Redefining green: Vienna's trailblazing achievements in climate responsibility
How the Austrian capital built a future-proof sustainability strategy
A pioneering city in every sense of the word, Vienna began tackling environmental protection before it was cool. In 1999, the city had already adopted its Climate Protection Programme, which yielded considerable results in the 25 years since, and contributed to Austria consistently ranking as one of the most climate-conscious countries in the world. Most noteworthy, the strategy succeeded in reducing per-capita CO2 emissions by almost 40%, paving the way for what is now the city’s main goal for the future: to become climate-neutral by 2040
Creative solutions for a man-made problem
For the Viennese, sustainability is no mere buzzword. From city management to students to entrepreneurs, the people of Vienna know that building an environmentally conscious future isn’t a trend—it’s a must. With the climate crisis commonly accepted as one of the biggest challenges of our time, the city aims to focus on measures that are not only good for the environment and climate but also good for the people, as pointed out by Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel, in the Vienna Climate Guide.
Drawing up a separate climate budget, with clearly defined targets, was only the first step in doing so. Vienna’s Smart City Wien Strategy, which guides and concentrates the city’ efforts for the upcoming years, employs various data-backed measures that are meant to not only decrease dependency on finite resources and improve liveability, but also give citizens the tools needed to integrate sustainability into their every day.
It is exactly this human-centric approach that sets Vienna apart. Fully aware that well-designed climate policies need to go hand in hand with social equity, the city focuses on creating opportunities for active participation, ensuring that all groups are taken into consideration, and that all contribute to shaping their community. By making climate justice a core part of its green strategy, as well as applying circular economy principles at every level, the city aims to ensure fairness not only between social groups, but also between generations.
What’s more, in doing so, Vienna makes use of its long-standing artistic and cultural tradition in order to raise awareness and develop new solutions. With more and more creative and tech businesses alike placing a focus on environmental protection, the city is well on its way to becoming the centre of the creative climate movement.
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A city of many success stories
There is no better proof that Vienna is on the right path than the many pioneering achievements the city can already look back on. By maintaining an eco-social perspective in both planning and development, Vienna built a solid foundation upon which to grow.
Social housing
So far ahead of its time that it’s still considered an example of intelligent urban planning, Vienna’s social housing construction programme brought high-quality, affordable accommodation to the masses. By offering good conditions at a fair price, the city could prevent a rise in poor-quality, privately owned buildings—the likes of which are currently prevalent across Europe—thus protecting both the people and the city infrastructure.
High share of green space
Vienna maintains a share of more than 50% of green space and 63 kilometres of free access to natural bodies of water, consistently ranking amongst the greenest cities in the world. Regardless of where one resides in the city, you’re never too far from a park or riverside.
Outstanding public transport network
With almost nine out of ten citizens agreeing that one does not need a car to get on well in the city, Vienna stands as proof of the tremendous impact of investing in smart mobility. Beyond offering access to one of the densest transport networks in Europe for as low as 1 euro per day, the city also maintains wide, safe sidewalks and cycleways.
High quality water supply
Flowing straight from the Alps, the tap water in Vienna is always fresh and safe to drink. The first place in the world to place drinking water under constitutional protection, Vienna boasts 1,300 drinking fountains and 175 mist showers, lowering the need for bottled water and helping to drive down the heat on the streets during the warm season.
Effective flood protection
Built in the 1980s, Vienna’s flood defence system is so advanced it could protect the city from “a 10,000-year flood,” according to lead engineer Wilfried Fellinger. Constructed with soil excavated from the river channel, the Danube Island is a vital part of the system, and also serves as a leisure and recreational area.
High share of district heating
Already placing among the top regions for district heating in Europe and boasting the lowest energy consumption per capita for space and water heating—compared to Austria’s other federal provinces—Vienna has clear plans to phase out gas and supply all buildings in Vienna with renewable energy by 2040.
Sustainable forestry
Stipulated by the Forestry Act and safeguarded by various governance instruments, sustainable forest management has a long-standing tradition in Austria. In and around the capital, the Vienna Woods, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve, provides a habitat for 2,000 plant species, 150 bird species and many other endangered animals.
Commitment to research and development
More than 50,000 people work in R&D in Vienna, and the city’s research quota stands at over 3.6%, with the private and educational sector alike placing emphasis on sustainable solutions. Europe's largest energy research project, Aspern Smart City Research (ASCR), is located in Vienna's Seestadt Aspern, and using real data from Seestadt to research solutions for the urban energy future.
Vienna’s future is green
By continuing to design urban space in a liveable way, Vienna is not only well on its way to achieving climate neutrality by 2040, but also equipped to become increasingly climate-resilient. Future foci include expansion of renewable energies, green jobs, the 15-minute city, waste management and many more, all meant to ensure Vienna’s future is greener and brighter than ever.
“Through forward-looking and responsible policies, we have already demonstrated in the past that Vienna is able to address major challenges optimally. We will remain true to this principle also in the field of climate protection, so that Vienna will still be the most liveable city worldwide in 20 years from now.”
Michael Ludwig, Mayor of the City of Vienna | Vienna Climate Roadmap
More resources about Vienna’s climate strategy
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