  progress. 
Percentage: 31–89% 

■  Implementation  of 
this  provision  is  falling 
behind. 
significantly 
are 
Serious 
efforts 
close 
to 
necessary 
implementation 
gap. 
Percentage: <31% 

Public participation 

Beyond  the  implementation  of  the  relevant  legislation, 
there 
in  the 
is  scope  for  encouraging  participation 
Environmental  Impact  Assessment  (EIA)  and  Strategic 
Environmental  Assessment  (SEA)  processes204.  While  a 
specific  Government  website 
to  encourage  public 
participation  has  been  creted205,  this  does  not  focus  on 
environmental  issues,  and  does  not  signpost  sources  of 
information  on  the  EIA  for  the  public.  The  situation  on 
SEA  processes  is  more  encouraging:  a  specific  website 

203 The deadlines for implementation of the spatial data interoperability 
were  in  2016  still  in  the  future:  23/11/2017  for  Annex  I  data  and 
21/10/2020 for Annex II and III data. It must be also considered that this 
conformity  indicator  will  in  many  cases  never  reach  100 %  conformity 
as  the  majority  of    countries  provide  as-is-data  sets  in  addition  to  the 
INSPIRE harmonised data sets. 
204 
https://www.strategischeumweltpruefung.at/sup-grundlagen/sup-
oeffentlichkeit. 

Information  on  publicity  for  SEA  processes 

is  available  at: 

205 https://partizipation.at 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
  
  
  
 
                                                                 
includes  a  section  on  the  involvement  of  the  public  and 
the 
der 
Öffentlichkeit und der Umweltstellen)206.  

environmental 

(Beteiligung 

agencies 

Access to justice  

The  requirements  for  recognising  an  environmental 
organisation as a party are laid down in Section 19 of the 
EIA  Act  (UVP-G  2000).  This  provision  requires  the 
organisation  to:  (i)  have  been  a  non-profit  organisation 
for at least 3 years;  (ii) have at least 100 members; and 
(iii) have environmental protection as its main objective. 
Federations  must  comprise  at 
five  member 
associations. Every three years organisations must prove 
that they still meet the recognition requirements. A list of 
all recognised environmental organisations is available on 
for  Climate  Action, 
the  website  of  the  Ministry 
Environment, 
and 
Technology. 

Energy,  Mobility, 

Innovation 

least 

to 

the 

The  nine  Austrian  Länder  with  responsibility  for  nature 
protection recently introduced legislation which provides 
for  access  to  justice  against  some  individual  decisions 
relating 
implementation  of  parts  of  EU 
environmental law (mainly the Habitats Directive and the 
Birds Directive).  Rules are different  in each Land. Access 
to  justice  is  limited  to  NGOs  (individuals  are  excluded) 
and in some cases subject to procedural obstacles which 
are not compatible with EU law.  

There are no general provisions granting members of the 
public  access  to  review  procedures.  It  is  not  possible  to 
challenge  the  substance  or  procedural  issues,  such  as 
ineffective  or  missing  public  participation  in  planning-
related  decisions.A  plan  or  programme  can  only  be 
challended if they were issued as a law or ordinance. This 
is, 
right  to  review  before  the  Constitutional  Court 
however,  limited to a small number of persons.Plans or 
programs  cannot  be  challenged  at  an  administrative 
supervisory forum or at a court. 

There  is  a  system  of  regular  supervision  of  regulatory 
legally  binding  acts  but  this 
  is  not  accessible  for  
members  of  the  public  and  NGOs.  They  can  only  bring 
issues  to  the  attention  of  the  bodies  or  officials  entitled 
to initiate an extraordinary supervision procedure. This is 
particularly  problematic 
take 
if 
measures by self-executing ordinances, which  cannot  be 
legally challengend by NGOs. This seems to become more 

state  authorities 

206Information  on  publicity 
https://www.strategischeumweltpruefung.at/sup-grundlagen/sup-
oeffentlichkeit. 

for  SEA  processes 

is  available  at: 

Austria  40 

wide-spread  since  NGOs  obtained    limited  access  to 
justice against individual decisions.  

information 

The  Government  of  Austria  provides  a  legal  information 
system (Rechtsinformationssystem – RIS)207 online, where 
all  legal  provisions  including  case  law  can  be  accessed. 
The  Federal  Ministry  of  Climate  Action,  Environment, 
Energy,  Mobility,  Innovation  and  Technology  provides 
regarding  EIA.208  Practical 
structured 
information  on  SEA  and  EIA  is  available  at  a  dedicated 
website, called partizipation.at. Structured dissemination 
focusing  on  environmental  access  to  justice  for  affected 
individuals,  NGOs  and  other  third-parties 
is  mainly 
provided by the ombudsman for the environment in the 
Länder  and  NGOs  such  as  the  environmental  umbrella 
organisations Ökobüro und Umweltdachverband.209  

An  infringement  prodecure  relating  to  the  insufficient 
implementation  of  the  Aarhus  Convention,  in  particular 
standing  of  the  public  concerned,  in  Austria  is  still 
pending.  

In 2019 priority actions were identified to improve access 
to  information  for  the  public.  Some  progress  has  been 
made on these. 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Improve  access  to  courts  by  the  public  concerned 
when  it  comes  to  challenging  administrative  or 
regulatory  decisions  covering  planning,  in  particular 
in relation to water, nature and air quality. 
Ensure that the public has access to justice to review 
self-executing  regulatory  acts,  such  as  ordinances 
derogating 
the  basic  principles  of  EU 
from 
environmental law. 

  Monitor  public  participation 

in  EIA  and  SEA 
processes,  in  particular,  with  the  view  to  exploring 
trends in public engagement. 

Compliance assurance  

Environmental compliance assurance covers all the work 
that 
undertaken  by  public  authorities 
industries, farmers and others fulfil obligations to protect 
water, air and nature, and managing waste210.  

to  ensure 

207 Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes 
208  Bundesministerium  für  Klimaschutz,  Umwelt,  Energie,  Mobilität, 
Innovation und Technologie, UVP.  
209 ÖKOBÜRO  –  Alliance  of  the  Austrian  Environmental  Movement  and 
Umweltdachverband. 

210  The  concept  is  explained  in  detail  in  the  Communication  on  "EU 
actions  to 
improve  environmental  compliance  and  governance" 
COM(2018)10  and  the  related  Commission  Staff  Working  Document, 
SWD(2018)10.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
It includes support measures provided by the authorities 
such as: 
(i) compliance promotion 211;  
(ii) inspections and other checks that they carry out, i.e. 
compliance monitoring 212;  
(iii)the  steps  that  they  take  to  stop  breaches,  impose 
sanctions  and  require  damage  to  be  remedied,  i.e. 
enforcement213.  
Citizen  science  and  complaints  enable  authorities  to 
liability214 
focus  their  efforts  better.  Environmental 
ensures that the polluter pays to remedy any damage.  

Compliance promotion and monitoring 

for 

The  website  of  the  Federal  Environment  Agency 
(Umweltbundesamt)  has  a  specific  page  on  Natura  2000 
and the Birds Directive215, which provides clear and easy-
to-understand  information,  although  it  is  focused  on 
general issues of nature protection policy, rather than on 
measures 
land  managers. 
farmers  and  other 
Information  available  on  measures  to  take  is  mostly 
linked  to  relevant  funding  programmes,  including  under 
the  common  gricultural  Policy,  although  there 
is  a 
detailed handbook  available216 on relevant  measures for 
foresters. Information related to the Nitrates Directive is 
similarly  focused  on  funding  opportunities.  Information 
provided  at  regional  (Land)  level  is  mostly  focused  on 
providing  general  public 
than 
practical information for land managers. 

information, 

rather 

for 

state  draw  up  programmes 

A  national-level  environmental  inspection  plan  has  been 
developed by the Federal Environment Agency.Based on 
the  national  inspection  plan,  the  governors  of  each 
routine 
federal 
environmental inspections217, indicating the frequency of 
on-site  visits  for  the  various  types  of  facilities  and  for 
different 
for 
inspections  carried  out,  including  a  pdf  of  each  report, 
are 
electronic 
documentation  and  data  management  portal  for  the 
environment218.  However,  summary  statistics  do  not 
appear to be available.  

risk.  Comprehensive  data 

government’s 

levels  of 

available 

the 

on 

211 This EIR focuses on the help given to farmers to comply with nature 
and nitrates legislation.  
212 This EIR focuses on inspections of major industrial installations.  
213  This  EIR  focuses  on  the  availability  of  enforcement  data  and  co-
ordination between authorities to tackle environmental crime. 
214  The  Environmental  Liability  Directive,  2004/35,  creates  the 
framework. 
215 Umweltbundesamt  
216Kuratorium Wald  
217 Umweltbundesamt   
218 Environmental inspection reports (Umweltinspektionsberichte) 

Austria  41 

Complaint handling and citizen science 

The  handling  of  complaints  is  decentralised,  and  there 
does not appear to be clear public information at federal 
level  on  how  to  submit  environmental  complaints. 
However, 
the  Environmental  Advocacy  of  Austria 
(Umweltanwaltschaften)  has  benn  set  up  in  every  Land. 
Their role is to represent the public interest in nature and 
environmental  protection,  and  to  support  members  of 
the  publlic  who  have  environmental  problems  and 
complaints219.  However,  their  online  presence  does  not 
provide  clear  signposting  of  how  citizens  can  raise 
specific  concerns.  However,  an  app  called  ‘Sag’s  Wien’, 
allows  for  the  submission  of  complaints  to  the  city 
administration. This app seems to be only available in the 
Land  of  Vienna  and  there  is no  information  available  on 
the results of submissions through this app. There do not 
appear to be awareness-raising campaigns to inform the 
public about how to report  environmental concerns or to 
encourage people to do so.  

Information  is  not  available  at  national  level  on  the 
handling  of  citizens’  complaints.  However,  there  are  a 
number  of  active  citizen  science  initiatives  in  other 
environmental areas, and a website (created by academic 
and other institutions) gathers and presents information 
on these220. 

Enforcement 

Interior.  The 

Statistics  on  environmental  crimes  are  provided  by  the 
Federal  Ministry  of  the 
latest  report 
available  is  from  2019221.  For  each  year,  a  narrative 
report is provided, with a relevant annex, and a separate 
document  on  statistics  and  analysis.  This  report  (Crime 
Report  -  Statistics  and  Analysis)  includes  statistics  for  a 
wide  range  of  criminal  offences,  such  as  criminal  acts 
against  life,  as  well  as  criminal  acts  against  freedom; 
however,  there  is  no  statistics  on  environmental  crimes 
in  this  report.  However,  there  is  a  separate  section  on 
environmental  crimes  in  the  annex  accompanying  the 
annual reports, including statistics on offences related to 
intentional  or  negligent  damage  to  the  environment, 
handling  and  transfer  of  waste  hazardous  to  the 
environment,  as  well  as  endangerment  of  fauna  and 
flora.  

219 Umweltanwaltschaft 
220 See https://www.citizen-science.at/ueber-uns/ueber-oesterreich-
forscht 
221  Security  reports  (Sicherheitsbericht).  Information  available  at: 
https://www.bmi.gv.at/508/start.aspx. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Environmental Liability Directive 

It  was  not  possible  to  identify  a    registry  or  central 
database where data  on environmental incidents or ELD 
cases is collected online. Although a list of data sources is 
available  on  the  website  of  the  Federal  Environmental 
Agency,  no  specific  reference  to  data  on  environmental 
damages is provided222. Austria does not appear to have 
introduced  mandatory  financial  security  for  liabilities 
under the ELD223. 

The  2019  EIR  recommended  to  Austria  to  improve 
financial  security  for  liabilities  and  ELD  guidance,  and 
publish    on  environmental  damage.  Since  2019,  Austria 
made no progress on those issues. 

2022 priority actions 

  Ensure  the  availability  of 

information  on  the 
implementation of  legislation on nature and nitrates 
is provided and targeting farmers and duty-holders.. 
Improve  public  information  on  measures  to  tackle 
environmental  crime,  including  follow-up  actions  to 
inspections or complaints. 

 

  Encourage public bodies at federal and regional level 
reporting  of 

to  publicise  options 
environmental concerns or infringements.  

for  public 

Effectiveness of environmental 
administrations 

Those  involved  in  implementing  environment  legislation 
at EU, national, regional and local levels need to have the 
knowledge,  tools  and  capacity  to  ensure  that  legislation 
and  the  governance  of  the  enforcement  process  bring 
about the desired benefits. 

ensure  that  the  legislation  and  the  governance  of  the 
enforcement process bring about the intended benefits.  

Administrative capacity and quality 

Legislative  competence  is  shared  between  the  federal 
and the regional level, and implementation is spread over 
the  federal,  regional,  district  and  municipal  levels.  All 
levels  must  work  effectively  with  each  other  within  a 
system  of  multi-level  governance.  Compliance  on 
environmental  issues  is  generally  good,  but  experience 
arising  from  certain  infringements  shows  that  there  are 
to  encourage  under-performing 
few  mechanisms 

Austria  42 

regional  authorities  to  reach  the 
demonstrating best practice. 

level  of  those 

Austria ranks sixth out of 180 in the 2020 Environmental 
Performance Index224 moving up two places. 

Coordination and integration 

The 

encourages 

As  mentioned  in  the  2019  EIR,  the  transposition  of  the 
revised  EIA  Directive  provides  an  opportunity  to  further 
streamline their regulatory framework on environmental 
assessments. 
the 
Commission 
streamlining  of  environmental  assessments  to  reduce 
in  environmental 
duplication  and  avoid  overlaps 
assessments  for  projects.  Streamlining  helps  to  reduce 
unnecessary  administrative  burden  and  accelerates 
decision-making, 
done  without 
is 
the  environmental 
compromising 
assessment  procedure.  As  Austria  is  a  federal  state  and 
competence  for  many  environmental  issues  is  spread 
over  various  administrative  levels,  a  ‘one-stop  shop’ 
principle  is  difficult  to  implement.  However,  Austria  has 
introduced a streamlined procedure for the EIA, Habitats 
and Water Framework Directives. 

provided 
it 
the  quality  of 

Reforms through the Commission’s Technical 
Support Instrument 

The Commission supports environmental implementation 
and  the  green  transition  through  the  EU  financing 
programmes.  But 
it  also  gives  support  by  granting 
technical assistance such as through the TSI and peer-to-
peer learning through Taiex peer-to-peer exchanges. 

The  Commission’s  TSI  supported  several  environment-
related projects in Austria, including a  project  related to 
strengthening  environmental  crime  enforcement 
in 
2020..  Austria  participated  in  the  Commission’s  green 
budgeting  TSI  started  in  2021.  Under  the  TSI  2022,  a 
project will support the establishment of a roadmap for a 
future comprehensive raw material balance. 

TAIEX EIR peer-to-peer 

The  Commission  launched  the  TAIEX  EIR  Peer-to-Peer 
tool225  to  facilitate 
learning  between  environmental 
authorities.  Austria  participated  in  a  multi-country  EIR 
workshop  on  zero  pollution  in  2022  and  on  ammonia 
reducing  technology  and  measures  in  2021  as  well  as  in 

222 https://www.umweltbundesamt.at/umweltinformation/opendata. 
223 
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/liability/pdf/Annex-
I_Austria.pdf. 

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/legal/liability/; 

224 Yale  Center  for  Environmental  Law  &  Policy,  Environmental 
Performance Index,2020 
225TAIEX  -  Environmental  Implementation  Review  -  PEER  2  PEER  - 
Environment - European Commission (europa.eu). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
an  online  workshop  on  permit  exemptions  under  the 
Waste Framework Directive in2020.   

Austria  43 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Austria