Cities play a central role in climate protection. Through the “Klimaneutralitätsfahrplan Lienz 2040” (Lienz 2040 Climate Neutrality Roadmap) project, the City of Lienz worked together with AIT to develop a clear and realistic path to climate neutrality. The aim is to consider climate protection, urban development and the city’s economic future as an integrated whole and to implement them step by step.
As a basis for the project, a comprehensive energy and greenhouse gas inventory for the year 2023 was calculated. For the first time, this provides a transparent picture of where emissions are currently generated in Lienz – for example, in the sectors of buildings, transport, energy supply and industry. On this basis, various future scenarios up to the year 2040 were developed: a baseline scenario (business as usual) incorporating the city’s already planned energy policy developments, and a further scenario specifically geared towards a sustainable urban energy system leading to climate neutrality. This allows for a clear comparison of potential courses of action and their impacts.
Active involvement of all stakeholders
An important part of the project was the active involvement of local stakeholders: representatives from the public sector, politics, business and civil society, working together on solutions that are both technically sound and practicable. Climate neutrality is thus not viewed as a theoretical goal, but as a joint development process for the town.
The climate neutrality roadmap comprises a concrete catalogue of measures for all relevant areas, as well as an easily comprehensible monitoring system concept with key performance indicators. This enables the city of Lienz to regularly review its progress and adjust measures as required.
This approach can be applied to other local authorities
The project demonstrates how even smaller towns can chart a realistic path towards climate neutrality with a solid data foundation, clear objectives and broad participation. The approach is designed in such a way that it can be replicated in other local authorities.
The town of Lienz and the AIT were awarded the prestigious ÖGUT Environmental Prize in the “Sustainable Local Authority” category for this project.
AIT connects science and innovation
The ability to rapidly translate new findings into marketable technologies and practical solutions is increasingly becoming a key competitive factor for Europe. At this interface between science, technology and application, applied research at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology plays a central role. Austria’s largest research and technology organisation aligns its research closely with the needs of industry and current societal challenges. AIT’s research makes a difference and creates solutions – for businesses, society and, ultimately, for us all.
AIT Impact Report
The AIT Impact Report 2026 uses around 30 examples to illustrate how AIT, together with partners from industry, academia and the public sector, translates research into concrete solutions. The projects presented range from the digitalisation of industrial processes, through resilient infrastructure and sustainable energy and industrial systems, to health, mobility, security and the circular economy.
The AIT Impact Report 2026 is available online (in German): www.ait.ac.at/impact-report