
Austria’s agricultural sector has experienced significant damage from extreme weather events linked to climate change over the past year, according to the latest annual report from the Austrian Hail Insurance Company.
The report warns that national food security is under threat, with a total cost of €260 million in damages in 2024.
“Austria’s agriculture is simultaneously freezing, burning and drowning,” the company said in a statement, highlighting the growing challenges caused by climate change. It noted that frost, hail, storms, droughts and flooding have all caused severe damage to the country’s farming industry over the past year.
Rising Costs and More Extreme Weather
Kurt Weinberger, head of the Hail Insurance Company, outlined the extent of the damage: “Late frost alone caused €60 million in losses. Droughts were responsible for €150 million in damages, and hail, storm, and flood damage added €50 million.”
The company warned that “costly weather extremes – caused by man-made climate change – are increasing in frequency and intensity.”
The report stressed that these weather events are not confined to the summer months, with recurring frost damage in spring and severe autumn flooding worsening the situation. In addition to crop production, livestock farming is also under threat, with diseases such as bluetongue and avian flu taking their toll.
Threat to Food Security
The report also raised alarms about the wider implications of climate change on food security. “The agricultural sector is highly dependent on weather conditions, with 80% of crop yields reliant on the climate. Therefore, national food security is at risk due to increasing harvest failures,” it explained.
The report also pointed to “careless urbanisation” as a contributing factor, noting that more concrete-covered land increases flood risks, as these surfaces do not absorb water. Weinberger called for a shift towards an ecological economic policy, saying, “We should see soil and climate protection as an opportunity for the economy, nature, and future generations.”
Record Heat and Flooding
The past year was one of the hottest on record, surpassing 2023 as the warmest year in Austria’s 258-year history of weather data. “In the 1980s, Vienna recorded 13 heat days, but this year, there were 52 days with temperatures above 30°C,” the report stated. Many people found little relief from the heat at night. Autumn brought severe rainfall and flooding, particularly in northeastern Austria, resulting in fatalities.