Climate politics at global, national and European level deals with strategies and measures to protect the climate. The focus is on avoiding greenhouse gases and adapting to the consequences of climate change that can no longer be avoided. These consequences include global warming and extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and storms. In addition, ways are being sought to phase out the throwaway society and move toward a circular economy.
In 2019, with the European Green Deal (EGD), the European Commission linked the goal of greenhouse gas neutrality, which applies to the entire Community, with a broad-based growth strategy until 2050. This agreement is intended to put Europe on a climate-neutral, resource-conserving and yet competitive path.
This target was enshrined in law in 2021 in the EU Climate Protection Act. Numerous legislative proposals to implement these climate targets are also currently being negotiated at EU level, known as the “Fit For 55 Package.”
There are also climate policy initiatives around the world. At the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow 2021 (COP 26), signatories to a self-commitment campaign launched by the U.S. and the EU committed. They aim to reduce their methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 emission levels by 2030. Along with CO2, methane is considered one of the most important greenhouse gases. According to EU figures, the participating countries account for at least 70 percent of the global economy. and about half of all methane emissions caused by human activity.
There is also a whole range of projects and funding at national level. These are also intended to motivate homeowners to replace oil and gas heating systems with systems using renewable energy. A central point of contact for such climate protection projects in Austria is the Climate and Energy Fund.
