
The majority of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in Austria decreased in 2022, according to data published by Statistics Austria on Friday. However, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel sources rose by 2.3% compared to 2021, a result largely attributed to increased traffic following the end of pandemic-related lockdowns, noted Tobias Thomas, Director General of Statistics Austria, in the “Air Emissions Account 1995-2022.”
The overall rise in climate-impacting CO2 emissions, which include both fossil and process-related emissions (such as those from steel or cement production), amounted to only 0.2%, the statistical office reported. Warmer weather and higher energy prices led to reductions in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions as households cut down on the use of biomass for heating. This also contributed to significant reductions in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions (down 9.8%) and volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions (down 6.9%) compared to 2021.
Looking at the long-term trend since 1995, the largest reductions were seen in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions (down 74.2%), NMVOC (down 57.1%), and carbon monoxide (down 47.7%). Other notable decreases include reductions in fine particulate matter (PM2.5 by 40.1% and PM10 by 29.2%), methane (CH4 down 38.2%), and nitrogen oxides (NOx down 28.6%).
Statistics Austria also reported a 97.3% rise in climate-neutral CO2 emissions from biogenic sources, such as firewood and biomass, between 1995 and 2022. However, emissions from fossil fuel combustion only decreased by 6.6% during the same period, while process-related emissions increased by 24.7%. Overall, climate-impacting CO2 emissions slightly decreased by 0.7%.
Private households reduced emissions of most air pollutants and greenhouse gases between 1995 and 2022, except for CO2 emissions from biogenic sources (up 11.4%) and other sources (up 23.9%). Meanwhile, emissions from the business sector decreased across the board, with the exception of fossil fuel emissions (up 0.1%), process-related emissions (up 24.7%), and climate-neutral biogenic CO2 emissions (up 210.6%).
Statistics Austria clarified that the air emissions account only considers emissions caused by individuals and companies based in Austria, regardless of where the emissions occur globally. This differs from the air pollutant and greenhouse gas inventory prepared annually by the Environment Agency, which focuses solely on emissions within Austrian territory. The key distinction between these reports lies in how they account for transport emissions (those from residents vs. those within the country).