Climate, Environmental and Resource Economics

The transformation to a sustainable and climate-neutral economy and society is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The Research Group supports the necessary processes through the development of methods and models, the creation of databases, the development of scientific expertise and evidence-based communication to the public and in scientific dialogue.

In addition to analysing options and pathways for achieving the climate goals, the Research Group addresses topics such as environmental technologies and environmental innovations, questions of sustainable consumption, sustainable production, sustainable waste and resource management, and wealth measurement. The transformation of the energy system through disruptive technologies and the organisation of markets are also the subject of research, as is the bioeconomy with a focus on agriculture and forestry and the associated value chains.

Decision-makers in Austria and the European Union are the most important target group of the Research Group's scientific expertise. The results of the work are based not only on quantitative models and econometric methods, but also on detailed knowledge of the markets studied and the policies that influence or control them. Complex questions are always answered in an integrative manner by not only presenting economic results, but also determining distributional effects and environmental indicators. In many cases, there is close collaboration with other institutes whose focus is in the technical or natural sciences.

WIFO Research Briefs
17.04.2026
A Proposal to Partially Decouple CO2 and Electricity Prices
Finalization: April 2026
Specialist publication: WIFO Research Briefs
Project
Ongoing project since: 09.01.2026
Contractor project: Austrian Economic Chamber, Association for Building, Materials and Ceramic Industries
Project
Ongoing project since: 09.12.2025
Contractor project: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management
Project partner: Austrian Institute of Economic Research, Environment Agency Austria
Project
Ongoing project since: 02.12.2025
Contractor project: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management
Macroeconomics and Public Finance
Labour Economics, Income and Social Security
Industrial, Innovation and International Economics
Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis