Brussels – On Wednesday, the European Commission released its final assessments of the National Climate and Energy Plans (NECP) for member countries. The EU is on track to achieve a 54 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The Commission stresses that Austria must urgently implement its finalized national energy and climate plan, which was submitted late.
The Commission had previously evaluated a draft of the updated Austrian plan in October 2024, providing recommendations for the final NECP. In its latest assessment, it criticized that some of these recommendations were only partially incorporated, while others were ignored completely.
Today, the Commission advised that Austria should promptly implement additional measures to meet the 2030 goals, including reducing fossil fuel subsidies and adopting carbon capture and storage technologies. The burden-sharing regulation, which sets binding national reduction targets for 2030, will require domestic emission reductions through measures that remain incomplete, according to the Commission.
Accelerate the promotion of renewable energy
Brussels also calls for clarification on existing fossil fuel subsidies along with a detailed timeline for their gradual elimination. Additionally, it urges the swift promotion of building thermal renovations, renewable energy use, and modernization of heating systems. The Commission recommends establishing a supportive framework for renewable energies across all sectors, along with raising public and business awareness about financing and benefits of renewable technologies. In terms of energy efficiency, measures must be adopted to meet the more ambitious energy efficiency targets for primary energy consumption by 2030.
Austria submitted its final updated plan on December 18, 2024, nearly six months past the required deadline of June 30, 2024, as noted by the Commission. This delay was attributed to a conflict within the then governing coalition of the ÖVP and the Greens. The Commission had initiated an infringement procedure against Austria for the missing plan, which was closed in March. (30.05.2025)
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