Austria is a small, predominantly mountainous country located in South-Central

Europe with Vienna as its capital. The best-known natural features of Austrian landscape are
the ‘Alps’ and the ‘Danube River’. The Alpine regions are home to numerous species,
including chamois, roe deer, hare, fox, badger, marten and marmot. A small bear population
can mainly be found in the heavily wooded Southern and Central mountainous regions. It is a
contrast of spectacular natural landscapes and elegant urban conurbations, one day you are
plunging into an alpine lake next you are exploring a narrow backstreet of Vienna. Travel is
often a meandering journey through deeply carved valleys along roads and railways cut
probably into the rocky flanks of mountains and around picturesque lakes but often the
landscape is simply too rugged for road or rail hiking and mountain biking is the best way to
reach isolated alpine meadows.

The scenery unfolds as you climb higher on this serpentine road snow-capped mountains,
plunging waterfalls and lakes scattered like gemstones along with ‘Grossglockner Road’-
Austria’s highest peak. Skiing is more than just a sport, it’s a way of life. The scope is
limitless and the terrain fantastic. You can also make your way through Europe’s best-
preserved fortress, glide through the ‘Golden Hall’ with its celestial ceiling capturing the
starlit heaven.

Austria is a destination with rich culture and blessed with plenty of natural wonders. It also
happens to be a leading destination among the European countries in terms of sustainable
development.

What are the sustainable development goals?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals,
are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all
people enjoy peace and prosperity.

These 17 Goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while
including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation,
sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities. The goals are
interconnected – often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues mor e
commonly associated with another.

Background on the goals:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The objective was
to produce a set of universal goals that meet the urgent environmental, political and
economic challenges facing our world.

The SDGs replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which started a global
effort in 2000 to tackle the indignity of poverty. The MDGs established measurable,
universally-agreed objectives for tackling extreme poverty and hunger, preventing
deadly diseases, and expanding primary education to all children, among other
development priorities.

For 15 years, the MDGs drove progress in several important areas: reducing income
poverty, providing much needed access to water and sanitation, driving down child
mortality and drastically improving maternal health. They also kick-started a global
movement for free primary education, inspiring countries to invest in their future
generations. Most significantly, the MDGs made huge strides in combatting
HIV/AIDS and other treatable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what was started, and tackle some of the
more pressing challenges facing the world today. All 17 Goals interconnect, meaning
success in one affects success for others. Dealing with the threat of climate c hange
impacts how we manage our fragile natural resources, achieving gender equality or
better health helps eradicate poverty, and fostering peace and inclusive societies will
reduce inequalities and help economies prosper. In short, this is the greatest c hance
we have to improve life for future generations.

The SDGs coincided with another historic agreement reached in 2015 at the COP21
Paris Climate Conference. Together with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction, signed in Japan in March 2015, these agreements provide a set of common
standards and achievable targets to reduce carbon emissions, manage the risks of
climate change and natural disasters, and to build back better after a crisis.

Agreement signed:
On 25 th September 2015, the general assembly of the UN adopted the 2030 agenda for
sustainable development and defined these 17 universally applicable sustainable
development goals- AUSTRIA along with the UN member states has committed to
implementing the goals by 2030.

The SDGs are unique in that they cover issues that affect us all. They reaffirm our
international commitment to end poverty, permanently, everywhere. They are
ambitious in making sure no one is left behind. More importantly, they involve us all
to build a more sustainable, safer, more prosperous planet for all humanity.
Problems faced by Austria:
For a long time after the wars, reconstruction and supporting the industrial development were
the only priorities to Austrians. Only in the late 1970’s, environmental movements gained
momentum and the general awareness of pollution and other issues increased.

Transit traffic, mostly in Tyrol

 Transit of cars has increased tremendously in the past decades. This is a

particular problem in Tyrol and Salzburg, where some of the most
important North-South routes between Italy and the North of Europe
run. The increased mobility of Europeans and the opening of the
formally communist countries in the East has contributed to transport
related pollution.
 The traffic of the Brenner Mountain Pass, for instance, has rocketed
from 600,000 vehicles per year in the early 1970’s to some 10 million
vehicles per year only twenty years later. Since then, traffic has
increased even more. In the valleys of Tyrol, so-called inversion weather
situations (warm or cold air is trapped by a layer of air at a higher or
lower temperature) are common and cause fumes to accumulate. The
traffic also creates noise disturbances.

Industrial Pollution & Radioactivity

 Industrial pollution has been a problem in Austria - much like in other

Western countries - for a long time and can probably be traced back
some 200 years. Drastic problems arose increasingly in the 1960’s, after
the rapid economic development. With this issue, Austria also faced
problems due to its small size: industrialised areas of Eastern
Europe had low or no environmental policy standards during communist
days and still have a large potential for improvement.
  By 1990, about 37 percent of Austria′s forest had suffered damages
from acid rain and other forms of pollution. (Since then, the situation
has improved with stricter environmental policies being enforced
both domestically and in the countries of the former Soviet Union.)
 A different issue was the Chernobyl tragedy in 1989. Large amounts of
radioactivity escaped from a nuclear power plant in today′s Ukraine.
With the weather at that time turning to the West, an increased
radioactivity was quickly detectable in Austria. By that time, the anti-
nuclear lobby of Austria was already extremely aware of the dangers of
radioactivity and one of their iconic victories was the closing of a new
nuclear power plant in 1978 (Austria remains free of nuclear power
plants until today).
 Almost 30 years after Chernobyl, Austria is still among the most
severely affected Western countries. Certain isotopes like Caesium-137
are still enriched in Austrian soil with higher levels only in Scandinavia
and Eastern Europe.

Alpine damages through Skiing & agriculture

 The intense use of Alpine terrain for skiing, hiking and agricultural
purposes has left serious marks on the sensitive ecosystems of this area.
Skis damage young trees and wide-spread hiking and mountain biking
causes disturbances of the local fauna and damages to the soil and
vegetation.
 The growth of villages has led to additional pollution, mostly due to vast
crowds of tourists arriving every year in summer and winter. This creates
an ever-growing burden for the mountain regions. Agriculture is an even
more critical issue. The alpine regions of Austria have been used for
agriculture for centuries.
 Today, the sparse crops cannot provide a sustainable benefit and many
farms survive only through financial subsidies by Austria or
the European Union. Agriculture and the landscape in these areas is
 often interlinked and it can be difficult to anticipate the importance
versus damage for existing ecosystems. Most of Austria′s landscape is
shaped by agriculture and it is likely that in the future, decreases in the
intensity of agricultural use will lead to significant alterations.

Agriculture & Genetically Modified Organisms

 Intense agriculture with the side-effects of heavy use of artificial

fertilizers, mass production in husbandry and draining large areas had
devastating effects in Austria in many areas. The 1970’s were probably
worst, with the availability of means for industrialised agriculture and
little environmental awareness. (Today, the Austrian′s green spirit
and financial support of the republic and the EU for environmental
projects as well as National Parks has helped to re-naturalise entire
regions)
 Similar to their traditional fear of radioactivity and nuclear power,
Austrians are extremely cautious about genetically modified organisms
(GMOs).

Global Warming & Climate Change

 The global climate change has potentially damaging effects on the

Austrian economy. With much of the Western provinces being highly
dependent on snow in the winters, several warm years have recently
shown how devastating these damages could be for the ski industries.
 Whereas individual winters are not a good basis drawing conclusions
about a generally warmed up climate, the decrease in size of
many glaciers can be traced over centuries. Ecologists and climate
researchers are constantly warning of the dangers of global warming,
which are quite visible in Austria.
 Austria with its sensitive Alpine ecosystems serves as a battleground
from which many warning signs have been drawn. Among these
are increases of avalanches, land-slides and heavy rainfalls in the
summer as well as reduced snowfall in the winter.

Programmes and policies adopted:

All ‘Austrian Development Agency’ (ADA) programmes and projects adhere to the strategy
set out in the Three-Year Programme on Austrian Development Policy and are implemented
within the respective budgetary framework. Of crucial importance is their alignment with the
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and partner country objectives. This
is how Austria deploys its specific know-how, capacities and experience and contributes to
safeguarding of global public goods, such as health, environment and climate.
ADA focuses on themes like education, peace-building, human security, human rights,
migration & development, the water-energy-food security nexus and private sector &
development. In addition to the cross-cutting theme of environmental and climate protection,
gender equality is a crucial aspect taken into consideration by all ADA projects and
programmes. Equally, measures are also reviewed for their compliance with social standards.
Other major fields of activity according to the Three-Year Programme are international
humanitarian aid, development education, health, employment and social protection.
1. EDUCATION

As a major factor for poverty reduction and sustainable development, education can make a
key contribution to social, economic, political and cultural development. Well-trained people
have better opportunities to find employment and take part in social development. In addition
to raising and assuring quality in the education sector, Austria is also committed to inclusion.
The Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development
Cooperation, aims at giving even more people equal access to vocational education and
training and higher education.
HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
A functioning and efficient higher education system is essential for achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals and sustainable national social and economic development. Well-
educated people meet the local need for qualified workforce and are prepared for the
demands of the global knowledge society. This is why ADA attaches importance to
strengthening educational institutions and building expert capacity.
ADA promotes cooperation and networking between universities in Austria and its partner
countries. In this context, the Austrian Partnership Programme in Higher Education and
Research for Development (APPEAR) strengthens the capacities of higher education
institutions in teaching, research and management.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET) AND THE LABOUR
MARKET
Vocational education and training affords access to adequately paid work and prospects for
productive employment. ADA therefore supports the establishment and further development
of modern national VET systems, with cooperation among the education sector, business and
industry and special interest groups playing a growing role.
ADA supports tailor-made training courses at school and out-of-school level geared to
practice and labour-market needs. Learning directly in enterprises is an important aspect of
this. Gaining occupational skills and knowledge plays an important role for marginalized
population groups and regions in particular.
PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
ADA aligns its programmes and projects with the development, educational and science
strategies of its partner countries and collaborates with other bilateral donors, multilateral
organisations, the European Union, expert bodies, educational institutions, private sector and
the academic community. To guarantee long-term development, Austria pays particular
attention to designing needs-based and sustainable programmes.
2. PEACE-BUILDING AND CONFLICT PREVENTION

Peace and security are essential for poverty reduction, preventing the outbreak of armed
conflicts and for lasting and sustainable development. They are inseparably linked and
interact with each other. Major reasons for slow progress in attaining the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals have been armed conflicts and fragile states and situations,
which affect about 20 per cent of the world population, largely in the poorest countries. A
lesson has been learnt: Mastering fragile situations calls for the effective prevention of
conflicts and concurrent peace building, peace consolidation and state building efforts. This
poses a new challenge for the international donor community. Safeguarding peace and human
security is also a prime aim of Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).
PREVENTING CONFLICT - PROMOTING PEACE
Austria is committed to a positive vision of peace that seeks to remove both direct and
institutional violence and address the underlying causes. Austria fosters a culture of conflict
prevention that enables it to identify tensions early on, make a correct assessment of its own
role in conflict situations and conduct timely, appropriate measures for conflict
transformation and non-violent solutions.
Specific priorities of Austrian Development Cooperation are:
ADC supports conflict-sensitive approaches in fragile and conflictive countries and regions
with the aim of avoiding an escalation of conflict (do-no-harm principle) and strengthening
peace-building impacts.
 ADC is committed to strengthening the role of women in armed conflicts: To promote the
involvement of women and their concerns in all phases of peace processes, the Austrian
Federal Government adopted a national action plan for implementing UN Security Council
Resolution 1325 in 2007. In its programmes and projects, Austrian Development Cooperation
takes account of both this UN resolution and ensuing Resolutions 1820, 1888 and 1889.
ADC supports regional, sub-regional and local civil-society organisations engaged in peace
building and conflict resolution, particularly in prevention.
Effective and democratically legitimate and controlled security systems are a major
prerequisite for conflict prevention and resolution. Austrian Development Cooperation is
particularly engaged in security sector reform (rule of law, capacity development in the police
force, penal system, human rights) and the judiciary.
Fragile states can be assisted and fragile situations overcome by building effective, legitimate
and resilient state institutions, stable democratic processes and non-violent and constructive
conflict resolution mechanisms, based on the principles developed by Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In conflict and fragility, Austrian Development Cooperation takes a whole-of-government
approach and advocates a coordinated, complementary and coherent procedure for
implementing development and peace goals (3C approach).
Austrian Development Cooperation aligns its peacekeeping measures with those of OECD
(INCAF), the European Union and the international donor community.
3. GOOD GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS, MIGRATION

Good governance and respect for human rights are essential for sustainable human
development, poverty reduction and the elimination of inequality. With the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG), the international community is seeking to promote inclusive
societies, provide equal access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and
inclusive institutions at all levels (SDG 16). The Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
supports developing countries in fulfilling human rights and fostering a vibrant civil society.
Migration is a highly relevant issue for development in countries of destination, transit
countries and countries of origin. The aim is to enhance the beneficial and mitigate the
adverse effects of migration.
In its operations, Austrian Development Agency adopts a comprehensive human-rights-based
approach that applies to all intervention areas and phases of planning and implementing
programmes as well as in policy dialogue. The universality and indivisibility of economic,
social, cultural, civil and political rights is a fundamental principle here. ADA also takes the
Sustainable Development Goals, international and regional human rights conventions and
OECD and EU guidelines - such as the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy –
as a frame of reference for its interventions.
4. ENERGY, WATER, AND FOOD SECURITY

Access to and utilisation of water, land and energy for everyone is important to meet basic
needs and avoid conflicts. Equal access and use rights to natural resources, especially for
marginalised and vulnerable population groups, are thus indispensable for an inclusive and
sustainable development in the partner countries of the Austrian Development Agency
(ADA).
Global trends, such as population growth, changed consumer habits or climate change,
increase the pressure on already scare natural resources. The United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that agricultural production must increase by 70
percent before 2050 in order to meet future global demand. Humankind will need 40 percent
more energy as early as 2030. Globally, more than 40 percent of all people are currently
affected by water shortages. Demand for land is escalating, posing problems regarding equal
access and utilisation. In the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, ADA seeks to
protect sensitive ecosystems, conserve natural resources and contribute to climate protection
through sustainable agricultural production and environment-friendly measures in energy as
well as water and wastewater management.
Water supply and sanitation, renewable energy and rural development for food security are
therefore major priorities areas of ADA. These fields of activity are closely interlinked
(water-energy-food security nexus). This means, that future approaches and development
measures must take due account of the interrelations, synergies and possible trade-offs in
these sectors. The application of a nexus approach at strategy, programme and project level,
enables sustainable solutions and contributes to better results in terms of the SDGs.
5. GENDER EQUALITY

"Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls" have been stipulated as the 5th
goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in September 2015. In
implementation, it will be important to continue to take account of the comprehensive goals
and measures set out in the Beijing Platform for Action of 1994 as the most progressive
international declaration of intent to date on the promotion of women’s rights. Gender
equality and the empowerment of women are major preconditions for poverty reduction,
economic growth and social development. This is why the Austrian Development Agency
(ADA) requires from all its project partners to make a contribution to gender equality.
EMPOWERMENT AND GENDER EQUALITY
In practice, this means that ADA takes measures to ensure the equal participation of women
and men and girls and boys in all projects and programmes. It seeks to alter discriminatory
societal and social norms and practices: Women and men shall have equal access to education
and resources, such as land, income and capital. The greater recognition, reduction and
sharing of unpaid care and domestic work (Target 5.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals)
are of key importance. A focus of ADA gender work is placed on promoting the equal
participation of women and men in political and public life at national and local level. The
eradication of sexual and gender violence and guaranteeing reproductive and sexual health
and rights are essential for this. To achieve sustainable and effective gender-equality results,
it is important to involve men and boys.
GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH EQUITABLE BUDGET ALLOCATION
Reflecting gender equality in government planning, programming and budgeting is needed to
have a more equitable budget distribution. ‘Gender-responsive budgeting’ involves women
and men more in budget decisions and brings the principle of gender equality more
effectively to bear on the distribution of public funds. It involves identifying interventions to
address gender issues and gaps in revenue-raising policies, in expenditure policies at different
levels, in plans and budgets. The goal of GRB is to analyse and address the gender-
differentiated impact of revenue-raising and budget allocations on men and women, boys and
girls. The Austrian Development Cooperation supports gender responsive budgeting in our
partner countries to advance gender equality. Austria has also set a good example by
incorporating gender-responsive budgeting in the constitution.
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
In conflict-affected regions and fragile states worldwide, ADA promotes the implementation
of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the six ensuing resolutions on women, peace
and security. In 2007, Austria framed the related National Action Plan with specific
directives (revised in 2012), which underscores inter-ministerial cooperation on this issue.
GENDER MAINSTREAMING AS A STRATEGY
The European Council Conclusions on the EU Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2016-
2020) were adopted in October 2015. The plan’s objectives and actions to promote gender
equality are mandatory for international cooperation in the EU: They apply to the EU
member states, the EU Directorates-General for International Cooperation and Development
and for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, the Humanitarian Aid Office of the
European Community and the European External Service.
International cooperation makes a valuable contribution to ending gender discrimination and
enforcing the rights of women and girls. Gender mainstreaming and the definition of gender-
specific results and indicators play an important role in ADA projects and programmes.
The basic direction of gender work is set by the policy document, Gender equality and the
empowerment of women, which ensures compliance with quality standards by ADA
6. ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Preserving the environment and protecting natural resources is one of three primary
objectives of the Austrian Development Cooperation, the other two being combating poverty,
and ensuring peace and human security. An intact environment with fertile soils, clean water
and air is a fundamental prerequisite for a healthy life without hunger, as well as for every
kind of economic progress. Natural disasters such as droughts, floods or landslides cause
great harm and foremost where the environment is already degraded and can no longer
provide a protective function.
Environmental degradation and pollution especially harm the poorest and most vulnerable
groups in developing countries who directly depend on the use of natural resources, and who
lack resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters. On
average, their risk of suffering health impacts from negative environmental conditions is ten
times higher than for Europeans. Limited or at times no access to natural resources such as
water, land and minerals is the most common source of conflict in developing countries.
It is important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in light of global climate change and to
ensure that progress in sustainable development is not compromised by the effects of the
latter. Any consequences of climate change have to be factored into all strategies,
programmes and projects to promote the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, take into
account the expected impacts of climate change, and include respective adaptation measures.
Effective environmental protection requires the full commitment of national institutions and
the local population. The global dimension of environmental degradation calls for increased
global cooperation. The basis for this is a series of Multilateral Environmental Agreements
such as the three “Rio conventions” on Biological Diversity (CBD), Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and Combatting Desertification and Land Degradation (UNCCD).
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations include the protection of
ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, dry lands and mountain regions. In addition to
supporting specific environment and climate change endeavours in partner countries, the
Austrian Development Agency takes care to ensure that all financed activities are screened
concerning their environmental impacts (i.e. on soil, air, water, biodiversity and biosphere,
greenhouse gas emissions and resilience towards climate change), in order to avoid any
negative repercussions and impacts.

Work on achieving sustainable

development goals:
Austrians have been recycling for years. It recycles more of its waste than any other country
in Europe. Colour-coded bins for paper, plastic and glass can be found on many street corners
and at train stations. Some glass containers, particularly beer bottles have a ‘pfand’ a
refunded deposit of up to 25 Euro cents depending on the bottle’s size. Look for the flaschen
rücknahme (bottle return) machines at many supermarkets.

Hotels and restaurants serve locally-produced organic milk, cheese, meat, herbs, honey and
fruit without a second thought. Austrians themselves embrace healthy, pursuits with the
smallest of environmental impact, mindful of the need to protect their own beautiful
countryside. People are attuned to the seasons; this is a destination where the dishes you will
try still relate to the traditional farming calendar, and ‘food miles’ are negligible.

On a larger scale, some 70 % of Austria’s power comes from alternative energy, 60 % of all
waste is recycled and 30 % of the land area is protected – way ahead of many other European
nations.
Now that eco-tourism has become the buzzword for travellers with a conscience, Austria is
making it even easier for visitors to holiday without costing the earth, with helpful labels to
direct visitors to the greenest possible travel experience.
Sustainability is at work even in the most inaccessible of locations in Austria. In the high
Alps, hikers will see that even the mountain huts are working to protect the planet; in many,
you’ll find solar panels for heating, low-energy light bulbs, wood-burning stoves using
sustainably sourced logs and composting toilets.
Austrians are experimenting with long-term projects, too. In Vorarlberg, builders are
pioneering the construction of ‘passive houses’, a concept which will spread to holiday
accommodation. These houses use only a fraction of the power of normal houses. They are
built from local, sustainably managed wood, which itself is a natural store of carbon and a
weapon in the battle against climate change. Clever insulation, efficient heat and ventilation
systems and even ideas as simple as putting more windows on the warmer, south-facing side
of the house than the colder, north-facing side, add up to make a home for the future.
Holidays on a farm

An ideal way to get in touch with nature is to stay on a working farm. There are almost 900
organic farms to choose between in Austria, including 77 ‘health and wellness’ farms. A spell
on any of these is a chance to reassess your priorities.
Visitors can try some of the traditional methods for themselves at a fascinating project in the
Hohe Tauern National Park. ‘Die Schule am Berg’ (The School on the Mountain) on the
Kauchkendlalm in the lush Rauris valley is a fascinating day out in which visitors learn,
hands-on, about the origins of their food. There’s also a lesson in milking a cow and churning
butter, the highlight of the day being a chance to sample the home-made produce.
Transport & Tourism
Since Austria has joined the EU, it has liberalised access to the nation′s highways. Alternative
approaches are tunnel systems there are proposals for extensive tunnels running all across
Tyrol; traffic limitations, for example through higher road taxes.
Transport is a key component of a sustainable tourism product and despite the challenges
presented by a mainly mountainous landscape, Austria provides a shining example of a
green infrastructure. Several of the larger resort towns and villages are promoting the
concept of car-free holidays and low-traffic or vehicle-free zones, while cities such as Graz
and Salzburg are converting their public transport to bio-fuels. But many of the initiatives are
on a local scale. In the Alpine villages of Werfenweng, Neukirchenam, Grossvenediger and
Hinterstoder, subsidised shuttle buses take visitors to and from the train station and hiking
and cycling trails. Solar powered cars and electric bicycles can be hired at minimal cost.
One of the best ways to explore Austria, however, is by renting a bicycle, whether it’s to
pedal along the shores of a tranquil lake, explore the architecture of Vienna or tackle a tough,
Alpine trail. ‘Citybike’ is Vienna’s public rental system, you can hire bikes at 58 bike
stations across the city.
The whole country is criss-crossed with safe, clearly marked cycle paths, some of which
make wholesome, fun day trips and others of which take several days, stopping at small
guesthouses along the way.
Admiring the forests and mountains, breathing the fresh air and feasting on wholesome local
produce at the end of a satisfying day’s exercise is difficult to beat – and all the better in the
knowledge that cost to the very environment that provides such pleasure is minimal.

Hotels working towards these goals:

Austria was the first European country for renewable energies to make up more than 50% of
national energy production and 60% of all waste to be recycled, looking after the
environment is part of national culture in Austria.

Many ‘Kinder hotels’ share this national ‘green habit’ and strive to even exceed the strict
legal requirements. That is why some ‘Kinder hotels’ have reaped awards in environmental
excellence, among them the European Eco-Label and the Austria Bio Garantie. Every single
‘Kinder hotel’ separates waste into at least five categories (plastic, glass, food waste, paper
and metals) and many invest in alternative energy and heating systems.
A holiday at a Kinder hotel can contribute to sustainability in other, less technical ways, too.
While staying at a Kinder hotel, the little ones will learn a lot about nature, animals and
where food comes from. At ‘Smiley’s Working Farms’ they can help to look after cows,
sheep, pigs, horses and chickens, pick fruit from the garden and even learn how to bake
bread. Together with the many outdoor activities this helps kids understand the importance of
looking after the environment. What's more, at Kinder hotels you don’t have to worry about
hidden ‘green extras’, as all of this is included in the price. Increasing numbers of families
choose sustainable ways to travel to Austria - and love it!

*Useful hint-A rail journey can be an exciting experience for the whole family. There
are excellent night train connections from various cities in the UK to Austria (via Paris,
Brussels, Strasbourg and Cologne) and families benefit from various generous discounts such
as the BahnCard.
CONCLUSION:
Sustainable development is necessary for the maintenance of the environment. The purpose
of development work is people’s welfare. The target of development work is never achieved
effectively if the adverse effects are ignored, thus tourism development wouldn’t be complete
without sustainable development.
Sources:
https://www.entwicklung.at/en/ada/news/sustainable-development-goals/

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/austria

https://www.entwicklung.at/en/themes/education/

https://www.entwicklung.at/en/themes/peacebuilding-and-conflict-prevention/

https://www.entwicklung.at/en/themes/water-energy-and-food-security/

https://www.entwicklung.at/en/themes/environment-and-climate-change/

https://www.entwicklung.at/en/themes/gender-equality/

https://wwf.panda.org/get_involved/live_green/travel/on_vacation/eco_tips/austria/

http://www.oebb.at/en

http://www.citybikewien.at

https://www.austria.org/green-cities/

https://www.bmnt.gv.at/english/environment/Sustainabledeve.html

https://www.austria.info/uk/service-facts/about-austria/austria-green-credentials/eco-hotels

http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria/environment.htm

Image courtesy:
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mgrc=1aXquTHWhgWJzM:
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b6zjq_gAhUNXn0KHczwBkwQ4lYIKygC&biw=1024&bih=489&dpr=1#imgrc=QocMtY83_Zw9
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https://www.google.com/search?q=skiing+in+austria&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=
0ahUKEwi2-
qT5kK_gAhXLX30KHakFDPwQ_AUIDigB&biw=1024&bih=489#imgrc=HBvHMXJFFVu9NM:
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1024&bih=489&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=OQ9fXJaHIsmy9
QPNx6iIDw&q=ADA+austria&oq=ADA+austria&gs_l=img.3...22051.28752..29532...1.0..0.208
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img.......0j0i67j0i30j0i8i30.rJd9p2hI41A#imgrc=2DqR5mQfJjoK-M:
https://www.google.com/search?q=citybike+austria&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0
ahUKEwjo96L2n6_gAhXVZCsKHb1YCmcQ_AUIECgD&biw=1024&bih=489#imgrc=RpfgNsReg
KrjVM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=holidays+of+a+farm+in+austria&source=lnms&tbm=isch
&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjqw8q65bDgAhUIXn0KHRLtDTwQ_AUIDigB#imgdii=fwbo5jZ8
QL_gIM:&imgrc=p_DuOZqrui1oTM