Die reale Wirtschaftsleistung (+3%) und der Bruttoinlandsverbrauch an Energie (+2%) entwickelten sich 2017 ähnlich, zwischen
der Entwicklung von Energieverbrauch und Wirtschaftsleistung konnte jedoch eine relative Entkoppelung erzielt werden. Die
Zunahme der Treibhausgasemissionen (+3,3%) lag hingegen über dem Wirtschaftswachstum. Dies bedeutet eine Verfestigung der
Emissionsintensität der österreichischen Wirtschaft. Der 2005 eingeleitete rückläufige Trend konnte somit nicht wiederaufgenommen
werden. Dies war auf den Anstieg der Emissionen im Emissionshandelsbereich (+5,2%) zurückzuführen, insbesondere die CO2-Emissionen
der Industrie wuchsen kräftig (+4,8%), aber auch in der Energiewirtschaft (+6%) und im Verkehrssektor (+3,2%) nahmen die Emissionen
zu. In einem Sonderthema befasst sich der vorliegende Bericht mit der Ressourcenintensität und dem potentiellen Beitrag einer
Kreislaufwirtschaft zur Senkung von Treibhausgasemissionen.
Two major international frameworks provide landmarks for future development paths: the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and the Paris Climate Agreement. Monitoring the progress towards achieving the individual goals has to consider a multitude
of synergies and trade-offs. In this paper we use composite indices to analyse climate and energy policy in Austria and other
selected EU countries. The analysis delivers several results which are also supported by the assessment of climate and energy
policies in the case study countries. In general, the improvements regarding energy efficiency, emissions and deployment of
renewables have been moderate in the period under observation. This hints at the time needed for restructuring to take place.
This underlines the importance of credible political commitment to climate targets, the implementation of ambitious instruments
and the need for stability in the guiding frameworks in order to effectuate substantial changes. In addition, the description
of the circumstances and policy frameworks in the selected countries shows, that each one is characterised by a very specific
energy system (complemented by specific social structures) which determines the challenges that have to be overcome on the
way to decarbonisation.
Ackerbau spielt eine wichtige Rolle in der österreichischen Landwirtschaft. Seit einigen Jahren nutzen die Sachgütererzeuger
vermehrt landwirtschaftliche Rohstoffe zur Produktion neuer und innovativer Produkte. Durch erhebliche Investitionen im Inland
wurde die hohe Nettoexportquote von Weizen deutlich verringert. Die Verarbeitung im Inland schafft Beschäftigung und Wertschöpfung
und verkürzt die Transportwege. Wie die Analyse zeigt, trägt die kaskadische Nutzung von pflanzlichen Rohstoffen zur effizienten
Nutzung in der Verarbeitung durch die Industrie und in der Tierfütterung bei. Dies schafft Ressourcen, die zur nachhaltigen
Produktion von Energieträgern genutzt werden können. Szenarienschätzungen quantifizieren die Auswirkungen von Investitionen
und Produktionsausweitungen in der Stärkeindustrie auf Beschäftigung und Wertschöpfung. Plastik auf der Grundlage fossiler
Rohstoffe könnte mit erheblichen Vorteilen für die Umwelt auf Basis nachwachsender Rohstoffe produziert werden.
Both the UN SDGs and the Paris Agreement imply ambitious long-term targets which only can be met with a fundamental restructuring
of economic and social systems. We propose a set of energy and climate policy indicators that allows informed policy making
and goes beyond the approaches that mainly focus on progress based on the UN indicator set. The sustainable energy indicators
cover the whole energy system as well as the three dimensions of sustainability. The approach combines an energy service centred
perspective with research on energy and climate indicators and embeds the indicator framework in broader socio-ecologic context.
For the four demand-side sectors a set of 118 high-level energy indicators has been assembled that can be further disaggregated
to about 387 indicators. For electricity and heat supply a set of 25 energy indicators has been compiled that can be further
disaggregated to about 130 indicators differentiating by energy source and plant type. Interactions (i.e., synergies and conflicts)
between the different target dimensions and the corresponding indicators need to be carefully considered. Given the complexity
of the issue and the lack of adequate indicators and gaps in data availability it is difficult to interpret certain observable
trends. This needs to be kept in mind when using the indicator system for policy analysis.
Die reale Wirtschaftsleistung (+1,5%) und der Bruttoinlandsverbrauch an Energie (+1,4%) wuchsen 2016 gleichgerichtet. Somit
wurde in diesem Jahr keine Entkoppelung zwischen der Entwicklung von Energieverbrauch und Wirtschaftsleistung erzielt. Dies
zeigt die vorliegende elfte Ausgabe der WIFO-Schlüsselindikatoren zu Energiewirtschaft und Klimawandel. Lediglich die Zunahme
der Treibhausgasemissionen (+1%) wurde aufgrund einer Energieträgersubstitution von Kohle hin zu Gas und Mineralöl relativ
von der Wirtschaftsleistung entkoppelt. Sie nahmen aber das zweite Jahr in Folge zu, der 2005 eingeleitete rückläufige Trend
konnte somit nicht wiederaufgenommen werden. Dies war auf den Anstieg der Emissionen im Nicht-Emissionshandelsbereich (+2,6%)
zurückzuführen, insbesondere die CO2-Emissionen des Verkehrssektors wuchsen erneut kräftig (+4,1%), aber auch im Gebäudebereich
(+2,5%) wurde aufgrund des Anstieges der Zahl der Heizgradtage eine Zunahme der Emissionen gemessen. In einem Sonderthema
befasst sich der vorliegende Bericht mit Optionen für die aufkommensneutrale Einführung einer CO2-Steuer für die Nicht-Emissionshandelssektoren
in Österreich und deren potentiellen Effekten auf Verteilung und Wettbewerb.
The CATs project focused on carbon taxes as a policy instrument for achieving emission reductions particularly in sectors
not covered by the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Based on a systematic review of carbon taxes in EU member countries
and a qualitative assessment of the implementation barriers and success factors in frontrunner countries a model-based analysis
of the effects of various carbon tax scenarios for Austria was performed. Policy recommendations were developed for Austria
and the EU. The project results suggest that carefully designed CO2 tax schemes can play an important part in achieving greenhouse
gas emission targets for non-ETS sectors in Austria with potentially positive distributive and macroeconomic impacts.
The CATs project focused on carbon taxes as a policy instrument for achieving emission reductions particularly in sectors
not covered by the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Based on a systematic review of carbon taxes in EU member countries
and a qualitative assessment of the implementation barriers and success factors in frontrunner countries a model-based analysis
of the effects of various carbon tax scenarios for Austria was performed. Policy recommendations were developed for Austria
and the EU. The project results suggest that carefully designed CO2 tax schemes can play an important part in achieving greenhouse
gas emission targets for non-ETS sectors in Austria with potentially positive distributive and macroeconomic impacts.
We assess distributive, macroeconomic, and CO2 emission impacts of CO2 tax schemes in Austria by applying the macroeconomic
input-output model DYNK[AUT]. The tax schemes analysed focus primarily on CO2 emissions not covered by the European Emission
Trading System (ETS), applying different CO2 tax rates as well as tax compensation schemes. We perform comparative scenario
analysis for our model's base year (i.e., short-term impacts). Our model simulations indicate that – without tax compensation
– impacts on households can be regressive if measured as tax burden relative to income, and are found to be rather proportional
if measured as tax burden relative to expenditure or as changes in total expenditure and income. Lower income households benefit
more from tax compensations (lump sum payments), i.e., CO2 taxes with compensation measures for households lead to progressive
tax burden impacts. Energy-related CO2 emissions decrease quite substantially in non-ETS sectors, although households react
inelastic. Value added in most non-ETS industry and service sectors declines only slightly without tax compensation and commodity
import shares are hardly affected. Decreasing employers' social contribution (i.e., lowering labour costs) mitigates negative
impacts in most non-ETS industry and service sectors. GDP decreases very moderately without tax recycling, depending on the
tax rate. Employment effects are similar but smaller. Tax recycling leads to negligible GDP impacts and increases employment.
Our simulations thus suggest that CO2 taxes could be a crucial and socially acceptable element within a comprehensive set
of policy instruments in order to contribute to achieving greenhouse-gas emission targets for non-ETS sectors in Austria.
This paper provides an overview of energy and (implicit) CO2 taxation in the EU member countries. Against the background of
the EU energy taxation directives, energy and implicit CO2 tax rates in the EU countries are discussed, focussing on taxation
in the transport sector as a major non-ETS emitter. Empirical evidence on the impact of energy and carbon taxes on energy
use and emissions is presented and the economic and distributional effects of energy and carbon taxes are then discussed.
Research on energy price elasticities suggests that energy and carbon taxation can make a significant contribution towards
achieving emission reductions, particularly in the transport sector where greenhouse gas emissions continue to be on the rise
in the EU. Evidence on the economic impacts of energy and carbon taxes furthermore shows that a double divided can be achieved.
With respect to the distributional impacts of carbon and energy taxes evidence is, however, mixed. While empirical studies
generally negate regressive effects for taxes on transport fuels, energy and carbon taxes on heating fuels tend to be found
regressive.
Economic literature generally favours market-based instruments for regulating environmental externalities since they ensure
compliance at the least cost to society. Emission taxes have been increasingly introduced internationally, with the focus
shifting to CO2 after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. In this paper, the theoretical economic literature on energy
and emission taxes is reviewed. The focus is on theoretical recommendations regarding the optimal design of environmental
and especially carbon taxes, their performance relative to other instruments, the concept of a double dividend as well as
potential competitiveness and distribution effects. Carbon taxation can play a key role in climate policy and for achieving
long-term emission reductions. This overview of economic considerations may help in creating a sustainable, effective and
efficient regulatory system for reducing emissions.
