Austria feels the heat from global warming

Austria is warming faster than the worldwide average, a new report finds — and may need up to €11 billion a year to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.

Austria is warming faster than much of the world.

According to a new 800-page national climate report, the country’s average temperature has already risen by 3.1C since 1900 — and the trend is accelerating, Vienna.at reported.

That figure, released this week as part of the Second Austrian Assessment Report on Climate Change, has prompted urgent warnings from scientists and calls for billions in investment to prevent irreversible damage.

So, how serious is the situation, and what action is Austria taking?

Austria is heating up – fast

While 3.1C may sound abstract or minor, it’s more than just a number. The report’s authors — over 200 scientists from 50 institutions — say the country is heading towards 4C of warming in the coming decades.

That means more frequent mega-droughts, heat-related deaths, economic losses, and the disappearance of glaciers. In some alpine regions, researchers say the limits of adaptation are already being reached.

Climate researcher Keywan Riahi warned that even 2C of warming would lead to crop failures, health risks, and severe threats to critical infrastructure. “Heat-related impacts on health and well-being will occur particularly early,” he told APA, adding that Austria is already seeing reduced labour productivity and higher mortality during heatwaves.

€6 to €11 billion needed every year

The report estimates that Austria needs to invest between €6.4 and €11.2 billion per year to prepare for the climate crisis and prevent vital systems from collapsing.

Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) stated that the government is working on a new climate protection law and emphasised the need to focus on CO2 reduction, decarbonisation, and adaptation measures.

Transport Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) added that urgency is key: “We have to act fast, we have to be innovative.” He said solutions should be tailored, with different strategies for rural versus urban areas.

Climate inequality: who’s hit hardest?

Climate change, researchers stress, affects low-income groups disproportionately. Individuals in substandard housing or those with lower incomes are more susceptible to the risks of extreme heat or flooding.

Meanwhile, the richest ten percent of Austrians emit more than four times the carbon as the poorest ten percent.

For a climate strategy to succeed, it must be fair. “Climate change is more than just an environmental problem; it affects our entire economic and social system,” said researcher Daniel Huppmann.

Austria’s Alpine regions are among the hardest-hit.

NGOs like Protect Our Winters and the Austrian Alpine Association warn of more rockfalls, disappearing glaciers, and higher costs for maintaining infrastructure. Climate change is already reshaping Austria’s winter tourism industry, with fewer snow days and growing reliance on artificial snow.

jamtal glacier austria

A photo taken on July 20, 2022 shows the Jamtal Glacier (Jamtalferner) near Galtuer, Tyrol, Austria. (Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP)

So what’s slowing progress?

Despite the science, political coordination is often lacking. The report points to “multi-layered responsibilities” between Austria’s federal, state and municipal governments, leading to delays or ineffective policies.

One example? The continued failure to limit soil sealing — that is, the paving over of land for roads, housing and logistics — remains one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges. The report calls for clearer lines of responsibility and more decisive leadership.

Environmental groups say part of the solution lies in protecting natural ecosystems. WWF Austria called for more investment in “intact nature,” citing the role of moors, forests and rivers in absorbing CO2 and mitigating flood risk.

Karl Schellmann from WWF stated that “intact moors and mixed forests” provide habitat, store carbon, and offer natural protection during extreme weather conditions. The NGO also called for an end to climate-damaging subsidies, such as the diesel van tax exemption.

Criticism of climate policy cuts

Several groups have criticised the government’s draft budget, saying it cuts funding from the very areas most urgently needed. According to Katharina Rogenhofer of the Kontext Institute, “Around a third of the total savings in the 2025/26 double budget relate to the climate sector.” If Austria misses its EU climate targets, she warned, the financial penalties could be huge.

Fridays for Future Austria also responded to the report by demanding that any new climate law include clear responsibilities and enforcement mechanisms. “Otherwise, it’s just another New Year’s resolution,” said spokesperson Laila Kriechbaum.

The report makes one thing clear: the science is settled, the costs are known, and the solutions exist. What’s missing, according to both researchers and activists, is the political will to act at the pace and scale required.

Austria feels the heat from global warming

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