# Austria climate policy and CO2 emission trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/austria-climate-policy-and-co2-emission-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-16T09:31:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2.

Austria is undergoing shifts in its climate policy and emission trends. The government, comprising the ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS, is preparing new legislation to lift a CO2 storage ban that has existed since 2011. This proposed Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) framework aims to support industrial sectors like cement, steel, and ceramics, while limiting geological storage to five percent of annual emissions.

Concurrently, data from Statistik Austria shows that fossil CO2 emissions in the country fell by 4.3 percent in 2024, totaling 40.97 million tons. This decline is attributed to factors such as reduced diesel consumption, mild weather, and weakened industrial production. Emissions from private households and the broader economy also saw decreases, with economic emissions now 26.8 percent lower than 2008 levels.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-16: Austria fossil CO2 emissions fell 4.3% in 2024

Austria's fossil CO2 emissions fell by 4.3 percent in 2024 to 40.97 million tons, driven by lower diesel use, mild weather, and reduced industrial activity.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austria-fossil-co2-emissions-fell-43-in-2024

### 2026-09-21: Austria to lift CO2 storage ban via new legislation

Austria is set to lift its 2011 ban on CO2 storage through new legislation, enabling Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for hard-to-abate industries while reforming environmental assessment procedures.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austria-to-lift-co2-storage-ban-via-new-legislative-draft

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Cite as: Austria climate policy and CO2 emission trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/austria-climate-policy-and-co2-emission-trends