Umwelt- und Wasserwirtschaftsfonds#

Umwelt- und Wasserwirtschaftsfonds (Environment and Water Management Fund): National promotion of environmental protection projects started with the establishment of the Water Management Fund in 1959, which was then part of the Federal Ministry of Construction, Public Works and Technology. Its main aim was to support environmentally compatible water supply and sewage disposal projects. The Environment Fund was established within the Federal Ministry of Health and Environmental Affairs in 1984. It was supposed to be an instrument of rehabilitation in the fields of air quality conservation and noise protection, as well as prevention and recycling of hazardous waste in order to subsidise measures designed to adapt old installations according to the latest technological developments. In 1987 the two funds were merged to form the Environment and Water Management Fund (Oekofonds, Eco Fund). Since 1991/92 the fund's tasks have also included the promotion of reclamation and securing of residual contaminants and the promotion of environmental protection measures abroad (services in the Czech, Slovakian, Hungarian and Slovenian republics), which are expected to bring about substantial environmental relief for Austria. About 5 billion ATS of subsidies for new environmental protection measures are granted each year.

Literature#