Official: Klimabonus 2023 starting from €110

Official: Klimabonus 2023 starting from €110

National Council adopts climate bonus 2023 with a base amount of 110€.

(Vienna) – The Klimabonus Act was today revised and approved by the National Council with a majority vote. Starting in September, the Klimabonus for this year will be paid out, consisting of a base amount of €110 per person, along with region-specific compensation. Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler highlighted the continuation of the campaign based on its success in 2022, incorporating the knowledge gained from its implementation to enhance the accuracy of the transfers.

 

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Although the government factions emphasized the significance of the climate bonus, opposition parties did not show their approval. The SPÖ criticized its social fairness, while the FPÖ and NEOS questioned the effectiveness of the measures. The FPÖ firmly believed CO2 pricing was incorrect, while the NEOS advocated for incentives to encourage climate-friendly behavior rather than a distribution-oriented policy. Both parties proposed resolutions but failed to secure a majority.

In addition to the above, the FPÖ also proposed a motion to exclude prisoners from being eligible for the climate bonus categorically. However, this proposal did not receive enough support to pass.

On a positive note, a joint motion put forth by the ÖVP, Greens, and NEOS, which called for geological investigations during the mining process for the construction of new nuclear power reactors in Paks, Hungary, was unanimously agreed upon.

In 2023 the Klimabonus Will Be More Accurate

The National Council has introduced a new regulation regarding the disbursement of the climate bonus for 2023. Proposed through an initiative motion by the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Green Party (Grünen) on the Climate Bonus Act, the regulation was further refined in the Environment Committee. Under the new provisions, the regional climate bonus 2023 will comprise a base amount of €110 per person, accompanied by a staggered regional compensation. Consequently, the specific provisions for climate and anti-inflationary bonuses in 2022 have been removed. Starting in 2024, the base amount for the climate bonus will be determined through regulation, considering factors such as greenhouse gas emission prices.

The updated regulations now state that prisoners in custody for more than 183 days within the eligibility year will no longer qualify for the regional climate bonus. This aligns them with individuals who do not have a primary residence in Austria for more than 183 days. Additionally, a primary residence registration and a confirmation of primary residence, particularly for homeless individuals, will be recognized as a valid claims. Any fraudulent claims for the climate bonus by providing false information will be considered an offense. Furthermore, new regulations are being developed to enhance data transmission and improve data quality, thereby increasing the accuracy of climate bonus disbursement.

During the plenary debate, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Green Party (Grüne) introduced an amendment that grants eligibility for the climate bonus to all non-Austrian citizens who have legal residency in Austria based on various legal grounds and meet the specified criteria. Conversely, these individuals will be excluded from receiving the climate bonus if they lack a valid residence permit or if a measure to terminate their residency is in effect.

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) proposed a resolution to completely repeal the Climate Bonus Act and the National Emission Certificate Trading Act but failed to secure majority support. The FPÖ expressed concerns about the potential for abuse, particularly objecting to prisoners being eligible for the climate bonus./Parlament Correspondence Nr. 662 of 14.06.2023

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