Vienna's scorching afternoons: 'We've got limited time'
In the heart of Europe, Vienna, the Austrian capital, is setting an example for cities worldwide in tackling the climate crisis. With a focus on participatory governance, the city is involving its residents in shaping its climate strategy, a move that reflects its commitment to democracy and sustainability.
Jürgen Czernohorszky, a city councilor for climate protection, environment, democracy, and personnel, has been at the forefront of this initiative since 2020. He emphasises the importance of good governance, transparency, and grassroots involvement in climate policy.
Vienna's approach to climate policy is rooted in its long-standing tradition of social housing and democratic development. For over a century, the city has been a place where people can afford to live, thanks to its extensive social housing programme. This commitment to creating a city for everyone, a trait that can be traced back to "Red Vienna" in the 1920s, forms the backbone of its climate strategy.
The city is organising the necessary transformation with the help of citizens. One of the key structures used in Vienna to involve citizens in climate protection, climate adaptation, and circular economy projects is the Climate Teams. These teams take place annually in three Vienna districts, involving various community groups and offering a budget for project implementation.
The connection between a traceable strategy and people's participation is a key principle in Vienna's climate roadmap. The Climate Teams process removes political decision-making once it begins, allowing for concrete implementation within two years. A representative citizens' jury decides which projects will be implemented with the budget, based on sociodemographic criteria.
Vienna believes that cities are ideal places to kickstart a new, positive, and hopeful democratic development due to the diversity of people and the opportunity for exchange. The city is striving to become a democracy capital of Europe and is working towards changing the citizenship law in Austria to make access easier.
However, Vienna is self-critical about its participation offers, fearing they may contribute to a two-thirds democracy where some participate and others do not. The city is continually refining its approach to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to engage and shape the city's future.
Similar initiatives in Vienna, such as the Participatory Youth Strategy, demonstrate an inclusive and collaborative approach to policy-making, involving young people in shaping policies and programs. These initiatives showcase Vienna's city-wide commitment to participatory governance.
In the face of the climate crisis, which requires a transformation in many aspects to secure the quality of life for future generations, Vienna is leading the way in promoting participation projects in various policy fields, not just climate and environment. The city's approach is a testament to the power of participatory democracy in driving sustainable change.
References:
- Vienna's Climate Teams
- Key Principles for Effective Climate Participation
- Vienna's Participatory Youth Strategy
- In Vienna, the focus on participatory governance extends beyond climate policy, with initiatives like the Participatory Youth Strategy demonstrating an inclusive approach to policy-making.
- The city's climate strategy, rooted in its democratic development, prioritizes good governance, transparency, and citizen involvement, as espoused by city councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky.
- Vienna's Climate Teams, a structure used to involve citizens in climate protection, climate adaptation, and circular economy projects, is a key component of the city's participatory governance model.
- Recognizing the necessity of public participation for sustainable change, Vienna is championing a new democratic development, aiming to become a democracy capital of Europe and streamline citizenship access.
