klimaaktiv

Structure

klimaaktiv is aimed at the target groups of private individuals, businesses, municipalities, professionals and people involved in climate education. The klimaaktiv programmes at the Austrian Energy Agency are behind this target-group focus. Together with various institutions and companies throughout Austria, they implement klimaaktiv operationally. klimaaktiv is financed and managed by the responsible Federal Ministries for environmental and climate protection, energy and mobility.

How it works and objectives

klimaaktiv has an impact in a variety of ways: from awareness-raising measures for the broader population, through standards and guidelines that are incorporated into the further training of many providers, to a wide range of tools relating to climate protection and the energy and mobility transition. The aim of the initiative is to contribute, through targeted and effective measures, to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting climate-friendly practices and increasing the market shares of climate-friendly solutions of high and assured quality.

Climate protection in practice

With its klimaaktiv services, the Federal Ministry for the Environment and Climate Action addresses private individuals, municipalities and people working in the field of climate education in particular.

klimaaktiv supports private individuals (in German only) in making their homes and everyday lives more climate-friendly and energy-efficient. The programme provides comprehensive information on topics such as energy-efficient renovation, replacing heating systems, photovoltaics, repair tips and sustainable consumption. The aim is to reduce energy consumption, save costs and increase living comfort – for a sustainable way of life.

For municipalities, klimaaktiv offers a nationwide network that supports cities and municipalities in implementing measures for greater climate protection and the energy transition. The focus is on specific tools and strategies, such as the Climate Relevance Tool for municipal administration. This enables municipalities to assess the impact of municipal projects on the climate and thus reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Specific support services help to establish climate-friendly infrastructure and implement targeted climate protection measures.

The klimaaktiv Settlements and Neighbourhoods programme provides municipalities with a central instrument for planning, managing and ensuring the quality of settlements and neighbourhoods through the Standard for Settlements and Neighbourhoods. This standard defines the key areas of action required for the planning, implementation and operation of liveable and climate-resilient settlement and neighbourhood structures.

klimaaktiv Heating Plants and Heating Networks, on the other hand, focuses on the transition to sustainable heating. The programme provides support for strategic heat planning and the efficient expansion of heating networks. Municipalities benefit from practical expertise, flexible supply solutions and the opportunity to use local renewable energy sources.

The Climate Education area is aimed primarily at all those who communicate about climate protection and the energy and mobility transition, actively engage and motivate people, and act as multipliers – whether in municipal administrations, companies, educational institutions or privately at the dinner table. With communication tips, guidelines and webinars, infographics and teaching materials, the area addresses the important question of how the most pressing problems of our time can be communicated in a way that is appropriate for the target group.

Since 2021, 12 Austrian companies participating in the klimaaktiv Pact2030 (in German only) have been pursuing the ambitious goal of reducing their CO₂ emissions by more than 50 percent by 2030 (base year 2005). In absolute figures, this target means a reduction of more than 8.4 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2030. This corresponds to the average annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 146,000 passenger cars or 57,000 oil-fired heating systems in single-family homes. With admission to the klimaaktiv Pact, the Pact partners begin an annual structured process to optimise their corporate climate protection concept, which they will implement by 2030. In order to actually achieve the planned reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and thus not only support but exceed the national climate protection target, a broad package of corporate measures is required. Direct dialogue with the Federal Ministry for the Environment and Climate Action helps ensure that experience gained from implemented climate protection measures can be taken into account in political decisions.

If you would like to find out more, sign up for the klimaaktiv newsletters:
klimaaktiv Newsletter (Website in German only)