The Parties and Their (In)Action on Climate Protection
Following an exceptionally hot summer and ongoing flood challenges in many regions, Austria finds itself in the thick of the election campaign. This is a critical moment to ask: where do the various parties stand on climate protection?
One thing is clear: Austria must significantly reduce its harmful emissions by 2030, in line with EU directives. We conducted a detailed analysis of the election platforms of the five parliamentary parties to assess their strategies for achieving this goal.
ÖVP – Betting on Future Technologies
The Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), in its “Austria Plan,” commits to both environmental and climate protection, as well as to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The party advocates for a pragmatic approach to climate protection, emphasizing future technologies as the way forward. The ÖVP aims to position Austria as a leading hub for environmental technology, hoping this will contribute significantly to addressing the climate crisis.
A key component of their plan is the promotion of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source, with the goal of converting Austria’s gas network to accommodate it. The party also proposes expanding international hydrogen partnerships and simplifying import and production regulations. CO₂ storage is to be legalized and actively encouraged. Additionally, the ÖVP intends to expand energy sources such as geothermal, hydropower, and biomass.
The ÖVP also plans to invest one billion euros in the development of a “green combustion engine,” provide funding and investment support for climate-tech companies, strengthen energy communities, and streamline approval processes for renewable energy projects.
SPÖ – Paving the Way for Economic Transformation
The Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), in its “24 Ideas for Austria,” places a strong emphasis on significant investments in climate protection. A key initiative is to connect every district capital to the rail network or a rapid bus line by 2030, while offering free public transport to children and young people.
Through a broad public investment strategy, the SPÖ aims to drive a “social-ecological” transformation of the Austrian economy. They propose establishing a €20 billion transformation fund, to be managed by Austria’s state holding company ÖBAG. Access to these funds will be tied to social criteria, including regional and employment strategies, compliance with labor and social standards, and support for education and retraining initiatives.
Additionally, the SPÖ looks to the German Deeptech & Climate Fund as a model for state investment in start-ups within the climate and energy sectors, aiming to accelerate the transformation of the economy.
FPÖ – Personal Responsibility over “Climate Hysteria”
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), in its election manifesto “Fortress Austria – Fortress of Freedom,” calls for “genuine environmental protection rather than ideological climate policies.”
In the FPÖ’s view, climate neutrality must always be considered alongside economic growth, jobs, and research. They propose achieving this through practical measures and emerging technologies, such as CO₂ storage, although no further technological specifics are provided.
While the FPÖ supports expanding renewable energy, it cautions that decarbonization should not compromise Austria’s competitiveness. The party opposes regulations that, in its view, would lead to deindustrialization or impose additional burdens on Austrian citizens.
The FPÖ views Russian gas as critical to Austria’s energy security and calls for price caps on energy and fuel if necessary, instead of price hikes.
In the transport sector, the FPÖ supports the expansion of public transport but also advocates for policies benefiting drivers. The party proposes scrapping the CO₂ tax, lowering the vehicle registration tax (NoVA), and increasing the commuter and mileage allowances. It also opposes the phasing out of combustion engines and calls for the abolition of tax advantages for electric vehicle owners.
The FPÖ’s environmental agenda—broader than just climate protection—also includes safeguarding drinking water, combatting bee and insect population decline, and protecting mountain agriculture.
NEOS – Moving Away from Fossil Fuels
In their platform “Reforms for Your New Austria,” the NEOS outline their vision for sustainable climate protection, focusing on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
The NEOS advocate for Austria to end its reliance on Russian gas and diversify its energy sources while expanding the country’s electricity grid. They propose increasing the CO₂ tax to penalize environmentally harmful behavior while easing income tax burdens. The party also plans to introduce a greenhouse gas budget, setting annual emissions limits across all decision-making levels. Future political decisions would be subjected to a scientific “climate check.”
Like the ÖVP and FPÖ, the NEOS see CO₂ storage as part of their sustainability plan. They aim to promote sustainable pilot projects and research in the industrial sector through clear regulatory frameworks, tax reductions, and decreased bureaucracy. In transportation, they propose expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure as well as the electric vehicle charging network. The commuter allowance would be replaced with a targeted social scheme for regional support.
The Greens – A Champion of Climate Protection
Climate protection is central to the Greens’ platform, “Vote as if There Were a Tomorrow,” and is woven throughout their policy proposals.
The Greens pledge to continue building on the climate measures they have already implemented. Their goal is to achieve energy independence from oil and gas through the nationwide deployment of renewable energy. In transportation, they plan to expand eco-friendly infrastructure and clean technologies, continuing to promote the Climate Ticket and public transport. Car traffic would be electrified, and freight transport would shift increasingly to rail.
The Greens also aim to halt land sealing and reverse it through nationwide “de-sealing” competitions. They plan for climate-neutral housing construction by 2024, reducing energy consumption through environmentally friendly building practices. The creation of “green jobs” is a key element of their plan to transform existing professions and ensure long-term employment.
In addition, the Greens advocate for a comprehensive climate framework law, which would include sector-specific goals and mandates, such as a binding CO₂ budget outlining how much emissions Austria can afford. A mandatory climate check would be introduced to assess the impact of new laws on emissions. They also call for a constitutional right to climate protection.
Conclusion
Nearly all parties have put forward measures for climate protection, and most recognize the need for action. Many promising proposals are found across the platforms, indicating potential for cross-party collaboration on climate policy in the next legislative period. The specific focus will depend on the political balance of power, with strategies ranging from socio-economic approaches to more industry-centric solutions.
Integrating climate protection with other key policy areas, such as the economy, employment, and social security, will grow in importance. Additionally, developing viable funding models for the climate transition will remain a key challenge. There is a need for innovative solutions that effectively combine public and private investments while considering social factors.
Given the contentious debates surrounding technologies like CO₂ storage and e-mobility, providing fact-based information and fostering constructive dialogue among stakeholders will be critical. Public affairs professionals from corporations and industry associations can play a pivotal role in driving these discussions.
For those interested in public affairs, learn more here. If you are starting or optimizing public affairs work in your company, try our free tool, the Public Affairs Check. For a consultation, feel free to contact us at [email protected].
