Austrian State of Environment report Process and experience © iStockphoto.com/cmisje

Content Legal base Process & organisation Structure & content Specifications of the Austrian SoER Main results

Federal Act for comprehensive protection of the environment Legal Base History ■ The Environment Agency Austria was established by an act of law (the Environmental Control Act) in 1985. SoE Reporting obligation Environmental Control Act (1985) Constitutional law: Federal Act for comprehensive protection of the environment § 1. (1984) ■ In 1999 the Environment Agency Austria received the legal status of a limited liability company. ■ Represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (“The Ministry of Life”) ■ As such it is 100% owned by the Republic of Austria. Constitutional law: Environmental Control Act (1985) upon which EAA was established With the obligation to draft SoERs Evolution of SoER from a very extensive Data Comendium towards Comprehensive Assesssment & Policy relevant document Federal Act dated 27th November 1984 for comprehensive protection of the environment. StF: BGBl. Nr. 491/1984 § 1. (1) The Republic of Austria (Federation, Laender and Municipalities) acknowledges its responsibility for the comprehensive protection of the environment. (2) Comprehensive protection of the environment is protecting the natural envi-ronment as the basis of mankind’s life resources against detrimental effects. Compre-hensive protection of the environment consists in particular of measures to keep air, water and soils clean and to avoid disturbing noise. § 2. The Federal Government shall be in charge of executing this Federal Constitu-tional Act.

Mandated institution Austria’s national State of the Environment Report is drafted & published by the Environment Agency Austria (mandated body to conduct environmental control) Every 3 years the report is - by federal law – to be delivered by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) to the National Assembly Currently the process of producing the 11th report has started (around 30 years of environmental control & reporting in Austria)

Approach Rationale: Assessment-approach based on expert judgment Offer target group a quick and accurate overview on assessments of main developments leading to focused recommendations (concluding chapter) Assessment-approach based on expert judgment based on evironmental control activities has to be evidence driven connex to corresponding/underpinning topics the national report has to be indicated (referencing evidence in other chapters) to proof traceability of judgement assessment approach: no data report, but assessment, therefore expert judgement Evidence driven: roter Faden, gleiche Struktur, keine Aussage ohne Erläuterung Verbindung zwischen Kapiteln, Themen wichtig.

Process Phase I: „Storming“ Phase Phase II: „Forming“ Phase Phase III: Performing Phase Phase IV: Transitional Phase

State of the Environment Report in Austria – Process – the 3 year-life cycle of the drafting process I-II I. „Storming“ Phase Stock taking of previous cycle Constant screening of relevant topics (e.g. supported by Issue trackers, megatrends, expert interviews) Delegation of responsibilities (Internal Client, Head of Divisions, PM & PL, Chief Editor) Teambuilding (Core Team =Editorial Team, Chapter responsible Head of departments) II. „Forming“ Phase Chapter Concept First Quality Assurance Sessions InHouse

State of the Environment Report in Austria – Process – the 3 year-life cycle of the drafting process III-IV III. Performing Phase 1. Drafting Phase 2nd QA-Sessions InHouse (2-3 cycles) First Lectorate & Layout 1. External Consultation (three cycles) Revision (Sideletter) 2. Draft 2. Lectorate & Layout External Consultation ( cycles) Production Publication & Distribution Press conference (Synthesis Document) IV. Transisitonal Phase Performing: lessons learnt Balancing of resources Budget planning next consecutice cycle

Phase III: Performing Phase drafting QA copy editing consultation publication

Institutional Cooperation regarding the production of the Austrian SoeR Bearing in mind that the Agency is entitled by law of drafting the SOER - it is still favourable - to cooperate with relevant data owner (e.g Austrian Provincial Governments, Statistics Austria, Energy Agency Austria,… ) To ensure comprehensiveness, soundness and get a feeling of external appreciation/feedback before publishing: External Consultation with the Austrian Ministry of Life All expertise in house (National Reference Centres of EIONET are without exeption located within the Agency The only external expertise needed: Biocides (Austrian Health Agency) Sometimes an external editor is contracted (journalist) To ensure comprehensiveness, soundness, (= kind of quality check for free sometimes)

Editorial Team Each member coordinates several chapters common understanding, style, level of detail, readability

Some specific characteristics of the Austrian SoER ■ Comprehensive Assessment & Outlook chapter for every topic -> guides (forces) the experts towards a conclusion/a statement ■ Specific recommendations: derived from the line of arguments („red ribbon“ of evidence) – guarantees reliable & relevant information ■ Targeted recommendations: Addressees of recommendations are named, who should do what ■ Main Focus on one Target Audience : high level politicians and administration (National Assembly -> environmental delegates of the political parties) Improve impact by name

Structure of SOER Austria Same structure for all chapters Environmental Targets (international, EU, national) Situation & Trends (status of compliance with targets) Analysis (what has to be done, which measures have been taken) Recommendations (to ministries, Federal Government, various institutions)

Content Sustainable Development Environment & Health Water and Water Management Air Soil Climate protection and climate change Climate change adaptation Agriculture & Forestry Biological diversity and nature protection Biological diversity and nature protection Noise Waste Management Contaminated Sites Chemicals Energy Industrial Plants Transport Tourism Spatial planning

Austrian SOER vs. EEA SOER EEA SOER: country reports (not included in Austrian SOER) EEA SOER: direct country comparisons (not included in AT) EEA SOER: focus on indicators AT SOER: focus on legal aspects (limit values) AT SOER: focus on chapters on “Comprehensive Assessment and Outlook”, Recommendations EU SOER for EU policy makers and the public – gives a broader approach, provides information regarding the 7th EU environmental programme. , recommendations are more open, targeting different topics and not directly institutions. AT SOER is aimed at policy makers, as well as the interested public, therefore the language is simpler, but recommendations are targeted at institutions or are very specific.

Air quality data Taken from annual air quality reports Selection of data: interaction with editorial team Detailed results: Trend of NO2 for stations with highest levels PM10 number of exceedance days Ozone number of exceedance days

Air emission data Taken from emission reporting (IIR, trend reports) Detailed results for NEC pollutants, PM10, PM2.5 PM2.5 emissions NOx emissions other agriculture traffic industry small sources energy other agriculture traffic industry small sources energy

GHG Emissions Different sectoral approach than UNFCCC – according to Annex 2 of the Austrian Climate Change Act) Energy and Industry (Non ETS) (CRF sectors 1A1 (except 1A1a other fuels), 1A2, 1A3e, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2G, 3) Waste management (CRF sectors: 1A2a, and 6) Fluorinated gases (CRF sectors 2E and 2F) Buildings (CRF sectors 1A4a, 1A4b) Agriculture (CRF sectors 1A4c and 4) Transport (CRF sectors 1A3a, 1A3c, 1A3d and 1A5)

Summary and outlook in SOER Main drivers for observed levels and trends (e.g. NOx from traffic, high share of diesel vehicles) Assessment of implementation and impact of measures Emission scenarios for 2020 and 2030

Recommendations in SOER Better coordination of measures to reduce emissions on national level and to improve local air quality Better coordination with climate change mitigation measures, noise plans Annual evaluation of existing programmes Enforced replacement of old heating stoves Suggestions for measures on EU level

Contact & Information Maria Purzner +43-1-31304-5624 maria.purzner@umweltbundesamt.at http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/soer/en_ukb/ (in German; engl. summary) Umweltbundesamt www.umweltbundesamt.at Practices on GHG Inventories Dushanbe ■ 27-29 April 2015