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Austria is a well-developed European country with relatively few major problems. However, in the past, most major concerns have been environmental and energy-based. For years, the need for fossil fuels and natural gas has plagued Austria. Although some fossil fuels occur naturally in Austria, the country’s use far exceeds their supply. In order to help solve this problem, Austria has created plans and restrictions such as the Regional Energy Action Plan. In addition, air pollution (which leads to acid rain) has been a leading problem in Austria for decades. The increased use of cars and fossil fuels has led to an increase in nitric and sulfuric oxides as well as other air pollutants (“Chapter 7,” par. 3). In the 21st century, Austria will continue to face environmental issues, including acid rain, wetland destruction and deforestation, and the need for more electricity and fossil fuels will continue to add to the country’s energy problems; the government must both promote better public awareness of these environmental and energy issues as well as increase government regulation of industry. Acid rain is one of the worst environmental concerns in Austria. Currently, one quarter of all forests in Austria suffer some sort of acid rain damage (“Land and Resources,” par. 8). This damage is also a major cause of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss in the Austrian forests. Acid rain is caused by nitric acid (HNO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) that are formed in the atmosphere when nitric oxides (NOx) and sulfuric oxides (SOx) combine with water (Levy 1). The NOx’s are emitted mainly by cars. The institution of the catalytic converter has decreased the amount of NOx’s given off per car; however, the number of cars has drastically increased, thus leading to continually rising NOx levels in the atmosphere (Levy 5). Cars from neighboring countries also contribute to the rising NOx levels, since all the chemicals end up in the same atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels such as coal is the major cause of SOx’s. In the last few years, the burning of fossil fuels in Austria has increased and is projected to continue increasing. As long as these pollutants are being produced, acid rain will continue to create problems. In Austria, as well as other European countries, many old buildings, such as Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, City Hall of Vienna and the Votiv Cathedral are being destroyed by acid rain (Johanesan 4). These buildings were built out of limestone. The acid breaks down the limestone, thus destroying the buildings. Acid rain is a major environmental hazard that cannot be ignored. This problem will continue to grow worse until a multitude of measures are taken. Wetlands depletion is also a major problem facing Austria today.
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