Vienna Forum on Climate Action: How can we achieve an affordable and socially acceptable energy transition?

This year's Vienna Forum on Climate Action 2025 focused on one key question: How can we achieve an energy transition that is socially just, reduces energy poverty and at the same time makes Austria's climate targets achievable? Representatives from politics, business and civil society discussed the political and economic measures needed to enable clean and affordable energy for all.

Energy poverty in Austria: a growing social problem
Following introductory remarks by Alexander Hochauer (Windkraft Simonsfeld), Judith Ranftler from Volkshilfe Austria demonstrated that energy poverty remains one of the country's biggest social problems. Many people live in poorly insulated or mouldy homes and can barely cover their heating and electricity costs – a situation that is further exacerbated by rising energy prices. Volkshilfe is therefore calling for basic energy security for particularly affected households and mandatory thermal renovations to reduce energy costs in the long term.

Federal government plans social tariff and new measures
Marta Hodasz from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism presented current government initiatives. The federal government is working on new draft legislation for a nationwide social tariff that will provide direct relief to people on low incomes. EU requirements are also increasing the pressure to give greater consideration to the social aspects of energy policy and to secure the energy transition legally and financially.

GLOBAL 2000 warns: Social tariffs are not enough
Hannah Keller from GLOBAL 2000 criticised that social tariffs alone are not enough to combat energy poverty in the long term and that current plans fall short of achieving climate targets. She calls for additional government funding for climate protection, legally binding phase-outs of oil and gas, and more ambitious implementation of EU climate policy

Focus on renewable energy: obstacles to the expansion of wind power
From the perspective of the energy industry, Markus Winter (Windkraft Simonsfeld) described the current challenges facing the expansion of wind energy. The biggest obstacles include a lack of grid infrastructure, extremely long approval procedures and shortcomings in the legal framework. Winter criticised the fact that political decisions are too often influenced by lobbyists who do not support the expansion of renewable energy. Yet wind power is a central pillar of the energy transition and essential for achieving Austria's climate targets.

Clear message: no successful energy transition without social justice
The discussion, moderated by Verena Mischitz, made it clear that an affordable, socially just and climate-friendly energy future is only possible if politics, business and society act together. This includes social security, clear laws, the rapid expansion of renewable energy and transparent framework conditions for companies.

You can watch the video recording here >