City portraits: Pioneer towns

The pioneer small and medium-sized towns (between 10,000 and 50,000 inhabitants) aim to achieve climate neutrality as quickly as possible with specific strategies and actions. These towns are supported by the Climate and Energy Fund in developing climate neutrality roadmaps with target group-specific solutions. Pioneering small and medium-sized towns can take up the results from research and demonstration projects of the larger pioneer cities and have the opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge with other towns in the network and make use of synergies.

Climate pioneer town: Altmünster : The municipality of Altmuenster, one of the first Climate Alliance municipalities in Upper Austria and a long-standing member of the Climate and Energy Model Region Traunsteinregion (KEM), wants to develop a municipal climate strategy with clear options for action.
Climate pioneer town: Amstetten : For the first time, goals for a climate-neutral Amstetten are defined and the necessary climate protection and climate change adaptation measures are developed and fields of action are prioritised.
Climate pioneer town: Baden : The city aims to become carbon neutral by 2040. To achieve this goal, politicians, administrators, citizens and entrepreneurs must work together to take action.
Climate pioneer town: Bregenz : The aim is to create a consistent, comprehensive, and feasible roadmap for achieving climate neutrality in Bregenz by 2040, which is supported by key stakeholders in society.
Climate pioneer town: Bruck an der Mur : The city sees the creation of a climate neutrality roadmap by 2040 as an opportunity to resolve existing conflicts of use. The implementation plan is to be developed in a participatory manner.
Climate pioneer town: Eisenstadt : The project "Climate Neutrality Roadmap Eisenstadt 2040" represents a pioneering initiative to guide the capital city of Eisenstadt towards climate neutrality by 2040.
Climate pioneer town: Feldbach : In Austria, Feldbach counts to the active players in the field of climate policy. It has already implemented numerous projects in the areas of climate protection and energy.
Climate pioneer town: Feldkirch : Feldkirch has already implemented important measures in the field of climate and energy policy. The city is a member of a KEM and KLAR region and has been a very active e5-municipality since 2005.
Climate pioneer town: Gleisdorf : The solar city of Gleisdorf has a long tradition of using and promoting renewable energy for over 30 years.
Climate pioneer town: Gratwein-Straßengel : The aim is to initiate a structured and effective path towards climate neutrality 2035+ in the market town. This includes neighborhoods and buildings, mobility, and energy.
Climate pioneer town: Judenburg : The Municipality of Judenburg is one of Austria's sustainability pioneers and has been continuously implementing climate protection measures for more than 30 years.
Climate pioneer town: Kapfenberg : The companies of Kapfenberg have been heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Implementation of climate protection measures is essential for their future viability and for maintaining a high quality of life for the population of Kapfenberg.
Climate pioneer town: Krems : The city of Krems has been motivated in climate protection for several years. Krems has been a „Climate and Energy Model Region" (KEM) since 2011 and is aiming for energy self-sufficiency in its municipal facilities and infrastructure by 2030.
Climate pioneer town: Leibnitz : Leibnitz has defined and adopted clear climate policy targets up to 2040 in its energy strategy. A further decisive step towards these goals was taken on 6 February 2024, when the municipal council unanimously approved the work on the "Climate Strategy City Region Leibnitz 2040" and participation in the "Mission Climate Neutral City".
Climate pioneer town: Leonding : Building on existing concepts and strategies such as the Leonding Climate Strategy, the Climate Balance, the Mobility Concept, and the KEM Implementation Strategy, a comprehensive climate neutrality roadmap or vision for a climate-neutral Leonding by 2040 will be developed with the involvement of various stakeholders from politics, administration, business, and civil society.
Climate pioneer town: Mistelbach : In January 2024, the municipality of Mistelbach in Lower Austria unanimously decided to draw up a climate neutrality roadmap for 2040. The municipality is thus continuing on its path towards climate neutrality and can build on numerous completed activities.
Climate pioneer town: Mödling : As an e5 municipality, the municipality of Mödling has been dealing with topics such as energy efficiency and renewable energies for years and has already implemented many projects on these topics. However, climate neutrality has so far only been addressed marginally and there is a lack of strategic orientation in climate policy.
Climate pioneer town: Rankweil : The town of Rankweil is already very active in environmental and climate protection. The development of the Climate Neutrality Plan aims to further strengthen this commitment and develop concrete measures to achieve climate neutrality in Rankweil.
Climate pioneer town: Steyr : The project will develop a climate neutrality roadmap for the town of Steyr on the basis of an energy and climate balance sheet to be drawn up.
Climate pioneer town: St. Johann : St. Johann wants to set an example for other municipalities by developing a climate roadmap with feasible and financially viable measures.
Climate pioneer town: St. Veit/Glan : St. Veit/Glan aims at advancing to a beacon for other small Austrian towns by developing strategies, measures and for building the capacity, necessary for achieving climate neutrality by 2040.
Climate pioneer town: Tulln : The core of the project is the development of a systemic strategy at a city-wide level that shows how the city of Tulln will achieve climate neutrality by 2040.
Climate pioneer town: Vöcklabruck : The municipality of Vöcklabruck is one of the first Climate Alliance municipalities in Upper Austria, a long-standing member of the Vöckla-Ager Climate and Energy Model Region (KEM) and regularly implements measures and projects in the area of climate protection.
Climate pioneer town: Weiz : Due to the increasing threat posed by climate change and the responsibility for sustainable development, the municipality of Weiz has been working for years to implement measures to reduce these threats.
Climate pioneer town: Wiener Neustadt : Wiener Neustadt wants to develop its own vision and implementation strategy for climate neutrality by 2040 and develop it in four steps.
Climate pioneer town: Zwettl : In view of current developments, the municipality of Zwettl has decided to take action with the ambitious goal of being climate-neutral by 2035.

City portraits: Pioneer towns

Climate pioneer town: Amstetten : For the first time, goals for a climate-neutral Amstetten are defined and the necessary climate protection and climate change adaptation measures are developed and fields of action are prioritised.

Climate pioneer town: Baden : The city aims to become carbon neutral by 2040. To achieve this goal, politicians, administrators, citizens and entrepreneurs must work together to take action.

Climate pioneer town: Bregenz : The aim is to create a consistent, comprehensive, and feasible roadmap for achieving climate neutrality in Bregenz by 2040, which is supported by key stakeholders in society.

Climate pioneer town: Bruck an der Mur : The city sees the creation of a climate neutrality roadmap by 2040 as an opportunity to resolve existing conflicts of use. The implementation plan is to be developed in a participatory manner.

Climate pioneer town: Eisenstadt : The project "Climate Neutrality Roadmap Eisenstadt 2040" represents a pioneering initiative to guide the capital city of Eisenstadt towards climate neutrality by 2040.

Climate pioneer town: Feldbach : In Austria, Feldbach counts to the active players in the field of climate policy. It has already implemented numerous projects in the areas of climate protection and energy.

Climate pioneer town: Feldkirch : Feldkirch has already implemented important measures in the field of climate and energy policy. The city is a member of a KEM and KLAR region and has been a very active e5-municipality since 2005.

Climate pioneer town: Gleisdorf : The solar city of Gleisdorf has a long tradition of using and promoting renewable energy for over 30 years.

Climate pioneer town: Gratwein-Straßengel : The aim is to initiate a structured and effective path towards climate neutrality 2035+ in the market town. This includes neighborhoods and buildings, mobility, and energy.

Climate pioneer town: Judenburg : The Municipality of Judenburg is one of Austria's sustainability pioneers and has been continuously implementing climate protection measures for more than 30 years.

Climate pioneer town: Kapfenberg : The companies of Kapfenberg have been heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Implementation of climate protection measures is essential for their future viability and for maintaining a high quality of life for the population of Kapfenberg.

Climate pioneer town: Krems : The city of Krems has been motivated in climate protection for several years. Krems has been a „Climate and Energy Model Region" (KEM) since 2011 and is aiming for energy self-sufficiency in its municipal facilities and infrastructure by 2030.

Climate pioneer town: Mistelbach : In January 2024, the municipality of Mistelbach in Lower Austria unanimously decided to draw up a climate neutrality roadmap for 2040. The municipality is thus continuing on its path towards climate neutrality and can build on numerous completed activities.

Climate pioneer town: Rankweil : The town of Rankweil is already very active in environmental and climate protection. The development of the Climate Neutrality Plan aims to further strengthen this commitment and develop concrete measures to achieve climate neutrality in Rankweil.

Climate pioneer town: Steyr : The project will develop a climate neutrality roadmap for the town of Steyr on the basis of an energy and climate balance sheet to be drawn up.

Climate pioneer town: St. Johann : St. Johann wants to set an example for other municipalities by developing a climate roadmap with feasible and financially viable measures.

Climate pioneer town: St. Veit/Glan : St. Veit/Glan aims at advancing to a beacon for other small Austrian towns by developing strategies, measures and for building the capacity, necessary for achieving climate neutrality by 2040.

Climate pioneer town: Tulln : The core of the project is the development of a systemic strategy at a city-wide level that shows how the city of Tulln will achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

Climate pioneer town: Weiz : Due to the increasing threat posed by climate change and the responsibility for sustainable development, the municipality of Weiz has been working for years to implement measures to reduce these threats.

Climate pioneer town: Wiener Neustadt : Wiener Neustadt wants to develop its own vision and implementation strategy for climate neutrality by 2040 and develop it in four steps.

Climate pioneer town: Zwettl : In view of current developments, the municipality of Zwettl has decided to take action with the ambitious goal of being climate-neutral by 2035.