Austrian Minister Totschnig Faces Greenpeace Call for €1 Billion Urban Renaturation Funding

Greenpeace Austria awarded the first "NaturStadt‑Pioniere" titles to Steyr in Upper Austria and Ebreichsdorf in Lower Austria. Both towns were highlighted for their high share of green space—Steyr with 47.3 % and Ebreichsdorf with 54.4 %—and for projects such as converting a disused railway track into a city park.

In the award ceremony, Greenpeace linked the recognitions to a political demand. The organisation asked Climate, Environment and Regional Minister Norbert Totschnig to create a dedicated €1 billion fund for municipalities to finance de‑paving, tree planting and the creation of new green corridors. Melanie Ebner, Greenpeace Austria’s soil‑ and nature‑protection expert, said: “Trees and unsealed soils are the most efficient climate air‑conditioners for our city centres during dangerous heatwaves.” The funding request is framed as essential for Austrian cities to cope with rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves under the EU Renaturation Regulation.