Welcome to the Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index, where Earth.Org examines the policies and actions regarding the environment of every nation on earth. Combining the most respected global indexes on pollution, climate change, policy, energy, oceans, biodiversity we have produced an overall Global Index, which will be updated annually. This is the Global Sustainability Index scorecard for Austria.

As an EU member state, Austria is committed to contributing to the achievement of the joint EU economy-wide reduction target of 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. Further goals for the Union are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. For Austria itself, emissions have remained stable between 1990 and 2016 despite significant increases in GDP, population, demand for electricity and heating and transport volume. 

The country’s new conservative governing party, the Austrian People’s Party led by Sebastian Kurz, struck an “experimental” deal with the Green party in January 2020, first of its kind. First, the Greens will head four ministries, including the environmental and judicial. Targets for fully renewable energy generation by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2040 will be set, along with a carbon tax. Flying is to be made more expensive, which is a welcome move in the eyes of environmentalists, with an intent to make train travel more attractive. 

Austria global sustainability index

* Our Energy ranking considers emission intensity (units of energy per unit of GDP). When one or both are low enough to make their influence negligible on a global scale, the country is left out of the ranking.

** Austria has no coast or naval activity.

Global Sustainability Main Page.

References:
Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking image description: Austria Rankings – Policy: 128, Pollution: 168, Climate Change: N/A, Oceans: N/A, Biodiversity: 16, Energy: N/A, Earth.Org Global Sustainability Index Ranking 190.