Austria is fully involved in multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation in this field, and participates in the work of the OECD, UN/ECE and CEMAT. It has also established regional commissions or contacts with the neighbouring countries (Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic). Special cooperation is undertaken within the framework of the Alpine Convention.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Chancellery/Department for Regional Planning and Regional Policy is responsible for the integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources at the national level. Governments of Federal Provinces are primarly responsible for physical planning and land use development at the regional level. In the field of forest land development, it is the Forestry Department of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Forest Departments of all Federal Provinces of Austria. The relevant legislation and recommendations covering these fields is the following:

- Austrian regional planning concept (recommendation) of the Austrian Regional Planning Conference (1991; reviewed periodically);

- Sectoral laws (i.e. traffic, agriculture, industry) at the national level and regional planning legislation at the regional level;

- Austria - Forest Land Use Plan - Forest Act (1975) (Ordinance Nov. 18, 1977 to Forest Land Use Plan);

- Land Reform Legislation (Land Constitution Fundamental Act 1951, amended 1993).

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Technological capacity in integrated planning and management of land resources has been strengthened. Further measures to strengthen education and training in this field are being planned. The Austrian-Hungarian Regional Planning Commission has given a recommendation on the transfer of technology and on the areas for technology transfer centres.

3. Major Groups: Local communities together with governmental and regional authorities implement different measures in the field of integrated planning and management of land resources.

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Austria participates in the work of the OECD, UN/ECE and CEMAT in this field. It has established bilateral Regional Planning Commissions with Germany, Hungary and Slovakia and contacts with Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Member States of the Alpine Convention in Europe have initiated recommendations towards integrated protection of the Alps supplemented by a regional policy protocol. Austria has also established regional desertification monitoring centres in Senegal and in Burkina Faso.

There is a variety of reasons for the impairment of the protected forests. As production costs have risen under sustainable forest management, farmers have abandoned necessary logging operations, and this has led to the overmaturing of many forests. In addition, many years of environmental strain exerted on the forests by air pollution, browseing by game bites and forest grazing have damaged the forests, and management measures need to be taken to regenerate them.

A Protective Forest Restoration Framework has been developed in Austria with the following measures: continuation and strengthening of clean air policies; restoration of a balanced stock of wild game; and separation of forests and pasture in ecologically sensitive protected and mountain forest regions. Suitable forest management measures will be taken to reduce regeneration intervals. It is also intended to raise the tree line by means of new plantations at higher altitudes. More detailed regional plans are elaborated by the federal provinces in close cooperation with competent authorities and forest owners. A great importance is given to the Mountain Forest Protocol currently under preparation within the framework of the Alpine Convention. Small-scale and naturalistic forest management projects have been promoted by means of intensive counseling and by providing financial support which has led to a decrease in the proportion of non-deciduous tree species and pure forests. In the new forest inventory, covering all types of forests, ecological parameters are now taken into account in addition to yield related parameters.

To safeguard forest biodiversity, the Austrian forestry authorities have adopted i.a. the following measures: naturalistic forest management and reforestation (where possible), biotope mapping in forests, separation of natural forest reserves (for example, by nature protection agreements), establishment of integrated projects for the further improvement of all functions performed by forests, including non-economic functions. Within the 1992 MAB Project "Hemerobia of Austrian Forest Ecosystems", the geographical distribution and the share of original, manipulated and artificial forest ecosystems are examined. The results of this study will serve as the basis for new development concepts in forest management and will facilitate estimates of future capacities of forest areas (tourism etc.), the choice of necessary forest management activities (stock conversion, maintenance measures) and the designation of natural forest reserves and biotopes.

Twenty-five per cent of Austrian forest can be considered as natural or nearly natural. Forty-one per cent have been moderately changed compared to the optimal state. This means that one-third of Austrian forest correspond to the modern concept of an intact ecosystem.

In order to comply with the Resolution on General Guidelines for the Conservation of the Biodiversity of European Forests in Europe, adopted within the framework of the second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (Helsinki, June 1993), as well as with the Convention on the Protection of the Alpine Region, Austria has initiated the development of a network of natural forest reservations. This network aims at maintaining and increasing the biodiversity of forests in view of their sustainable existence and the fulfilment of their functions. Apart from their functions as study and demonstration objects they serve first and foremost the purposes of silvicultural research, but also of natural science field studies.

As a rule, any human intervention in these nature protection zones is forbidden. These forest sections are strictly protected and are to provide an optimal overview of the great variety ot natural vegetation systems in terms of tree species and the structure of stands. In order to cover the 125 forest communities existing in Austria, the establishment of about 430 natural forest reservations with a total area of 10,000 ha is aimed at.

As the establishment of a network is of particular interest for the public, long-term service contracts between the Republic of Austria and forest owners will be concluded, which stipulate a compensation for the tending of these areas and for the economic losses incurred, in order to ensure that this plan can be realised.

For more than 15 years, Austria has been active in attempts to reduce air-borne forest pollution by introducing comprehensive technological measures in the power stations and industrial plants and by making the use of catalytic converters mandatory. Consequently, sulphur dioxide emmissions have been reduced by approx. 75% from the 1980 level. However, due to significant quantities of transboundary pollutants, no reduction of sulphur dioxide emmissions could be observed in Austrian forests. Nitrogen oxides were reduced only by 12% because of the increase in traffic emmissions. The Austrian Forestry Act is currently being amended (third amendment) to extend the list of airborne pollutants hazardous to forests and to reduce the limits of emmissions with special emphasis on the synergistic effect of pollutants.

Austria has been both nationally and internationally active in establishing qualitative and quantitative criteria and indicators for the sustainable use of forests. It has introduced a voluntary quality mark for sustainable timber and timber products from tropical, temperate and boreal sources.

With regard to the international institutional arrangements for the effective implementation of the Rio Forest Principles, Austria supports the creation of a legally binding instrument. The development of a global strategy towards the realisation of these principles is also considered important.

International Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification

Particularly in Africa

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

There are no deserts or areas in danger of becoming deserts in Austria.

Austria is in the process to ratify the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

1. Decision-Making Structure: Not applicable

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Not applicable

3. Major Groups: Not applicable

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Austria has established regional desertification monitoring centres in Senegal and in Burkina Faso.

Tourism is a major source of income for people living in the Alpine Regions. This area accounts for some 85% of the overall tourism and tourism-related business. Major obstacles to sustainable mountain development are caused by local or transfrontier emissions of air pollutants, excessive game populations, forest pasture, avalanches, local overstraining of the physical region through outdoor sports, large number of second homes, leisure time facilities and development of infrastructure.

Sustainable tourism requires efficient and careful use and management of the scarce natural resources and commodities taking into account cultural and social aspects as well the specific ecological factors of the region concerned. In the Austrian national tourism policy, protection of the environment is of prime importance. Recommendations and guidelines for action to make tourism and leisure time industry more sustainable have been prepared within the framework of the National Environmental Plan. In 1994, in cooperation with experts from the Laender, federal authorities and interest groups, efforts to design guidelines for a Federal eco-label for tourism began. At the regional level, such labels already exist.

Several social, economic and cultural incentives for farmers and mountain communities have been designed to undertake conservation and regenerative measures. To ensure sustainable agricultural management of mountains, increased use of local resources is promoted (e.g. further processing and direct marketing of indigenous products, alternative cropping, use of handicraft skills, conservation of cultivated alpine pastures). Compensation mechanisms for landscape conservation and regeneration have also been introduced based on the principle of true costs under the precautionary and the polluter pays principle. Overconcentrations of tourist facilities are no longer favoured by public investment assistance. The Tourist Promotion Scheme and ERP (European Reconstruction Programme) have been modified accordingly to keep down the number of overnight stays per year and to include environmentally relevant investments and loans for waste management, energy saving and environmentally friendly use of energy, as well as fire protection and noise abatement. New development of areas for recreational and sports activities is allowed only within the development limits set forth in the regional policy schemes.

To prevent forest damages and to maintain biodiversity in the mountain regions, a high altitude reforestation and protected forest safeguarding programme has been introduced, as well as area cultivation projects for safeguarding the protected forests in areas of torrents and avalanches. Forest damages in the mountain regions were considered insignificant in 1993.

The most important instrument for the regional international cooperation in sustainable mountain development is the Convention on the Protection of the Alps.

The Austrian agricultural policy and the Federal Agricultural Act (1992) are the main legislative instruments covering sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) in Austria. The aim of the Federal Agricultural Act is to preserve the economically sound and efficient state of agriculture and forestry in a functional rural environment, taking into account social orientation, ecological compatibility and regional balance particularly in the mountain and other disadvantaged areas. Other objectives of the law include the development of a variety of income and employment possibilities between agriculture and other economic sectors, and making agricultural production, processing and marketing more market-oriented. The Act also includes provisions to protect land, water, and air to conserve and shape the cultural and recreational landscape, and to protect against natural hazards .

The productivity and competitiveness of agriculture have been increased mainly by structural measures: In additon to land reform (introduced over 100 years ago), the Rural Ownership Structural Fund for Agriculture and Forestry was set up as early as in 1969 to improve the ownership structure of farming operations. The precautionary purchase of agricultural and forest land and farms by the Structural Fund, and their subsidized sale to local farmers, allows farmers to expand their activities and secure their existence. Moreover, a large number of other assistance measures have been taken to keep farms alive, i.e. to ensure farming of all agricultural land, to maintain the state of settlements, and to prevent regional and single-enterprise concentration of production. There is also a special assistance scheme for mountain farmers, whose agricultural and forest management is difficult due to their location in mountain areas. In 1993, assistance of some ATS 1.9 billion was made available to farms, paid out primarly as grants to mountain farmers in the form of income-effective direct payments (containing both the social and performance components). Within the framework of yearly subsidies of some ATS 700 million spent on the provision of transport services in rural areas, particular importance has been given to constructing roads and paths in harmony with nature.

Food security was ensured completely by 1988 (except in the case of oil seeds). Rural welfare has been addressed. Productivity has been improved while minimizing risks to the ecosystem by implementing and monitoring pilot projects, legislation and policy measures (adoption of EU Regulation 2078), by providing training opportunities, seeking external funds and establishing databases. Initial meetings have been held to survey land degradation by the year 2000.

Action to improve and implement plant protection, integrated pest-management practices and animal health services is continuing. These objectives are to be met by raising public awareness, by legislative and policy instruments, by education and training as well as by seeking external funding.

A national programme is being developed to initiate and encourage transition to environmentally sound energy use in rural communities by the year 2000. Action has begun to implement programmes favouring renewable energy and energy efficiency by raising awareness, implementing pilot projects, amending legislation, and developing regional programmes. Expert advice is being sought and awareness-raising activities have been launched to undertake research on the effects of UV radiation on agriculture.

Action with regard to the information on the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant and animal genetic resources, development of networks for IN SITU and EX SITU conservation and the drawing up of breed development strategies is reported under Chapter 15.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is primarly responsible for agricultural and rural development in Austria.

The Agricultural Act (BGBl. 375/92) from June 1992 is the main law covering the SARD containing i.a. measures for securing the food supply and for preserving the efficiency of agriculture in all rural areas.

n

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: There are initial plans to increase input to rural households through appropriate technology transfer and development.

3. Major Groups: Nine Chambers of Agriculture representing all farmers.

4. Finance: See status report.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Austria participates in the specific agriculture and fisheries programme of the 4th Framework Programme of R&D of the European Union and in the OECD Joint Working Parties on Sustainable Agriculture.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Austria signed the convention in 1992 and ratified it on 18 August 1994. The first report will be submitted in 1997.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Austria acceded to the Convention in 1982.

Latest annual report submitted in 1995.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter: In Austria, regional governments are primarly responsible for nature conservation legislation and its implementation. Among the protection categories under the various regional nature protection laws (species protection, natural monument, landscape protection zone, nature park, national park), nature protection zones are the strictest form of territorial protection, emphasizing the protection and preservation of natural, self-regulating and self-maintaining ecosystems and ecosystem complexes with a high level of biological and structural diversity. As of 1991, some 375,000 ha were officially registered as nature protection zones in Austria.

The objectives of the nature conservation programmes, which have to be approved by the local authorities and population, are the preservation and enhancement of biodiversity and the conservation of habitats, creation of combined biotope systems and preparation of biotope conservation programmes, water protection, biotope mapping and the mapping of endangered animal species. Particular attention is being paid to the identification of the RAMSAR reserves (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitats) and biogenetic reserves as well as the creation of national parks.

The latest comprehensive base line survey on the state of biodiversity in Austria was conducted in 1993. A survey on the biodiversity in forests is being carried out within the Austrian Forestry Inventory. There is a special project (Hemerobia of Austrian Forest Ecosystems) gathering data for evaluating the anthropogenic impact (natural occurance of various forms of vegetation) on the ecosystems of forests. The red lists provide information on territorial losses and endangered animal and plant species. In addition to the federal list of Endangered Plant Species in Austria, several federal regions have compiled their own red lists. Of the 790 species of fern and flowering plants growing mostly in forests, 12% are listed as endangered. The estimates on the seriousness of the biodiversity loss of flora and fauna, gathered from the Federal States and from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, vary because species which are generally not at risk at the national level may still be endangered at the regional level if they are isolated in small enclaves. At both regional and local levels, loss of fauna has been primarily the result of habitat destruction and pollution. Loss of flora has also been caused by habitat destruction as well as by the introduction of foreign plants and animals.

There is a national strategy for the preservation of traditional local varieties of plants, endangered biotopes and symbioses, agricultural fauna, and seven breeds of cattle. A Research programme called Sustainable Development of the Austrian Man-Dominated Landscapes aims at minimizing the substance flow and exploitation of energy resources caused by humans. There is another research programme on soil resources and soil biology the objectives of which are to improve the basic knowledge about the functions of soil organisms and interactions between different species of soil organisms. The Research Against Forest Decline programme, on the other hand, focuses on the development of a central integrated stress hypothesis which will help to understand the multiple causes of forest decline. This theoretical understanding will be translated into practical methods of stress diagnosis, stress evaluation and forest stabilization. There is also a programme for the preservation of the genetic diversity of forest tree species. Top priority is given to the establishment of an indigenous regeneration reserve which is not subject to external sources and favours natural regeneration in conjunction with small-scale forest management.

Austria became party to the Convention on the Preservation of European Wild Plants and Animals and their Natural Habitats in 1993.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Federal Ministry of the Environment, regional governments, the Austrian National Association for Gene Reserves (OeNGENE) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Federal Agricultural Institute and Reseach Centre and Federal Forestry Experimental Institute) are primarly responsible for the conservation of biological diversity and genetic resources in Austria. Regional governments are responsible for the nature conservation legislation and implementation.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Public financial support has been provided to private initiatives aiming at the assessment, study and systematic observation of agricultural flora. With regard to the agricultural fauna, continuous evaluation is undertaken by blood-samples. Austria cooperates with other European institutes (in the case of capacity-building for agricultural flora) and has established contacts with the Danube riparian countries. With regard to the global capacity-building cooperation, Austria participates in the GEF capacity-building Si-A-PAZ (Nicaragua/Costa Rica) and in different programmes for indigenous self-administration.

3. Major Groups: Nature conservation programmes are implemented only if approved by local authorities and local population. Breeder organizations and individual farmers are involved in the decision-making when conserving agricultural fauna. The authorities also work in close cooperation with research associations and nature conservation societies.

4. Finance: See status report above and regional/international cooperation below.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: A series of international programmes has been launched for Central and Eastern Europe within the framework of the OECD and with the support of international financing institutions. The most important of these are the Danube River Basin Programme, the Black Sea Programme, the Black Triangle Progamme, and the Danube Delta Programme. Within the framework of these programmes, Austria has tried to increase the input of its environmental technologies and know-how. Furthermore, it has attempted to make Austrian financing facilities available for international programmes through the ECO Fund (foreign assistance) and within the financing mechanisms of the EBRD and World Bank trust funds.

- safety reasearch;

- research on health specific aspects of genetic engineering in Austria;

- research on the possibilities of a complete assessment of health;

- research on the environmental and social compatibility of the release of genetically engineered organisms; and

- research on the use of genetic engineering for substitute and supplemental methods in animal experiments.

Many of the projects are cooperation projects conducted by several institutions and univeristies (see decision-making structure).

The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs promotes research projects which contribute to the environmentally sustainable management of biotechnology, such as extraction of aromatics with supercritical CO2 and abandoning hot sealing in the case of returnable glass packages.

In the field of forestry, the research has been strengthened on new biochemical methods to improve the analysis, identification and monitoring of trees (measurement of genetic parameters).

The Federal Environmental Office in preparing a study on biotechnology in Austria. There is also a study on biological exhaust air decontamination.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The main institutions specialized in biotechnology research in Austria are the Federal Ministry of Science and Research; Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (responsible for the EU Framework Programme on Biotechnology); Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs (promotes research projects which contribute to an environmentally sustainable management in the field of biotechnology); Inter-university Research Institute for Agricultural Technology (Tulln); Institute of Applied Microbiology of the University of Agriculture; and the Institute of Biotechnology of the University of Technology (Graz). There are also several other institutes, societies and companies working in this field, such as the Institute of Molecular Pathology of the University of Vienna; Institute of Molecular Biology of the University of Vienna; Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Technological Impact Assessment; Institute of Microbiology and Genetics of the University of Vienna; Austrian Society for Biotechnology (Vienna); Working Group for the Promotion of Test-Animal-Free Substitute and Supplemental Methods (Linz); Austrian Nuclear Research Center (Seibersdorf); Institute for Food Reasearch (Vienna); Austrian Beverage Test Institute (Vienna); Austrian Textile Research Institute (Vienna); Biochemie GmbH (Kundl); Sandochemia conglomerate; Bender & Co.; The Genetic Engineering Act (1994) governs activities with genetically engineered organisms in closed systems and their release, gene analysis and gene therapy in humans. It contains the principles on biotechnology risk assessment and risk management. (For more information see status report.)

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information

3. Major Groups: Public hearings are organized in the case of a release of and activities involving genetically engineered organisms in closed systems at high security levels.

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Participation in the OECD Expert Group on Biotechnology for a Clean Environment, the OECD Biosafety Working Group, and Panel 4 of the UNEP under the Convention on Biological Diversity. With regard to access to biotechnology through international cooperation, Austria participates or has participated in the following programmes:

- European Community Programme on the Development and Adaptation of Rapid Molecular Screening Techniques for Assessing Genetic Diversity in Forest Trees (1991-1996);

- Micropropagation of Spruce programme, Unilever Colworth House, UK (1986-1992); and

- Molecular and Morphological Markers for Juvenility, Maturity, Rejuvenation and Somatic Embryogenesis in Woody Species - the Biotechnological Approach, Concerted action no. PL 94 2202 (1994-1996).

Austria has also proposed a multidisciplinary chestnut research programme under the COST Initiative. (5 years if approved).

Austria ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on 14 July 1995.

1. Decision-Making Structure: No information

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: No information

Thanks to Austria's favourable hydrological conditions, a sufficient supply of drinking water is guaranteed. Ninety-nine percent of the total volume of raw water for the country's drinking water supply comes from groundwater of porous aquifers and of spring water. According to the Water Law Act, the suitability of groundwater for use as drinking water without special treatment has been defined as a general quality target. Nevertheless, groundwater protection through bans and restrictions on land use (for example, on the use of pesticides) in clearly defined water protection zones (approx. 6% of the national territory) is important to safeguard Austria's drinking water supplies.

In addition to these zones, use of environmentally sound crop-growing methods is promoted, including the reduction of maize and wheat growing areas, restriction of the use of fertilizers, encouragement of organic agriculture and integrated plant protection.

Austria intends to put up 6,400 measuring points to collect data on the quality and quantity of Austrian water resources. By 1994, 3,800 measuring points had already been put up. To monitor water quality, water samples of surface waters are taken at 1,750 measuring points at two-month intervals. On the basis of the information, water quality maps are produced every two or three years.

There are general and sector specific emission standards, e.g. for paper and pulp industry and metal finishing plants, intended to diminish the overall pollutant burden, to reduce fluctuations of pollutant emissions over time and to ensure a higher degree of plant reliability. Because of improved waste and water management in Austria, the total level of emissions has declined considerably in recent years. More than 85% of the total daily output of chemical oxygen demand of approx. 2,250 tons are subjected to sewage treatment, which results in an 95% reduction of loads. Following an alarming spread of water bloom in the Austrian lakes in the early 1970s, comprehensive measures of rehabilitation, (for example the installation of closed-circuit sewerage networks), were taken, which led to a noticeable improvement in water quality. Approximately 72% of the Austrian population is connected to community sewage treatment. With the volume of sewage sludge from waste-water purification continuously increasing, ecological criteria will have to be applied to sludge disposal. Moreover, particular attention will have to paid to reducing pollution loads from diffuse sources of pollution (agriculture and forestry, leakage from households, trade and industry, leaking sewer pipes, contaminated sites, landfills and sludge pumps).

A main point of current activities in the Austrian water management is restoring and preserving the ecological function of surface water bodies.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Water Act (amended in 1990) defines an ambitious quality target for all bodies of flowing water, and calls for measures to guarantee the suitability of groundwater as drinking water throughout the country. Austria also prepared emission regulations on the quality of running surface waters. Recent intensive efforts are directed towards re-naturalisation of flowing surface-waters in order to improve the ecological function as required by the respective law.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Apart from the competent water department in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and water related service units in the Ministry of Environment and within the administrations of the nine federal laender, expert advice, investigations, monitoring and research work is available at the Federal Office of Water Management and the Federal Environment Agency. An intensive programme for further professional training and education takes place every year.

3. Major Groups: The major expert and professional association in the field of water management in general is the Austrian Waste and Water Management Association, and in the field of water supply the Austrian Gas and Water Association.

4. Finance: Funding for residential water management, focusing on maintenance, modernization and expansion of existing sewage collection and treatment systems, is expected to be approx. ATS 183 billion in the coming 15 years, of which 3.9 billion/a plus 1 billion (non-recurring) are being contributed by the environmental funding programme of the Ministry of the Environment.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Bilateral and multilateral transboundary water commissions for the protection of transboundary bodies of water and the settlement of water management problems have been established with neighbouring countries. Austria takes particular interest in international cooperation for the protection of the Danube and participates actively in the Environmental Programme for the Danube River Basin. Moreover, Austria has set up a Permanent Secretariat for the Danube Water Protection Convention in Vienna.

The Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure was included in the Chemical Substances Act in Austria in 1992. A number of implementing regulations supplement the Act to make the PIC procedure fully operational. Austria welcomes the proposal to incorporate the PIC procedure in a binding instrument of international law and is in favour of sanctions in the case of non-compliance.

Austrian authorities keep a chemical register listing all the newly registered substances, and this will be developed into a complete product register in the next few years. Communication of information on hazardous chemicals, incidents and accidents is obligatory by law.

In additon to legal instruments (see decision-making structure), there are a number of non-regulative measures. An environmental label, to be awarded by the state, has been created to promote environmentally sound (chemical) products. Austrian companies participate also in the Responsible Care Programme sponsored by the chemical industry.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Chemical Substances Act, including the polluter pays principle (to be extended) and the PIC procedure; regulations supplementing the PIC procedure (concerning designated national authorities in charge of the procedure, chemical substances to be included in the procedure, decisions to be taken on future imports of these chemicals and the type, scope, substance and form of communications to be exchanged with the designated national authority of the importing country on the chemical substance concerned in case of an import enquiry). Communication of information on hazardous chemicals, incidents and accidents is obligatory according to the Austrian Industrial Accident Regulation and the Environment Information Act (1993). The polluter pays principle is laid down as the manufacturer's responsibility under the Chemical Substances Act. There is also a comprehensive Product Liability Act. For the polluter pays principle to be recognized under civil law, the Environment Liability Act will first have to adopted.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Within the OECD waste-substance processing programmne, Austria is studying two high-volume chemicals. Austria participates also in the waste-substance programme of the European Union

and takes part in the activities of the European Chemicals Office. A great effort is also being made to keep up with international developments in the field of analysis covering the whole life-cycle of chemical substances. Austria implements the ILO and OECD programmes on this question. Active participation in global PIC-Convention negotiations and in ECE negotiations on POPs.

Austria ratified the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal in April 1993.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter: Hazardous waste substances are to be classified in the same manner as hazardous new chemical substances. For waste and waste disposal, additional specific criteria are to be considered.

Concerning the classification of hazardous waste, Austria carries out the relevant EU legislation. Some 600;000 tons of hazardus waste were generated in 1995. Since the amount of waste classified as hazardous depends on the definition used, a significant increase has been recorded in many sectors in the recent years in spite of successful waste prevention efforts.

In addition to legal instruments governing the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, there is a Federal Waste Management Plan (1992) setting specific targets on the reduction of the volume and the pollutant load of waste streams, the environmentally sound and economically viable reuse of waste, on the disposal of non-avoidable or non-reusable wastes and on the regional distribution of waste-treatment facilities throughout the federal territory. The plan is revised every three years. The last revision was effected in 1995.

Sector-specific waste-management strategies have been prepared for agriculture, leather industry, medical sector, for the production and use of paints and varnishes, electro-plaiting industry and textile industry. To strengthen the institutional capacity in hazardous waste management, potential locations for landfills and thermal treatment plants have been identified.

To prevent illegal international traffic of hazardous wastes, several measures have been taken in Austria in accordance with proposals made by the ad-hoc Committee of the Basel Convention. Certain waste-relevant industrial facilities have been inspected and random border checks have been performed. Austria is also actively involved in the Liability and Compensation Protocol of the Basel Convention.

1. Decision-Making Structure: Waste Management Act; Chemical Substances Act and a number of regulations concerning the reduction of pollutant load in waste streams, waste prevention and recycling (e.g. Batteries regulation, Lubricants Regulation, Lamp Regulation, Asbestos Regulation).

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Customs officers have been trained in accordance with the Waste Management Act to prevent illegal international traffic of hazardous wastes.

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Within the framework of the Technical Working Group of the Basel Convention, Austria participates in the elaboration of guidelines for environmentally sound treatment of wastes and supports these activities through a voluntary contribution to the Trust Fund of the Basel Convention. Austria also intends to contribute to the work done within the OECD in this field.

There are also sector-specific strategies, e.g. for medical wastes, waste paint and varnish, disposal of old cars, and reprocessing of residues from electroplating.

In addition to legislative measures, voluntary agreements have been made with trade and industry to ensure separate waste collection and recovery such as the voluntary agreement concerning the recycling of used cars. (For more information, see Ch.4.)

Country-wide collection systems for waste paper, glass, hazardous waste, packaging waste and biogenic waste have been set up. With regard to beverage vessels, a step-by-step plan has been drawn up providing the following reuse and recovery targets to be reached by the year 2000: 96% for mineral and soda water, 94% for beer, 83% for non-alcoholic soft drinks, 80% for fruit and juices, milk and milk products, wine, champagne and liquors. High reuse percentages have already been reached with beer and mineral water.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Waste Management Act and a number of measures and regulations complementing it are to diminish the overall volume of waste generated in Austria. The Packaging Regulation, for example, requires certain percentages of packaging materials to be reused and recycled. At the local level, there are provincial sewage sludge regulations. The Plastics Labelling regulation and the PCP Regulation, for example, facilitate waste separation and collection for recycling purposes. A regulation has also been adopted for the reuse of construction debris and there is a Regulation on the Separate Collection of Biogenic Wastes. Emissions from thermal waste-treatment plants are subject to the Clean Air Regulation for Boiler Plants. The Landfill Regulation makes it obligatory for landfill sites to be built and operated according to the most recent state of art.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Seminars and workshops on waste issues have been organized for various neighbouring countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

There is a research programme to study the health and environmental effects of a long-term storage site for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes.

With regard to their import restrictions, Austria is committed to the principle that radioactive wastes generated in Austria are to be disposed of in Austria.

Concerning the spent fuel elements of Austrian research reactors, the supplier state has assumed a contractual obligation to take them back in compliance with all the relevant safety regulations.

To control radioactive emissions, 300 sites of nuclear radiation early warning systems have been set up in Austria.

1. Decision-Making Structure: The Radiation Protection Regulation.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: No information

3. Major Groups: No information

4. Finance: No information

5. Regional/International Cooperation: Austria supports the efforts made by the IAEA to harmonize standards governing the handling of radioactive wastes and to implement the Code of Practice for transboundary movements of nuclear wastes.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: No information

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: With regard to the introduction of national economic instruments in the traffic sector, a new car registration tax was introduced in January 1992. While the tax base is the selling price, the tax rate depends on the standard fuel consumption of the car. Since May 1993, the tax on motor vehicles has been based on the power of the engine instead of the cubic capacity. Since January 1995, non-catalyst cars have been taxed an additional charge of 20%.

Heavy-load vehicles are subject to tolls and road maintenence tax. For the management of transAlpine traffic, a so-called eco-points system was introduced which produces results similar to an emission-permit system. A scheme of toll stickers for motorways will be introduced on 1 January 1997.

In January 1994, the mineral oil tax was raised by ATS 0.6 per litre and again in 1995. An energy tax for electricity and natural gas has been introduced on July 1, 1996. 11.835 per cent of its revenue are earmarked for environmental and energy efficiency measures to be carried out by the federal laender (Federal provisional budget (BVA) 1996: ATS 355 million, BVA 1997: ATS 691 million). 2.5 per cent of total tax on electricity and natural gas or ATS 215 million/a are granted to municipalities earmarked for the financial support of low-distance public passenger transport enterprises (BVA 1996: ATS 290 million, BVA 1997: ATS 361 million). In addition, municipalities recive 2.5 per cent /a of the tax or ATS 226.8 million for investments in low-distance passenger transport (BVA 1996: ATS 301.8 million, BVA 1997: ATS 373 million). In addition to the financial transfer based on the tax on energy, the federal laender receive 4.888 per cent of the mineral oil tax revenue minus ATS 4441.8 million earmarked for public passenger transport (BVA 1996: ATS 1.269 million, BVA 1997: ATS 1.196 million). Both the tax on energy and on mineral oil may at least partly be considered as environmental incentives.

An environmental liability law in accordance with the polluter-pays principle is under discussion. In 1993, total revenue from environmental taxes was estimated to be ATS 42.2 billion or 8% of total Federal tax revenue.

ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES:

With regard to official development assistance (ODA), the Austrian ODA in 1994 amounted to ATS 7.483 billion 1ATS 10 is about US$ 1 (October 1996) which is 0.33% of GDP. This means an increase of ATS 1.16 billion from 1993. The ODA distribution per sector since 1992 has been the following: (1) Integrated planning and management of land resources, ATS 24 million; (2) Combating desertification, ATS 6 million; (3) Sustainable agriculture and rural development, ATS 20 million; and (4) Environmentally sound management of biotechnology, ATS 7 million. As a result of UNCED, the Austrian Government spent a total of US$ 20 million on a global programme (35 single projects) for the development and conservation or rehabilitation of forest biotopes in developing countries. During the pilot phase of the GEF (1991 - 1993), Austria contributed ATS 400 million and from 1994 to 1996 another ATS 231,51 million to the fund. The Austrian Global Environment Cooperation Trust Fund was initiated in 1995, and endowed with a maximum of ATS 4.5 million in special drawing rights from 1995 to 1997.

Since 1992, Austria has provided US$ 1.071 billion new and additional grant funds for sustainable development and US$ 340 million in loans.

By 1994, Austria had concluded bilateral debt-relief agreements with 11 African and 2 Latin American countries. Relative to the total period of rescheduling, the debt relief granted was equivalent to ATS 1 billion. Austria has also granted ATS 8.4 million of debt-relief to Poland. In total, Austria committed itself to provide financial assistance of ATS 11.3 billion in 1992 to the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. In 1993, public assistance to economies in transition was 0.22 % of GDP, mainly consisting of debt reduction schemes agreed upon by the Club of Paris. In 1994, all the rescheduling schemes amounted to a total of ATS 63.8 million.

Support for the economies in transition is primarily aimed at assisting economic and political transformation, largely in neighbouring states. Austrian support measures include i.a. humanitarian assistance, environmental rehabilitation and improvements of the economic and social infrastructure, support of market-oriented sectoral reforms, transfer of know-how, macro-economic financial assistance, export credit and investment guarantees. Austria participates also in the EU assistance programmes to the Eastern Europe (e.g. PHARE and TACIS).

Within the frame of the specific environment support scheme, the Federal Ministry of Environment supported a total of 103 projects in the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary and Slovenia with over 786 mio ATS. During the last years emphasis shifted from end-of-pipe to integrated pollution prevention and energy saving projects.

In the context of the PanEuropean environmental process, Austria was involved in the review period of a study examining the effectiveness of financial instruments for environmental investment in CEE countries, and in the development of innovative financing instruments, especially in the context of environmental funds in the Central and Eastern European countries.

Austrian development cooperation promotes primarily capacity-building for independent technology development, including, above all, the promotion of independent R&D activities, strengthening R&D institutions, and support for education and training in technical and management disciplines. In cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Austria has organized three seminars in 1993 - 1995 for participants from developing countries (Egypt, India, Jamaica, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Brazil, China, Cuba, Malaysia, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan) to help establish or strengthen environmentally sound technology (EST) centres in those countries. Between 1993 and 1995, altogether 102 development assistance research projects aimed at the promotion of technology transfer, financed by Austria, were carried out in developing countries. Austria has also been financing south-south scholarships, e.g. Nicaragua to Brazil and Mexico, Cape Verde to Brazil.

In 1994, financial support for plant-specific measures in Eastern European countries amounted to US$ 15.4 million. Management and professional training are the core elements of Austrian economic aid to the countries of Eastern and Central Europe. A meeting on energy-related issues was held in Slovakia and a counseling and training project on the use of energy was conducted in the Czech Republic. Austria participates also in the EU assistance programmes to Eastern Europe.

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION: The Government supports R&D on EST as well as the increased use of environment and energy related technologies. In 1992, the Energy Technologies programme (ATS 50 million in 1993) and the Industrial Design programme (ATS 15 million in 1993) were established and the programm for environmental technologies was renewed within the framework of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) with the aim of promoting the development and use of cleaner technologies, production-integrated environmental protection, recycling logistics and new, environmentally compatible product and material use. Both in 1993 and 1994, product competitions (Ecodesign) were organised to stimulate new ideas and innovative solutions for environmentally sound product design and development and to raise awareness on these issues. In 1994, a junior research category was added to enable students and young designers to participate in the competition.

In 1995, a total of 288 million ATS was made available through ITF of which about nearly 40% were earmarked for precautionary environmental measures, 53 million ATS to energy efficiency and enviroment friendly technologies and the use of renewable energy sources, and 50 million ATS to develop environmentally sound transportation technologies.

The Austrian Economic Research Institute carried out a study called Environmental Technologies - a Growing Market (1995) providing an overview of environmental technologies currently available in Austria, including end-of-pipe technologies and clean technologies. According to the study, environmental industries spend more on research (6.7%) than other sectors (average 3.1%). The share of innovative activities in the environmental sector is also bigger than average: 90% of the companies surveyed stated that they had invested in product innovation during the past 3 years.

Austria has participated in 21 transnational research projects under the 3rd EU Framework Programme on R&D. The total cost of these projects was ECU 16.7 million of which ECU 3.8 million was spent on Austrian projects. Austrian enterprises and research institutions have also participated in the COST (21 projects) and EUREKA (31 projects) Programmes of the European Union, e.g. in EUROENVIRON, a project that has investigated safe ways of utilising industrial waste.

Major groups involved in science for sustainable development are: World-wide fund for Nature, Greenpeace, Global 2000, the Austrian Scientific Forum for Environmental Protection, the Austrian Society for the Protection of Nature and the Environment, and the Austrian Society for the Environment and Technology.

According to the information received from the Federal Ministry of Science and Research, the most important post- Rio projects related to sustainable development are the following:

- Sustainable development of Austrian Man-Dominated Landscapes aiming at minimizing the substance flow and exploitation of energy resources caused by human beings;

- research and development requirements for the transition to a sustainable economy in Austria;

- Austrian PREPARE Initiative (EUREKA/EUROENV - European research programme)

The public funding for scientific research on environment and development has more than tripled from 1980 to 1994. (From ATS 5,332,879,000, in 1984 to ATS 15,529,501,000 in 1994). There is no national target to increase the number of scientists working in this field. Sustainable development is a well established topic in science and politics, with increasing importance.

The Austrian Federal Government has passed a resolution to increase the quota of women in science. In case of equal qualifications, women should be favoured.

Brain-drain is not a significant problem in Austria.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY: In a programme that ends in 1998, Austria is participating and investing in several multilateral and bilateral programmes addressing science for sustainable development1/, including the European Union 4th Framework Programme for Research and Development; approx. (US$ 70,000,000), the exchange of students from Nicaragua (ATS 2.6 miilion); the IGBP of ICSU; US$ 200,000, promotion of South-South cooperation (ATS 6.9 million); and the Man in the Biosphere, Natural Disaster Reduction and Hydrology Programmes of UNESCO (US$450,000, 320,000 and 270,000 respectively).

In Austria, girls have in principle the same enrolment opportunities as boys for all schools and training facilities. The government has adopted a basic decision to this end (Education aimed at the Equality of Men and Women). Other supportive measures include the Girls and Technology programme with adequate vocational guidance and the Equal Treatment Act.

a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable development: Printed material and audiovisual tools for environmental education are often used at all school levels. During the past ten years, considerable efforts have been made to include environmental projects in the curricula. In 1992, an Environmental Education Fund was established. Advanced training seminars for teachers have been introduced. Topics, such as environmental health, safe drinking water, sanitation, food, ecosystems, recycling and energy saving, are fully dealt with at all educational levels. In cooperation with the Austrian UNICEF Committee, a package of materials on environment and development has been published and distributed to all medium and higher-level schools. The Government participates in the OECD/CERI project called Environment and School Initiatives, in the GLOBE project and in the WHO Healthy Schools project.

b) Increasing public awareness: Periodic reports on environmental issues have been published in all mass media. Counselling and consultation centres for environmental, waste and energy issues have been established and do-it-yourself groups for solar plant construction have been founded.

c) Promoting training: The Austrian Information Service for Development Policy has initiated a campaign on Sustainable Development Policy, and offers a training course on development policy (including environmental issues) to teachers and trainers.

ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS: Major groups have participated in the publishing of educational material, in campaigns and competitions, such as Ecology in Every-day School Life and The Environment and Its History as well as in advanced training seminars for teachers and youth counsellors. They also participated in the distribution of Guidelines for the Protection of Climate at the Local Level. The government has launched climate and ozone campaigns together with the NGOs.

NGOs have also participated in the setting up of counseling and consultation centres for environmental, waste and energy issues and in the founding of do-it-yourself groups for solar plant construction.

FINANCING AND COST EVALUATION OF THE LABOUR ACTIVITIES: Funding for education in Austria

(% of GNP) was 5.8% in 1980; 5.4% in 1990; and 5.7% in 1994.

female

male

female

male

female

male

Primary school age covers ages 6 to 9, secondary school age covers ages 10 to 17/18. There are nine years of compulsory schooling.

* All informations derived from Austria - Guidelines for National Information, 1996.

See Chapter 34.