Background information

The climate crisis and its impact on working lives and living environments has been steadily playing a bigger role within the last years, also for the union movement. Large transformations are and will be taking place, posing challenges for the involved actors. In order to be able to accompany these transformation processes on the Austrian economy, labour market, workers and businesses, the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) set up a climate office over the course of summer 2023 and officially launched it on 16 November 2023. The set-up of the climate office was financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.

Content of measure

The ÖGB Climate Office coordinates the ÖGB's energy and climate policy activities and is set to develop instruments to support employees and works council bodies through the transformation process. It furthermore serves as a hub for the exchange of best practice examples and provides exchange and information opportunities for works councils and unions at events. The main goal of the climate office is to further develop and disseminate existing trade union activities. In addition, important know-how, skills and personnel are to be built up within the Austrian trade union movement. Thus, a main contribution can be made to the implementation of a just transition to climate neutrality. Also, the climate office promotes exchange with the regions affected by the transformation and discusses the experiences gained. Experiences are to be shared across Austria in order to learn from successful approaches. Activities of the climate office thus far include: input at union events; support at climate-related projects (e.g. events, alliances, action weeks, etc.); Interactive (online) lectures and excursions at educational events (e.g. trade union schools, seminars, etc.); and mediation of cooperation partners.

Use of measure

The Climate Office is involved in a variety of activities nationally and internationally. Regarding the cooperation with and support of works councils and employees regarding the transformation process, the Office is first and foremost engaged in education and was e.g. participating in courses of the Works Council Academy, the Social Academy or Trade Union School in Vienna and further extended the education offers in 2025. It has also participated discussion formats, like the Climate Dialogue or the dialogue forum of the Austrian Automotive Transformation Platform (AATP). There, the Office presented (together with the Chamber of Labour) recommendations for action to be shared with federal ministries and related organisations. In early 2025, the new website "Climate Toolbox for Companies" was launched, providing information on lectures and courses, as well as best practice examples from companies.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Trade unions	National funds Trade union

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only trade unions
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

This is an initiative by the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB).

Views and reactions

No reaction on the instalment of a climate office within the trade union structure by organised business could be identified.

Sources

• 16 November 2023: The ÖGB Climate Office introduces itself (www.ots.at)
• 16 November 2023: Climate Office (www.oegb.at)