Climate Crisis – How Austria Can Take Countermeasures. Op-ed by WIFO Economist Claudia Kettner-Marx in the Daily Newspaper "Der Standard"

Claudia Kettner-Marx

WIFO environmental economist Claudia Kettner-Marx

29.07.2019

Climate Crisis – How Austria Can Take Countermeasures

Op-ed by WIFO Economist Claudia Kettner-Marx in the Daily Newspaper "Der Standard"

WIFO economist Claudia Kettner-Marx explains in her guest commentary in the daily newspaper "Der Standard" of 27 July 2019 that a sensible introduction of a CO2 tax could reduce emissions – without negative effects on growth and income distribution.

According to Kettner-Marx Austria urgently needs a more active climate policy. Examples from Canada and Switzerland would show that a CO₂ tax could help to achieve climate goals.

The climate crisis is one of the major global challenges. In the Paris Climate Protection Agreement of 2015, the international community of states committed itself to limiting the global rise in temperature to well below 2°C – and if possible below 1.5°C – compared with pre-industrial levels. Last but not least, Greta Thunberg has succeeded with the Fridays for Future movement in anchoring the topic in the broad social and political discussion. This is also shown by the application speech of Ursula von der Leyen, designated head of the European Commission, in which she demanded that Europe should become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. By 2030, CO₂ emissions are to be reduced by at least 50 percent, which is to be achieved, among other things, through the introduction of a CO₂ border levy.

Please find the complete commentary (german) here.