Climate and energy
Climate and energy
Green electricity is closely related to climate change, sustainable energy supply, resource conservation etc. Austria has put in place a sustainable financial support scheme for renewable technologies, which contributes to several energy and climate policy goals. The following explanations give an overview of the relevant framework of energy and climate policies.
General climate and energy policy
A series of energy, environmental and climate policy targets have been set at EU level. The activities in this context are grouped around the following pillars:
- Protecting the climate
- Protecting the environment
- Sustainable use of resources
- Reduction of energy dependency from third countries
- Security of energy supply
In order to make these ambitions become reality, a comprehensive legal framework has been set up. It includes:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Cutting energy demand
- Increasing energy efficiency
- Raising the share of renewable energies
- Expanding and using alternative energy technologies
Energy and climate goals have implications for all groups of a society and an economy; from households to small and medium-sized enterprises, from the industry to the public and private service sector and agriculture.
Concrete and binding EU legislative framework
- The Kyoto protocol
- Directive on energy end-use efficiency
- RES Directive
These documents establish a concrete framework and targets for the individual member states. Furthermore, they are accompanied and complemented by additional European directives which govern the implementation of the overall targets and set standards for a variety of products and services. These include:
- The Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (rules and standards for the construction of buildings and components of buildings)
- The Eco-Design Directive (rules and standards for devices and energy-using appliances - from refrigerators and lighting to motors in industry)
- The CHP Directive (targets and framework for the expansion of cogeneration technologies)
- The ETS Directive (rules for the trade with CO2 certificates in Europe)