City portraits: Pioneering cities

10 pioneer cities are leading the way as committed innovators and role models in the transformation to climate-neutral cities. In the city portraits, they show what their focus will be in the coming years and what challenges they will have to overcome.

Climate pioneer city: Graz : The project is an integral part of the ongoing process for a climate protection plan in Graz. It will support the implementation of the planned local processes and actions to achieve climate neutrality.
Climate pioneer city: Vienna : The objective is to align the processes of the City of Vienna in such a way that they best accelerate the achievement of climate neutrality and resilience by 2040. This aim is planned to be achieved through systemic learning, knowledge transfer, new capacities, innovative impetus and pilot districts.
Climate pioneer city: Linz : The City of Linz aims to achieve its climate neutrality targets through urban planning instruments and the decarbonization of the Franckviertel district. Climate-neutral Stadards for non-profit housing are being practically tested and shared learning practices are being promoted.
Climate pioneer city: Salzburg : The aim is to draw up a master plan to achieve climate neutrality for the city of Salzburg by 2040. Together with stakeholders, development and urban planning processes can be analyzed, targets set and the necessary resolutions obtained.
Climate pioneer city: Innsbruck : In addition to the creation of internal municipal structures, climate-effective actions are being tested in the “Eichhof” district together with local stakeholders and then implemented throughout the city.
Climate pioneer city: Dornbirn : In the “Pioneer City Dornbirn” project, internal expertise is being built up, processes improved, and initial implementations driven forward in order to support the decarbonization of the city by 2040.
Climate pioneer city: St. Pölten : From industrial city to climate pioneer city: a new staff unit has been set up in St. Polten to address climate agendas and integrate them into urban processes and projects.
Climate pioneer city: Villach : The city of Villach is working on adapting municipal instruments in order to achieve more room for maneuver in strategic development issues and to implement climate neutrality across the board.
Climate pioneer city: Wiener Neustadt : Wiener Neustadt is transitioning towards climate neutrality. The impact of the bundle of actions from the various areas (e.g. governance, implementation districts, learning environment, energy, mobility, buildings) is subject to climate monitoring.
Climate pioneer city: Klagenfurt : As Austria's only city, Klagenfurt is part of the EU Cities Mission 2030. Along with Rome, Barcelona, Laibach and other European cities, the Carinthian state capital has set itself the goal of being climate neutral by 2030. A project that is not utopia, but quite realistic! An essential component and backbone of this mission is the Austrian Pioneer Cities Program.
Carbon Accounting pioneer cities: GHG accounting and monitoring of climate-neutral cities : The Umweltbundesamt GmbH accompanies and supports pioneer cities in the preparation of harmonized GHG accounting. This forms the basis for the targeted alignment of strategies and measures to achieve climate neutrality in cities and municipalities.