Vienna is becoming a health and climate city: three major projects unveiled!

Vienna is becoming a health and climate city: three major projects unveiled!

In the last few days, Vienna shone at the city trilogue, which took place on June 11th and 12th and attracted top-class guests from Hamburg and Zurich. Mayor Michael Ludwig presented innovative projects that position Vienna not only as a health location, but also as a pioneer in climate protection. Dunav reports that the city is taking an important step into the future with numerous approaches.

A particular focus is on theFloridsdorf Clinic, which is one of the most modern of its kind in Europe. Here, cutting-edge medicine is combined with ecological thinking. Das Herz- und Gefäßzentrum sowie die innovative Thoraxchirurgie bieten nicht nur erstklassige medizinische Leistungen, sondern auch ein großes Simulationszentrum für die Ausbildung von Mediziner:innen. The Grätzel heating system, which covers up to 70% of the heat requirement in a climate-neutral manner, is also impressive.

Sustainable energy for the city

Another future-oriented project is theWaste2Value plant in Simmering. This pilot plant produces CO₂-neutral diesel and kerosene from biogenic waste. The goal: 10 million liters of green fuel per year should be provided for Vienna's bus fleet. This initiative not only supports climate protection, but also innovative use of resources, which is essential in today's world.

But that's not all: TheLarge heat pump at ebswienSince the end of 2023, we have been ensuring that climate-neutral district heating is generated from treated wastewater. This technology is currently being used by 56,000 households and is expected to reach 112,000 households soon. What's special: the electricity required for this comes from 100% renewable sources. This shows that climate protection, technology and quality of life can go hand in hand.

But what does it actually look like in other European cities? The transport sector represents a central problem for climate protection in Germany and many other countries. Difu highlights that it is important to reduce motorized individual transport in cities by offering a wide range of mobility options. Implementing a transport transition in urban areas is not only a challenge, but also offers opportunities to reduce noise emissions and improve air quality.

Shaping the future

Integrated approaches are needed at the local level to strengthen environmental connectivity. Walking and cycling must be specifically promoted. Solutions for transforming the fossil fuel transport sector into a decarbonized mobility system are available, but must be concretely implemented. Best practice examples from other cities could provide valuable inspiration.

The initiative Future city brings together research projects that aim, among other things, to reduce climate-damaging emissions and improve living and quality of life. Citizen participation in projects also promotes the co-design of urban spaces, which is very important today.

The connection between climate protection, economic innovation and the basic needs of citizens shows that a vibrant city must not only be a place to live, but also a space for sustainable development. Vienna shows how it has a good knack for climate-friendly projects that focus on both health and the environment.