The Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change (AAR2) provides a comprehensive scientific analysis on climate change across approximately 800 pages.

More than 200 researchers from over 50 institutions have spent three years working on this interdisciplinary report – funded by the Klima- und Energiefonds with support from the Bundesministeriums für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft (BMLUK).

The findings of the second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change are clear:

• Since 1900, Austria’s temperature has risen by around 3.1°C – more than twice the global average.
• Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and landslides are becoming more frequent – with significant consequences for health, infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism.
• Proactive climate protection and adaptation measures are significantly more cost-effective in the long term than dealing with the damages caused by climate change.

“Climate change has long since arrived here – and it affects all of our lives. With this new climate assessment report, we now have a scientific foundation in hand that shows just how profound the changes in Austria already are – but also how many opportunities we have to take countermeasures. The numbers are clear, but they are not a reason to despair. They are a clear call to action,” says Environment and Climate Minister Norbert Totschnig.

“This report is more than just a scientific document – it also presents tools and solutions. If we set the right environmental and climate policy course, we can protect our homeland, transform our economy, and secure the quality of life for future generations. I thank all the scientists who contributed to this report. They are providing not only facts, but also guidance – for politics, the economy, and each and every one of us. Now it’s up to us to take on this responsibility together,” Totschnig added.

Austria Particularly Affected by Climate Change

Austria is especially impacted by climate change, and risks and effects continue to increase with ongoing warming.

“The consequences of the climate crisis threaten our prosperity and also exacerbate social inequalities here in Austria. The report outlines a wide range of options for action and emphasizes that realistic, socially just, and economically viable pathways to climate neutrality are available. There are many options, but they must now be implemented quickly,” says MRI SLC Member Margreth Keiler from the University of Innsbruck and the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), who co-chaired of the Assessment Report.

The report was coordinated by Margreth Keiler alongside fellow Co-Chairs Daniel Huppmann (IIASA), Keywan Riahi (IIASA), and Harald Rieder (BOKU Vienna).

Climate Goals Are Achievable – But Require Swift Action

Austria’s greenhouse gas emissions have declined in recent years. However, Co-Chair Keywan Riahi (IIASA) emphasizes that per capita emissions remain high by international standards:

“The measures currently in place are a step in the right direction, but they are not sufficient to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2040. Without additional measures, there could be a reduction gap of up to 10 megatons of CO₂-equivalent by 2030 to meet the targets agreed with the EU.”

Nevertheless, the authors of the report agree: Austria can achieve its emissions reduction targets through additional action. Austria’s remaining carbon budget, derived from the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, is largely depleted.

“By contributing to the achievement of climate goals, Austria also fulfills its international obligations. Our report highlights the synergies between emissions reduction, adaptation, and sustainable development,” says Riahi.

Transformation as an Opportunity

All sectors are being called upon to act:

“To achieve the climate goals, additional effective measures must be implemented quickly,” stresses Co-Chair Daniel Huppmann of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). “Key levers include a complete phase-out of fossil fuels, rapid electrification of industry, mobility and heating, and a society-wide shift towards mindful resource use. These actions are not only crucial for climate protection – they also reduce Austria’s dependency on energy imports and lessen its vulnerability to global oil and gas price shocks.”

The report identifies synergies across many areas of society – such as expanding public transportation and cycling infrastructure, retrofitting buildings, switching to climate-friendly heating, greening cities to combat urban heat islands, protecting wetlands, and actively adapting tourism and agriculture.

For all of these measures, rapid, deep, and cross-sectoral implementation is essential. The longer action is delayed, the narrower the remaining window for effective intervention – and the more likely it becomes that adaptation limits will be reached.

“The climate assessment report makes it clear: we must use a wide variety of tools to meet our climate goals. That’s why we are currently working intensively on a new Climate Act that will provide a framework for joint collaboration,” says Minister Totschnig.

“To reach our goals, we need not only the expansion of renewables but also new technologies like CO₂ storage – especially for sectors where emissions are hard to avoid. The report provides the scientific foundation for this. Now it’s about implementing measures that are effective – technologically, economically, socially, and sustainably,” Totschnig concludes.

More information about the report (in German): https://aar2.ccca.ac.at/de

Media Contact:
Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft
Phone: +43 1 71100 ext. 606747
Email: presse@bmluk.gv.at
Website: https://www.bmluk.gv.at/

_{Cover image by Chris Zwettler.}