Vienna shines in greenery: Is our city really still worth living in?

Vienna shines in greenery: Is our city really still worth living in?

Vienna not only impresses as a cultural center, but also as one of the greenest cities in the world. According to a recent study published in the specialist magazineEnvironmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainabilitywas published, Vienna ranks in the top third of the “Green View Index” with a score of 22, which places the city behind Budapest and Pretoria. However, this research, led by Giacomo Falchetta from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Laxenburg, shows a worrying trend: the amount of green in streets is decreasing worldwide. This also applies to Vienna, where green spaces are crucial for urban life.

The importance of these green spaces cannot be overemphasized: they are not only important for sequestering CO2 and cooling the urban climate, but also promote the well-being of residents. “Green spaces are essential to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and maintain the quality of life in urban areas,” emphasizes the study.

Urban challenges in focus

Similar initiatives, such as the development program of the Latvian capital Riga for the period 2022-2027, show that other cities are also responding specifically to the challenges of the urbanization process and climate change. Riga relies on comprehensive citizen involvement and keeps an eye on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of the European Commission. Among the program's nine priorities, environmentally friendly mobility and healthy living conditions in the city are key points.

The Latvian planners have dealt intensively with the needs of the population in various workshops and surveys. The result: A holistic approach to improving the urban environment that prioritizes both quality of life and access to healthcare.

Resource use and climate adaptation

In Vienna, where climate adaptation is also very important, a new project team is showing ways to climate-resilient urban development. A newly created website provides helpful materials for urban planners and architects. These include checklists, guidelines and handouts for designing heat-resilient living spaces and open spaces, as well as for integrating climate adaptation into municipal planning instruments.

With a clear focus on activating urban society and raising awareness among decision-makers, the goal is to make cities not only beautiful, but also functional and future-proof.

In summary, the situation in Vienna and subsequently also in Riga shows that urban greenery and the integration of climate-friendly measures into urban planning should go hand in hand. A good hand in planning can be crucial in order to adequately meet the challenges of climate change and urbanization.

The developments in these cities are promising - and a rethink is apparently already underway that other metropolises could also use as a model.

For further information about the study in Vienna, see the The press. The sustainable approaches from Riga are described in detail in Eurohealthnet described, while the topic of climate-friendly urban development is discussed in the context of various projects on the website of Federal Environment Agency is treated.