An analysis of global material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from public demand in Austria

Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology

Against the backdrop of the climate crisis and the overstepping of numerous planetary boundaries through human activities, the responsible use of resources and sustainable consumption activities are of vital importance.

In 2022, public demand accounted for 29% of total consumption of goods and services in Austria. This includes, for example, government services in the areas of administration, healthcare, education, and national defense. Furthermore, the public sector accounted for 13% of investments in Austria. With its purchasing power, the government therefore has enormous leverage to promote sustainable products, services, and construction activity.

In order to underpin environmental policy debates on environmentally friendly public procurement with empirical data, this project provides calculations on the material and greenhouse gas footprint of the Austrian government.