A recent report assessing the climate change situation in Austria reveals that local forests, which typically function as natural lungs for absorbing carbon dioxide, have begun to emit more CO2 than they absorb due to the impacts of accelerating global warming.
The “Second Assessment Report on Climate Change,” compiled by scientists and experts since 2022, indicates a troubling shift in the climate balance of Austria’s forests. These areas, once the largest carbon sinks, have transformed into sources of harmful emissions as a result of rising temperatures, drought, and pest proliferation adversely affecting forest health.
In 2023, Austria’s forests released more carbon dioxide than they sequestered, with approximately 5.4 million tons of CO2 entering the atmosphere. This contrasts sharply with the year 2000, when forests effectively trapped around 18.6 million tons of CO2 and helped reduce overall emissions.
The Austrian Environment Agency attributes this shift to the repercussions of the climate crisis. Climate expert Peter Weiss highlights that increased temperatures accelerate the decomposition and respiration of organic materials in the soil, while the drought accompanying higher temperatures slows forest growth and reduces carbon absorption.
Weiss warned that the movement of forests from being climate saviors to sources of climate risks is also negatively impacting several other European Union nations. He noted a significant decline in forest carbon stocks across Europe in recent years.
This negative trend has been evident in Austria over the past few years; forests emitted more carbon dioxide than they absorbed in 2018 and 2019, and 2023 has recorded the highest emissions from these forests to date.