Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are gases that are released into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. The most important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrogen oxide (N2O). Their increased concentration in the atmosphere absorbs heat energy from solar radiation and leads to global warming.

At 421ppm, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere today is higher than it has been in the last 800,000 years. This increased concentration is caused by human activity, such as the burning of fossil coal, oil and gas, our industrial production, agriculture or truck and car traffic.

Production-based emissions only include those greenhouse gases that are emitted within Austria. In other words, cows in Austrian fields, steel production in Upper Austria, traffic on Austrian highways, etc. These are the figures that are usually the focus of attention.

But these are not all the emissions for which we are responsible: our consumption also generates emissions in other countries, e.g. when we buy a product that was manufactured in China. At the same time, consumption-based emissions do not take into account emissions that occur in Austria but are consumed abroad.

However, as we consume far more from other countries, Austria's consumption-based emissions are around 50% higher than its production-based emissions. Our responsibility does not stop at national borders; our consumption in other countries must also be taken into account for our greenhouse gas balance. If they are not taken into account, the outsourcing of emissions-intensive production abroad leads to an apparent improvement in the greenhouse gas balance.