Austria's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Austria Republic of Austria [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	7th best
Capital	Vienna
Land Area	82 409km21
Location	Europe
Population	8.9m2
Life Expectancy	81.58yrs (2017)3
GNI	$53 619 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	AT, AUT, 405
Internet Domain	.at6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+438

Austria is 28th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is formulated from 21 data sets. Austria comes in the best 20 in its environmental performance₉. It does better than average in terms of its score on the Green Future Index₁₀ (but bad for Europe), its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, its forested percent change 2000-2020₁₁ and in energy to GDP efficiency₁₂. But, things still need to improve in Austria. Austria does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₃ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₄.

1. Austria's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Austria's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
4	Portugal	58.0
5	Germany	58.2
6	Spain	59.5
7	Austria	59.6
8	Greece	61.4
9	Italy	63.1
10	Ireland	63.1
11	Cyprus	64.8
12	Hungary	65.8
13	Norway	66.9
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)15
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank15
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
25	Ghana	58.6
26	Thailand	59.5
27	Spain	59.5
28	Austria	59.6
29	Tunisia	60.1
30	Vietnam	60.6
31	Niger	61.3
32	Greece	61.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better11
Pos.		Total11
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
68	USA	2.1%
69	Ukraine	1.9%
70	Australia	1.7%
71	Austria	1.6%
72	Czechia	1.5%
73	Slovakia	1.3%
74	Portugal	1.0%
75	Micronesia	0.9%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

When it comes to its forested percent change 2000-2020, Austria is positioned 71st in the world.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_16,17. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₈. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_19,17, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_20,21. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_22,20. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₃, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₄. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₅.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₇; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₁₁. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₁₁.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

Averages by decade for Austria (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Austria:	0.7%	0.9%
World Rank:	68th	⇡  59th
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better9
Pos.		20189
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
6	UK	79.9
7	Luxembourg	79.1
8	Austria	79.0
9	Ireland	78.8
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Austria is 8th-best in the world regarding its environmental performance.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better12
Pos.		2022 Avg12
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
79	Lesotho	1.03
80	Mauritius	1.03
81	Macedonia	1.04
82	Austria	1.04
83	Japan	1.05
84	Benin	1.06
85	Namibia	1.07
86	Cambodia	1.07
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

Austria comes 82nd in the world regarding energy to GDP efficiency.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Austria (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Austria:	2.08	2.02	1.78	1.54	1.34	1.13
World Rank:	40th	⇡  35th	⇣  94th	⇡  86th	⇣  87th	⇡  83rd
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
28	Japan	70%
29	UK	70%
30	Tunisia	70%
31	Austria	70%
32	Venezuela	70%
33	Kazakhstan	70%
34	Jordan	69%
35	Portugal	69%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Austria comes 31st in the world regarding its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

“Austria's government aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2040, 10 years ahead of the EU's net-zero target. The country reduced its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% between 2005 and 2023, less than the EU average of 30%. Most of Austria's emissions reductions stem from the emissions trading sector. For the effort-sharing sectors, Austria met its targets for 2020, but will need to increase ambitions significantly to deliver on the updated 2030 obligations. Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), historically a significant carbon sink, has declined in recent years, even delivering net emissions in 2018 and 2019. Austria held a public consultation on its draft updated national energy and climate plan (NECP) in 2023, but did not submit it, resulting in an infringement procedure. [...] Austria dedicates 56% of its €4 billion recovery and resilience plan to climate action.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₆

Averages by decade for Austria (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Austria:	0%	60%	68%	92%	99%
World Rank:	52nd	⇡  19th	⇣  24th	⇡  11th	⇣  30th
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better13
Pos.		2011 %13
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
87	Kyrgyzstan	32.0%
88	Georgia	31.9%
89	Australia	31.8%
90	Austria	31.8%
91	Azerbaijan	31.7%
92	Guinea	31.2%
93	Slovakia	31.1%
94	Guyana	30.1%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

With regard to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, Austria comes 90th in the world. In a 2023 survey, only 48% of Austrians identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world₂₆. "A majority (59%) expect business and industry to tackle climate change, with 52% looking to the EU or national government, while 40% see it as a personal responsibility"₂₆.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better14
Pos.		2021 kg14
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
134	Norway	74.7
135	Mexico	75.4
136	Cyprus	75.8
137	Austria	76.4
138	Germany	76.6
139	Greece	76.8
140	Serbia	77.6
141	Russia	78.4
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

With respect to reducing annual meat consumption per person, Austria comes 137th in the world.

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_27,28,29. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₀. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_27,31,32. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._27,31. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₂. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₂. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₃ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Austria was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. But it reduced this during the 2010s more than any other country (except Venezuela and Saint Lucia).₁₄

On average throughout the 2010s, Austria's rate was 89.9.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better10
Pos.		2023 Score10
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
	...
19	USA	5.4
20=	Switzerland	5.4
20=	Poland	5.4
22	Austria	5.4
23	Bulgaria	5.3
24	Costa Rica	5.3
25	S. Africa	5.2
26	Uruguay	5.1
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

With respect to its score on the Green Future Index, Austria is 22nd in the world.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₄.