1. Austrian State of Environment report
Process and experience
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2. Content Legal base Process & organisation Structure & content
Specifications of the Austrian SoER
Main results

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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.

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Phase III: Performing Phase
drafting QA
copy editing
consultation
publication

10. 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)

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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

21. Contact & Information Maria Purzner +43-1-31304-5624
(in German; engl. summary)
Umweltbundesamt
Practices on GHG Inventories Dushanbe ■ April 2015