It was presented today at a joint press conference attended by Mayor Thomas Steiner, Second Deputy Mayor Charlotte Toth-Kanyak (SPÖ), Group Chair Samara Sánchez Pöll (Greens) and Marcus Keding, Head of Forschung Burgenland.
“The path to climate neutrality is challenging, but achievable – and it began in Eisenstadt some time ago. With the Climate Roadmap, we are providing direction, commitment and planning certainty,” said Mayor Steiner. The Climate Roadmap covers a broad range of topics and addresses all key areas of urban life:
- Energy, for example through the further expansion of district heating, renewable energy and energy communities
- Buildings, with a focus on refurbishment, energy efficiency and phasing out fossil fuel heating systems
- Mobility, through the strengthening of public transport, cycling and walking, as well as low-emission propulsion systems
- Waste management, with measures for waste prevention, reuse and the circular economy
- Urban development, with land degassing, greening and climate-resilient spatial planning
The roadmap sets out not only objectives, but also priorities and a framework for implementation over the coming years. It deliberately focuses on a mix of major strategic measures and smaller, rapidly effective initiatives that can be implemented step by step. Among the most significant measures with a major impact are the continuation of solar panel installation on roofs owned by the city, the expansion of public transport, and the conversion of municipal buildings from fossil fuel-based to climate-friendly heating systems. Another key focus is on sustainable mobility. The Climate Roadmap builds on investments already made and provides for the further expansion of public transport, cycle paths and footpaths, enabling people to travel around the city centre in a climate-friendly and safe manner. The gradual conversion of the city’s vehicle fleets to low-emission powertrains is also part of this approach. In addition to these large-scale projects, the Roadmap also includes numerous smaller but effective measures that are immediately noticeable in everyday life. These include, for example, additional greening measures in public spaces, de-sealing projects to improve the urban climate, and initiatives to raise awareness in the areas of energy saving and waste prevention. Eisenstadt is also adopting low-threshold approaches in the field of the circular economy: the promotion of repair, reuse and recycling services is intended to help conserve resources and further reduce waste volumes.
These include, for example, additional greening measures in public spaces, projects to remove impervious surfaces to improve the urban climate, and initiatives to raise awareness of energy saving and waste prevention. Eisenstadt is also adopting low-threshold approaches in the area of the circular economy: promoting repair, reuse and recycling services is intended to help conserve resources and further reduce waste volumes.
Close cooperation between the city, the research sector and local stakeholders has played a key role in developing practical solutions that enjoy a high level of acceptance.
The vision behind the Climate Roadmap is clear: Eisenstadt is to become a climate-resilient, liveable and healthy city that approaches climate protection and climate change adaptation as a unified whole and actively shapes them. “If we tackle the challenges of our time together – with courage, creativity and a clear plan – Eisenstadt can not only become climate-neutral but also serve as a role model for many other cities,” says Mayor Steiner with conviction.
Eisenstadt is part of the nationwide ‘Climate-Neutral City’ initiative and is thus one of 47 pioneering Austrian cities blazing new trails towards climate neutrality.
Keding: “Not a rigid document, but a living tool”
The climate neutrality roadmap was developed over an 18-month interdisciplinary process jointly by the City of Eisenstadt, Forschung Burgenland and the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology. It was based primarily on a detailed analysis of the current situation and the active involvement of local stakeholders from the public sector, politics, business and civil society.
Marcus Keding, Managing Director of Forschung Burgenland, explains how the roadmap came about: “The climate neutrality roadmap is the result of an intensive, scientifically sound and, at the same time, highly participatory process. The aim was to highlight Eisenstadt’s existing strengths and use them to derive realistic, actionable measures. It was particularly important to us that the roadmap should not be seen as a rigid document, but as a living tool that can be continuously developed.”
A large majority: the ÖVP, SPÖ and the Greens voted in favour.
Second Deputy Mayor Charlotte Toth-Kanyak emphasises: “For us, the Eisenstadt 2024 Climate Roadmap is more than just a catalogue of measures – it is a clear commitment to responsibility, foresight and quality of life for future generations. With this Climate Roadmap, we are taking concrete steps: from the expansion of renewable energy and climate-resilient urban planning to sustainable mobility. In doing so, we are not only strengthening environmental and climate protection, but also regional value creation and Eisenstadt’s long-term security. Our goal is clear: Eisenstadt is to remain a pioneer in local climate protection – innovative, united and determined. The 2040 Climate Roadmap is an important milestone in this regard, which we will implement together with the public, the business community and our partner organisations.
For Samara Sánchez Pöll, chair of the Greens’ parliamentary group, the action plan sends an important message: “The climate crisis is not something abstract, nor is it something happening somewhere else – it is here, right here in Eisenstadt.” At the same time, the roadmap is deliberately designed as a project for the people of Eisenstadt: “I am particularly pleased that it includes so many concrete and tangible measures for the people in our city – from the item-sharing scheme and the new citizens’ climate budget to the expansion of public transport, bus stops and a seamless cycle path network.” The roadmap thus combines strategic climate targets with improvements suitable for everyday life, such as more green spaces, land de-sealing, funding schemes and a sustainable mobility infrastructure.
The AIT also played a key role in the project’s development. Dr Friederich Kupzog, Head of the Energy Research Division at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, emphasises: “We are delighted to have been able to contribute our knowledge and experience from developing climate neutrality roadmaps for local authorities of various sizes to this joint project with Eisenstadt. The city is strongly committed to innovation in the energy sector and is also a key partner in the joint real-world laboratory cells4.energy. The results demonstrate how important close cooperation between research, the city administration and politicians is in developing concrete and implementable solutions for a climate-resilient city – with lasting benefits for the city and its residents.”
The city council’s resolution at the beginning of February marked the start of implementation. With immediate effect, this catalogue of measures forms the basis for specific projects, investments and decisions in the coming years. “I invite all citizens to join us on this journey,” the mayor concluded. “Because only together can we create the climate-resilient city of tomorrow.”
About the Climate Roadmap 2040
