Climate protection in Vienna: Citizens want more participation and real action!

Climate protection in Vienna: Citizens want more participation and real action!

On June 24, 2025, local councilor Elisabeth Olischar commented on the debate about the 2024 financial statements of the “Climate, Environment, Democracy and Human Resources” business group. Loud OTS There is agreement on a meta-level in the area of ​​climate and environmental protection, but opinions on practical implementation and details are controversial. While the need for more greenery in the city is widely supported, the complex implementation remains a challenge. One suggestion was to create green spaces in places where there are currently barriers or bollards.

Olishar's criticism was also directed at the new government programs, which, in her opinion, often only present pleasant-sounding headlines without taking concrete measures. The demand for a clear energy transition and greater involvement of private individuals is also a central point. Urban agriculture suffers from various conditions, which negatively affects both the quality of life and local supplies in Vienna.

Citizen participation and democracy

Local councilor Sabine Keri was critical of citizen participation in the latest government program. Many citizens are dissatisfied with the existing formats for urban development, which suggests an evaluation and possible adjustments to the formats to enable real participation. Keri pointed to examples such as the redesign of Praterstrasse and planning errors for bus route 77A, which document deficiencies in citizen participation.

The demand for strengthening direct democracy in Vienna is becoming louder OTS loudly supported to give citizens a serious voice in the development of their city. These voices call for a serious discussion of citizens' concerns on an equal footing.

Role of municipalities in climate protection

In addition, the role of municipalities plays a crucial role in achieving national climate protection goals. The Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics explains that municipalities and districts should act as role models for citizens and local companies. In order to meet these challenges, the institute offers support in various areas, including the creation of municipal energy and climate protection concepts and the assessment of local climate protection activities. This is particularly important in order to avoid rebound or one-off effects and to establish sustainable measures.

The support is comprehensive and includes, among other things, feasibility studies on the CO2 reduction potential in buildings, the development of strategies and concrete measures as well as the preparation of energy balances. This ensures that the various aspects of climate protection policy work together effectively and aim for concrete changes. Fraunhofer also actively analyzes potential savings and efficiency improvements.

Guides and support for municipalities

Another important contribution comes from the German Institute for Urban Studies, which offers cities and municipalities valuable assistance with its updated edition of the practical guide “Climate Protection in Municipalities”. Around 11,000 German cities have already developed different approaches to climate protection and this platform aims to efficiently implement municipal climate protection measures.

The guide is based on extensive data and practical recommendations designed to inspire communities and climate protection workers. In addition, the initiative is mobile optimized and offers access via a user-friendly website. These digital resources are designed to provide both beginners and advanced users with valuable information to effectively implement climate action on site. A broad knowledge of common instruments is imparted.

Overall, the focus on sustainability and citizen participation are central topics that are playing an increasingly important role in the debate about climate and environmental protection in Vienna and in German municipalities. The critical voices of the local councils and the supportive structures of the institutes show that cooperation is necessary to achieve the climate goals set.

For further information and resources, the comprehensive materials are available on the Homepage of the German Institute for Urban Studies.