Austria, together with France, Germany, and other EU member states, wants to postpone the decision on the European climate target for 2040. Instead of voting as planned at the next meeting of EU environment ministers on September 18 in Brussels, the decision is to be made at the EU summit at the end of October, sources in the Council confirmed to APA on Friday. Since unanimity applies there, even a single country could block the EU climate goals.
“The fight against climate change has many facets. For us in Europe, the question is how we can manage to combine ambitious climate goals with our pursuit of a strong and competitive economy,” the Federal Chancellery told APA. Therefore, it is not surprising that numerous member states, including Austria, are calling for the issue to be handled by heads of state and government. This is “not just an isolated climate or environmental policy decision.”
“Austria’s internal position not yet finalized”
Austria’s internal position has not yet been finalized, the Chancellery emphasized—although the SPÖ and NEOS have already taken clear positions, pushing for an emissions reduction of at least 90 percent. “The government has committed in its coalition program to the goal of climate neutrality for Austria by 2040. It is therefore only consistent to also advocate at the EU level for a reduction of emissions by at least 90 percent,” the SPÖ told Der Standard (online). Similarly, the NEOS: “We support the Commission’s proposal to cut the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.”
The involvement of the European Council is a decision for the head of government, the Chancellery said, noting that coalition partners had been informed. According to the agenda, environment ministers were supposed to vote at their upcoming meeting by majority decision, and a positive result had been expected. However, the demand at Wednesday’s meeting of EU ambassadors to shift the issue to the level of heads of state and government means the decision will now require unanimity.
The EU Commission wants greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union to be reduced by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, according to its proposal presented in early July. More flexibility was also promised. The goals for before and after are already set: by 2030, emissions should be reduced by at least 55 percent compared to 1990, and by 2050 the EU should be climate-neutral. The next deadline is September 24, by which the EU must submit its new 2035 climate target to the United Nations under the Paris Agreement. This will also be a major topic at the upcoming UN Climate Summit COP30 in November in Brazil.
Criticism from Greens and GLOBAL 2000
“We have no time to lose—and yet this government is doing everything to delay the adoption of an EU climate target. Especially just before the World Climate Conference, the consequences of this backward policy are disastrous. The EU has so far been a leader in climate protection,” said Green parliamentary leader Leonore Gewessler in a statement.
“We see at every summit how Putin’s ally Viktor Orbán blocks everything. Anyone who believes that a climate target can be adopted with Orbán is either deluded or deliberately trying to torpedo the EU climate target,” said Lena Schilling, the Greens’ shadow rapporteur in the European Parliament for the EU climate goal.
“We have no understanding for further delays. Time is pressing, we need a swift adoption of the EU climate goals for 2040. Chancellor Christian Stocker and Environment Minister Norbert Totschnig (both ÖVP) must not allow climate change deniers like Orbán and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to destroy this vital climate law. Europe is enormously affected by the climate crisis, which is why we need a positive decision on September 18,” demanded GLOBAL 2000 climate spokesperson Johannes Wahlmüller.
