Vienna ranks third in the current Greenpeace ranking for the phase-out of fossil gas in European capitals. Fifteen European cities were examined. Greenpeace considers Vienna’s plan ambitious but also calls for a faster implementation.

The environmental organization points out that Vienna recently signed the Greenpeace declaration for the phase-out of fossil gas. With this, the city has reaffirmed its goal to ban fossil gas from the heating and cooling sector by 2040.

„Third place in the European comparison shows: The goal is right, but good plans are only the first step. Now comprehensive actions must follow, because fossil gas is a price driver and fuels the climate crisis. Vienna must guarantee full funding for renovation and heating replacement and quickly ban gas from existing buildings as well,“ says Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria.

To solidify its pioneering role from Greenpeace’s perspective, the organization calls for further clear framework conditions. Particularly important is a legal gas decommissioning plan for existing buildings. This should set a binding end date for the phase-out of oil and gas heating and regulate the orderly dismantling of the gas network.

According to Greenpeace, property owners, tenants, and the economy should benefit from this. The goal is more planning security during the transition.

Additionally, Greenpeace calls for increasing municipal subsidies for thermal renovations and boiler replacement. This is intended to fill gaps in federal funding and enable as many people as possible to make a socially cushioned transition.

The City of Vienna interprets the third place as a confirmation of its previous climate policy. Mayor Michael Ludwig points out that Vienna had already launched its first climate protection program in 1999.

Despite a population growth of 23 percent since 2005, energy consumption in Vienna has overall decreased by 20 percent. Per capita, the decrease has been 35 percent. The climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions have also fallen by more than a third during this period.

„The ranking is a confirmation of the Viennese climate path and motivates us to continuously take further steps. We have set a clear goal and are sticking to it. Vienna already started the first climate protection program in 1999 and has consistently implemented measures since then. This consistency is showing results: Despite a population growth of 23 percent since 2005, energy consumption in Vienna has overall decreased by 20 percent, and per capita even by 35 percent. The climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions have also fallen by more than a third during this period. I am proud of this development – and also that we have legally anchored the importance of climate protection in the first Viennese climate law, thus securing it in the long term,“ says Ludwig.

Climate Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky describes the gas phase-out as one of the most important measures on the path to affordable, secure, and climate-friendly heating and cooling.

„We want all Viennese to have affordable, secure, and climate-friendly heating and cooling in the future. The gas phase-out is one of the most important measures in this regard, because only in this way can we end our dependence on fossil fuels and secure the quality of life for future generations. No fossil gas means fewer climate-damaging emissions, more energy security, and long-term stable conditions for the Viennese and the economy,“ emphasizes Czernohorszky.

(OTS/Red.)

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