Vienna’s inspiring path towards climate neutrality
Learn from the Austrian capital, discover more examples and gain the knowledge and the tools you need by enrolling in "Integrated Energy and Climate Transition Planning"
Local governance
Fossil-free cities
Community energy
Food systems
Fair economiesAbout
Why reinvent the wheel? Get inspired by the examples of other municipalities to learn how to overcome challenges and implement effective climate-neutral measures in your city!
Among others, Vienna stands out as a leading example of how spatial planning and heating and cooling strategies can be combined to support climate goals.
The city has set a clear path to climate neutrality by 2040 through an integrated framework that connects the Smart Climate City Strategy, the Vienna Climate Guide and the Heating and Cooling Plan 2040. This approach looks not only at technology but also at affordability, funding, legal structures, workforce skills and citizen engagement.
A key part of this strategy is the Energy Zoning Plan, which ensures that new buildings can only use efficient, fossil-free systems, showing how planning rules can guide sustainable urban growth.
The Vienna Heating and Cooling Plan then adds a detailed spatial analysis, mapping energy demand and renewable potential across the city. This enables the city to decide where district heating should expand and where local solutions are more suitable.
Together, these elements show how a city can steer its energy transition in a targeted and fair way. If you want to learn how to apply similar methods in your own city or region, the free SPARKLE course Integrated Energy and Climate Transition Planning will give you the tools and guidance to do so.
A capacity-building training for future-proof cities
Integrated Energy and Climate Transition Planning is part of Planning the Energy and Climate Transition for Cities, a training designed to upskill local and regional authorities (LRAs) as well as professionals involved in urban, spatial, and environmental planning.
Successful completion of this course will grant you a certificate. Moreover, by completing one of the two other free courses in the training- Data for a clean energy transition or Transition Management: a process for co-creating transformative change – you will be eligible to apply for the scholarship programme covering participation costs in one of the five SPARKLE Schools happening between March and June 2026.
Interested in learning more about the SPARKLE learning programme? Contact us at at sparkle@energy-cities.eu.
