Approaches and Results 1 Umweltkontrollbericht 2010 Neunter Umweltkontrollbericht SOER 2010 & Austrias State of the Environment Report

State of the Environment Report in Austria & SOER 2010 by country/EEA What do these two publications mean to Austria? 2

9 th State of the Environment Report in Austria Austrias national State of the Environment Report is elaborated & published by the Environment Agency Austria (mandated to conduct environmental control) Every 3 years the Report is - by law – to deliver by the Federal Ministry on Environment (BMLFUW) to the Austrian National Assembly Its 9th Version (=27 years of reporting) of the 2010 State of the Environment Report was delivered to the Austrian National Assembly on 01/07/2010 Target Audience (= main focus since 9 years =) Highest Level of National Policy and Administration 3

9 th State of the Environment Report in Austria – Approach 17 Chapters (Environmental Media and Acitivities) - covering all relevant national environmental topics ONE Structure of all chapters since 3 versions (10 years) which ensures continuity & enables comparability: Environmental Targets (International, EU, National) Situation & Trends (Status of compliance with targets - in Austria: Assessments und time series, NO country compraisons performed ) Analysis (what has to be done, are measures taken sucessful)  Including the repeated chapter of „ Comprehensive Assessment and Outlook“ Recommendations (Targeting and refering to distinct Adressees - in Austria) 4

9 th State of the Environment Report in Austria – Approach – Chapter on "Comprehensive Asessment and Outlook“  Rationale: Offer target group of the national SOER a quick and acurate overview on assessments of main developments leading to focused recommendations (concluding chapter)  Assessment-Approach: chapter specific aproach e.g. expert judgement, based on evironmental control activities has to be evidence driven, connex to corresponding/underpinning topics within the national report has to be indicated (referencing evidence in other chapters) to proof traceability of judgement  Lessons learnt: advantages - essential to give framework (= chapter structure) to guide experts on their conclusions at the time being of the evidence reported in previous chapters on the state of the environment limitations - to exclude insufficient information (missing quality, missing representative capability) not appropriate to base recommendations on it Outlook part to be strengthened (? employ scenario techniques, intensified use of selected forward looking information, enhance options for model driven judgement)- ? Will be included in discussions on our strategy/concept for the 10th reports (work in progress) 5

9 th State of the Environment Report vs. EEA-SOER Offers „comparable“ country reports Offers direct country comparisons Which is complex due to limited comparability !!! Framework Conditions: e.g Heating demand & Available water resources for Austria Assessment: eg. WFD und Lake Neusiedl (which is by means a steppe-sea with high content of suspended particles - or the case od salinisation of Austrias soils in a SOER – especially at the Lake Neusiedel area – NO problem at all – on the contrary- highly welcomed – since representing rare ecosystems In general Good progress by illustration by EEA but demanding interpretation. These informations serve in addition National SOERs and stipulate inputs to the European Legislation

Contact & Information NRC-SOE Florian Wolf-Ott NRC-FLIS Alexander Storch Chief Editor of SOE: Wilhelm Vogel Umweltbundesamt NRC/FLIS Meeting Prague 26/