The Governments of Austria and the United States share a strong commitment to tackling the climate crisis and recognize the importance of strengthening global cooperation to meet the challenge.
Austria and the United States further underscore the urgency of the crisis and the need to accelerate action in advance of COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh. Recognizing methane as a key greenhouse gas and as a precursor for ground-level ozone at the global scale, Austria joins the Global Methane Pledge to limit global warming and keep the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. Together with partners in the Global Methane Pledge, Austria and the United States will leverage available tools to reduce methane emissions across several sectors.
Austria plans to focus its efforts under the Global Methane Pledge in the energy, agriculture, and waste management sectors, including building on existing initiatives with state-of-the art innovations. Austria’s endorsement of the Global Methane Pledge builds on its ambitious climate goals of producing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 and achieving carbon-neutrality by 2040. Austria has dedicated significant resources to power its green transition, including funding for expanding renewables, investments in public transportation, and subsidies for greening residential and commercial heating systems.
Austria is an active partner in the Greening Government Initiative for sharing information and best practices, promoting innovation, and developing collaborative relationships to meet Paris Agreement commitments. Austria’s endorsement of the Global Methane Pledge provides an important new platform for collaboration with the United States and other partners on tackling the climate crisis.