As a result of the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria's economic output decreased by 6.7 percent in
2020 compared with the previous year. Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 7.7 percent (or 6.1 million t CO2 equivalents)
and reached their lowest level since 1990. The transport sector accounted for more than half of the total decrease in greenhouse
gas emissions compared to 2019. However, the emissions reductions do not reflect structural improvements in energy or emissions
intensity; rather, they are short-term declines resulting from reduced economic activity and limited private mobility due
to COVID-19 related restrictions and increased home-office schemes. Therefore, consistent implementation of measures leading
to a sustainable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is required to achieve the climate policy objectives, in particular
the Austrian target of climate neutrality by 2040.
Keywords:Climate change, climate policy, energy policy, agricultural production, environmental indicators
Forschungsbereich:Klima-, Umwelt- und Ressourcenökonomie