Austrian cities implement measures to combat rising urban heat

Austrian cities Klagenfurt and Linz are implementing various measures to combat rising temperatures and increasing numbers of heat days.

In Klagenfurt, following a record summer with 48 heat days, the city has launched the ‘Cool down Klagenfurt’ project. This initiative includes a 600,000 euro heat protection fund, financed by half of the parking fees from the Wörthersee-Ostbucht area. The funds are earmarked for specific purposes, such as planting new trees—with a goal of 1,000 new trees by 2030—and unsealing paved surfaces. Additional measures include installing drinking water fountains, creating ‘Cool Spots’ in vacant buildings, and improving heat protection in schools and public buildings through shading or air conditioning.

In Linz, local representatives are pushing for more effective urban planning to address heat in vulnerable districts like the Bulgariplatz area. The KPÖ party has proposed utilizing a high-rise bunker at Andreas-Hofer-Platz as a cooling refuge for citizens, noting that the structure is currently only used for storing Christmas decorations. Critics in Linz have called for more significant action in urban design, such as expanding green spaces and reducing sealed surfaces, to move beyond short-term emergency measures.