“We want to consciously create a livable community together and for each other and secure the future of our descendants. We bear responsibility for the present and the future and will therefore take the measures we can to protect the climate,” says the climate protection strategy of a small Styrian municipality.
To this end, they want to use more renewable energies, support climate-friendly mobility and sustainable management of commercial and recreational areas, influence the consumer behavior of the population and strengthen regionality.
And indeed: On the village square, right next to the municipal office, there has recently been an e-car sharing car and a cargo bike, in front of the grocer there is now a “fair divider” and on the roof of the local biomass supplier, solar modules are already being denounced.
Municipalities as “role models and multipliers”
The association of municipalities points out to ORF.at that there have been sustainable showcase projects in various areas in Austrian municipalities “for decades” – be it photovoltaic systems (PV systems) on municipal buildings, the redesign of heat islands in town centers or thermal renovations. All of this shows that municipalities act as “role models, trendsetters and multipliers” when it comes to environmental and climate protection.
Municipalities would often take on a kind of “laboratory function”, after all, many measures that are now widespread have their origin in a small town “that has decided to push ahead courageously”. The Lower Austrian market town of Grafenwörth, for example, serves as a model, where the “largest floating PV system in Central Europe” will soon go into operation.
The government program also reads: “The federal government, the federal states and the municipalities are working together and in a coordinated manner to achieve the climate goals.” Be it to achieve climate neutrality in Austria by 2040 or to increase the proportion of renewables to 100 percent by 2030. For the next two years, around 500 million euros will be made available for investments in climate protection and the energy transition as part of the “Municipal Investment Program” (KIG 2023).
Countless programs and grants
There is no shortage of subsidies, offers, initiatives and programs for local climate policy – and the figures show that these are well received. According to the Association of Municipalities, there are already over 1,000 climate alliance municipalities, 250 energy community municipalities (e5), 120 climate and energy model regions (KEM) with more than 6,300 implemented projects and 651 municipalities that are pioneers in climate change adaptation measures (KLAR).
In addition, the “Community Offensive” initiative of the Association of Municipalities and the Ministry of Climate supports municipal council decisions in the area of climate protection. According to the ministry, the climate alliance is closely entrusted with the support of communities on the part of the NGOs. And with klimaaktiv there is also an Austria-wide network “that offers a variety of practical, tried-and-tested support and advice offers for building and renovation, saving energy, using renewable energy and mobility”.
From community policy circles it is said behind closed doors that due to the large offer it is sometimes not so easy to keep track of things. Therefore, it makes sense that in a community not only the mayor takes care of it, but a whole team. In communities, however, this still often means: volunteers.
resistance from the population
But while some citizens are actively committed to climate protection, others are clearly opposed. The association of municipalities also admits that there is often resistance at the local level in particular. With all measures, it must be ensured that these are always carried out with the involvement of the citizens, since these of course affect their “direct living environment”.
“This balance is not always easy or conflict-free,” says the Association of Municipalities, whose spokeswoman cites the citizens’ initiative against a wind farm in the Waldviertel as an example of protests from the population.
“Know very little what countries and communities are doing”
Another point: the money. The Association of Municipalities states: “Investments in climate protection cost money, most of which is needed to maintain the infrastructure and the basic needs of citizens – waste, sewer, childcare, etc..” According to experts, however It is also clear that a lack of climate protection is far more expensive in the long term.
In addition, the economist at the Economic Research Institute (WIFO), Margit Schratzenstaller, criticized the Ö1 morning journal for a precise overview of climate spending and costs in the federal states and municipalities. “We actually know very little about what the states and municipalities are doing” – even though they have a number of tasks and areas of expenditure that are relevant to the climate.
Gaps between state and federal targets
In the analysis of the climate and energy strategies of the federal states, it can also be read that essential adjustment screws for the energy transition and climate protection fall within the competence of the federal states. “Ideally, the sum of the state targets for a target value (e.g. for the renewable share of electricity consumption) corresponds to the federal target.” State and federal goals.
Expert: Legal structures not climate-friendly
From the Ministry of Climate it is said that climate protection in Austria is a “cross-sectional matter” in terms of competence. In principle, everyone – federal, state and local – can enact measures that serve climate protection within the scope of their responsibilities.
However, climate protection law expert Birgit Hollaus from the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) identifies a problem with legal structures. These are often not designed to be climate-friendly or would even prevent climate protection. In addition, there are numerous challenges in the coordination between the regional authorities, according to Hollaus in an online press conference by “Scientists for Future” and “Diskurs. The Science Network” on Wednesday.
According to Hollaus, the federal states are in a stronger position to take measures here than the municipalities – but without a climate protection law, there would be no quantifiable targets at state level.
Land use “strong lever” for climate protection
When it comes to climate protection in the communities, the Ministry of Climate emphasizes the areas of construction, housing, transport infrastructure, energy and zoning. For Hollaus, municipalities have “basically” a strong lever, especially with local zoning, to take action here and create “climate- and energy-efficient spatial structures”.
However, the ÖVP municipal councilor and council chairman of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Franz Fehr refers to tensions and conflicts of responsibility that mayors are exposed to when designating building land: “You can’t just think supra-regionally, you also have pressure from the citizens .” According to Fehr, they are often overwhelmed when it comes to the zoning and traffic strategy of their community.
However, traffic in particular still offers a lot of potential: Ilse Bartosch (Vienna University and SPÖ) refers to Lower Austria, for example, where 43 percent of emissions come from traffic. Regional mobility concepts could therefore play a “central role” in the rapid reduction of CO2 emissions.
“Federalism inappropriate to solve global problem”
Reinhard Steurer (BOKU) is far more critical. According to him, federalism in general is not suitable for solving a global or national problem. This is particularly evident in the energy transition. Numerous state regulations would currently slow down or even completely prevent the expansion of wind power and PV systems. This affects, for example, long approval procedures and a lack of zoning.
Local climate policy shows that where there is light, there is also shadow. Here it is probably up to the communities to use the light and convert it into energy. Because regardless of whether they are people from science or politics, they all agree on one thing: In view of the extent of the climate crisis, decisive action is required – at all levels.
