This week, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Greens determined how much the climate bonus will be in the individual municipalities.
Only every third person receives the maximum amount of the climate bonus
Those who live in the countryside receive more, those in cities less. The bonus will be paid out as of September. Adults receive 110 euros (in Vienna’s inner city) and 220 euros (in rural municipalities). Depending on where you live, you will receive 110, 150, 185 or a maximum of 220 euros from September. Children and youths will receive half.
While the climate bonus was raised significantly last year due to inflation, the government is now returning to the initially planned system. How much money is paid depends on the place of residence. The classification into urban, rural and suburban areas and the accessibility by public transport are considered. Heating costs or local energy supply, for example, do not influence the amount of the climate bonus.
The highest climate bonus is available in rural communities with only “basic public transport facilities,” as defined by the Ministry of Climate Protection. This year, 1,498 out of 2,093 municipalities are eligible. This is where about a third of the population lives, which receives the highest bonus of 220 euros. About one-fifth of the people in Austria receive the second highest bonus (185 euros), and another third receive 150 euros. Most large cities, such as Graz, Linz and Salzburg and the Vienna region, fall into this category.
The lowest subsidy is received by significantly fewer people than initially planned. This is because of the regional differentiation between Vienna’s districts that have been introduced. While according to the original plans, all Viennese would have received only the minimum amount, now slightly more money flows into the large area districts of Liesing, Donaustadt and Floridsdorf and Währing and Döbling. There, all adults receive 150 euros. However, All other Viennese have to make do with a minimum of 110 euros. Vienna’s inner districts are the only region in Austria that falls into the climate bonus’s lowest tier (excellent infrastructure and public transport).
Lower Austria and Upper Austria receive the most money for the climate bonus
The preferential treatment of rural municipalities has a noticeable impact on the distribution of funds: Although Vienna has by far the most inhabitants, significantly more money flows to Lower and Upper Austria than to the capital. According to APA calculations, the Viennese receive, on average, about 115 euros per capita; in Lower and Upper Austria, it is a reasonable 173 euros and in Burgenland, even 188 euros.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, the climate bonus will cost about 1.47 billion euros this year. The climate bonus serves to redistribute the revenue from the CO2 tax. However, the tax will be somewhat overcompensated: According to budget planning, the payment is only 1 billion euros.
- Source: vienna.at/picture:
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