Austrian Society for Environment and Technology

The Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik, ÖGUT) is an independent, non-profit organisation based in Vienna, Austria. It was founded in 1985 in the aftermath of the conflict over the planned Hainburg power station and the occupation of the Hainburger Au, when leading institutions from administration, business and the environmental movement came together to create mechanisms for avoiding and managing environmental conflicts. Long before the term 'round table' became common, ÖGUT was conceived as an above-party platform that would bring all parties involved in environmental conflicts to one table. It describes itself as an independent, non-profit organisation standing for the sustainable orientation of the economy and society. ÖGUT's core thematic areas are energy, innovative building, participation, sustainable finance, resources and consumption, and gender and diversity. Its activities range from strategy development, expert consulting and research to moderation and process support. The organisation develops assessment and benchmarking criteria for sustainable buildings and settlements and innovative technologies, carries out certifications (for example for sustainable buildings, sustainable financial products and investment strategies), conducts national and international research projects, and organises events, workshops, symposia and stakeholder dialogues. It also publishes guidelines, handbooks and information materials, and awards the annual ÖGUT Environment Prize for exemplary sustainability projects by municipalities, companies, civil society and researchers. As a platform, ÖGUT networks more than 130 organisations and institutions from business (companies in waste management, financial services and energy services, as well as interest groups such as the WKO and the Industriellenvereinigung), administration (BMIMI, BMWET, BMLUK, the province of Lower Austria and the City of Vienna) and the environmental and civil-society sector (Ökobüro, Umweltdachverband). Its work is financed to a small extent by membership and supporter contributions, while the majority is earned through contracts from the public sector, companies and their associations, national and international research programmes, the IEA and others. ÖGUT's leadership has evolved over time. René Alfons Haiden served as president from 1987 to 2021; in the general assembly of 22 June 2021, Andrea Reithmayer was elected as the new president. Monika Auer has been Secretary General since April 2014, and since 1 January 2025 Monika Auer and Stephan Renner have jointly led the organisation in a dual management structure. Current projects include work on sustainable finance qualification of financial advisors (EURENI), support for the klimaaktiv buildings programme, the Loop it! circular-economy education project, the establishment of Circular Economy Hubs in Armenia and Moldova under the EU4Green Recovery East initiative, and support for gender equality and inclusion in clean energy transitions in Southeast Asia for the Clean Energy Ministerial.

The Austrian Society for Environment and Technology (ÖGUT) was founded in 1985, following the conflict concerning a plan for a power station in Hainburg and the occupation of the Hainburger Au. In the wake of that conflict, the most important institutions from the areas of administration, economy and the environment came together to develop mechanisms to avoid and manage such conflicts. Long before the term 'round table' was coined, the desire to engage with all parties involved in environmental conflicts existed, and this became the focus of ÖGUT. It was founded to offer actors an above-party platform, as an independent, non-profit organisation standing for the sustainable orientation of the economy and society. In the mid-1990s, ÖGUT gradually established areas of expertise in accordance with member involvement. Through building up competencies via research projects and studies within the broader context of sustainability, it became possible to participate in discussions and decision-making processes, exchange experiences and develop solutions for initiatives, policy guidance, stakeholder processes and much more. In 2010, ÖGUT launched the future vision 'Das Blatt wenden' ('Turn the Page') with the goal of using its interdisciplinary strengths to identify the central challenges of the next 25 years in the areas of environment and society and to develop central guidelines for sustainable action. The present-day challenges and possible solutions developed via this process are the guiding principles for ÖGUT's current activities. Central to this is the sustainable transformation of the rules of economy and society and also the individual's way of life. From 1987 to 2021, René Alfons Haiden served as president of ÖGUT. In the general assembly on 22 June 2021, Andrea Reithmayer, long-time Vice Rector for Finance of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna and chair of the supervisory board of ÖBB-Holding AG from 2020 to 2024, was elected as the new president. Since April 2014, Monika Auer has been Secretary General of ÖGUT. Since 1 January 2025, Monika Auer and Stephan Renner have jointly led the organisation in a dual management structure. ÖGUT has continued to expand its activities into international projects. Recent work includes the qualification of financial advisors on sustainability issues under the EURENI project, support and implementation of the klimaaktiv buildings programme, the Loop it! project developing a semester-long workshop concept on the circular economy using plastics as an example, the establishment of Circular Economy Hubs in Armenia and Moldova under the EU4Green Recovery East initiative, and support for the Clean Energy Ministerial in strengthening engagement with Southeast Asia on gender equality and inclusion in clean energy transitions.

• 2025

  Monika Auer and Stephan Renner assume dual management of ÖGUT from 1 January 2025.

• 2021

  Andrea Reithmayer elected president at the general assembly on 22 June 2021, succeeding René Alfons Haiden.

• 2014

  Monika Auer becomes Secretary General of ÖGUT.

• 2010

  ÖGUT launches the future vision 'Das Blatt wenden' ('Turn the Page').

• 1997

  ÖGUT expands into sustainability expertise areas through member involvement and research projects.

• 1987

  René Alfons Haiden becomes president of ÖGUT.

• 1985

  ÖGUT founded after the Hainburg power station conflict as an independent, above-party platform for environment, economy and administration.

Independent, above-party, non-profit platform for sustainable development, bringing together business, administration and civil society.

• ÖGUT Environment Prize

  Annual award for exemplary sustainability projects by municipalities, companies, civil society and researchers.

• klimaaktiv buildings programme support

  Support and implementation of the klimaaktiv buildings programme, setting standards for energy-efficient, sustainable construction in Austria.

• Sustainable Finance qualification of financial advisors (EURENI)

  Increasing knowledge about regulatory changes and qualification on sustainability issues among financial advisors.

• Loop it!

  Develops a semester-long workshop concept that lets students experience the circular economy hands-on, using plastics as an example.

• Circular Economy Hubs in Armenia and Moldova

  Under EU4Green Recovery East, ÖGUT supports local stakeholders in developing and establishing national Circular Economy Hubs.

• Gender equality and inclusion in clean energy transitions in Southeast Asia

  ÖGUT supports the Clean Energy Ministerial in strengthening engagement with Southeast Asia by promoting gender equality and inclusion.

1. 1Home | ÖGUToegut.at
2. 2History of the OEGUT | ÖGUToegut.at
3. 3OEGUT’s Services | ÖGUToegut.at
4. 4Board | ÖGUToegut.at
5. 5Austrian Society for Environment and Technologywikidata.org
6. 6Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technikde.wikipedia.org