Vienna concrete treasure: Greenpeace denounces the grayest areas!

Vienna concrete treasure: Greenpeace denounces the grayest areas!

This year's Greenpeace Negative Awards ceremony was held on September 9, 2025 at the Kunsthalle Exnergasse. The prize, known as “Concrete Treasures of Austria”, is awarded to the least desirable concrete areas in the federal states. In Vienna, the entire Neu Marx area received the inglorious distinction of being the grayest concrete treasure. Over 22,000 participants took part in the vote, which underlines the high level of public attention on the topic of soil sealing. The prize winner in Bregenz, the Symphonikerplatz, was also crowned as an unwanted concrete treasure. As vienna.at reports, the winners of the negative prize in each federal state received a golden jackhammer.

The prize also has a serious background: it is intended to draw attention to the need to unseal areas and regreen them. Greenpeace soil protection expert Melanie Ebner emphasizes that more trees and bushes are urgently needed. This is necessary to improve the ecological situation, as impervious soils cause the following: Rainwater has a harder time seeping away, which not only lowers the groundwater level but also increases the risk of flooding. Sealing also leads to a loss of soil fertility and damages gas exchange with the atmosphere. All of this not only has an impact on the microclimate, but also on the health of nature and people.

Soil sealing as an urgent problem

The discussion about soil sealing is increasing because the ecological consequences are significant. According to that Federal Environment Agency Soil sealing means that the soil is covered in an airtight and watertight manner, which disrupts the natural water cycle. When soil is damaged, not only does the flora suffer, the microorganisms that are responsible for fertility are also lost. More and more areas, be it for settlements, transport routes or leisure activities, are being concreted. In Germany, 14.6% of the total area is now occupied by settlement and traffic areas, and the trend continues to rise.

As a recent study shows, up to eight square meters of ground is currently used every second. The need to seal surfaces in new construction may seem compelling in the short term, but the long-term consequences are difficult to resolve. Daniel Fügenschuh, President of the Federal Chamber of Civil Engineers, also addresses this issue. He calls for a rethinking of land use. The danger of limited food supplies and increased flood risks due to excessive land consumption should not be underestimated.

Setting the course for the future

Greenpeace's appeal goes in a clear direction: binding target paths are needed to reduce land consumption. “We need a nationwide unsealing and greening offensive,” demands the initiative. It is not only important to protect new areas, but also to use existing areas sustainably. Maintaining the quality of the soil plays a central role, as unsealing is complex and often associated with high costs.

In the next few days, the Kunsthalle Exnergasse will show an exhibition on the subject of soil sealing and soil protection. This is planned for September 9th and 10th, 2025 and will provide a lot of information about previous developments and solutions as well as raise awareness about protecting this valuable resource. Ultimately, it is crucial that we not only include nature in our planning, but also actively give it back.