Key Developments In Austrian Environment And Climate Change Law In 2022: Part One - Legislation

2022 was a busy year marked by the late effects of the covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The latter has led to the rethinking of energy matters. Austrian legislation in 2022 was, therefore, characterised above all by new developments and amendments in energy law, with a focus on the expansion of renewable energy. This article is part of a series on developments in Austrian environment and climate change law in 2022 and, in particular, focuses on legislative developments.

Under the Austrian Federal Constitution, legislative competence for Austrian environmental law is shared between the federal and the nine provincial legislatures. As a so-called "cross-sectional matter", environmental law is regulated in numerous legal acts (laws and ordinances) on a federal and a provincial level. As an EU member state, Austria is also obliged to consider the requirements of EU environmental law.