260
9.2.1 Consolidation at the European and the National Level
The “EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change” (2013) is based on the premise
that climate protection measures must be paired with adaptation measures if Europe
is to master the challenges of climate change. From the point of view of the EU
Commission “it is cheaper to take, early, planned adaptation action than to pay the
price for not adapting” (COM 2013 , 2). The objective must be to raise climate resilience in Europe. The adaptation options are threefold: “gray” and “green” infrastructure approaches, as well as “fl exible” structural approaches (COM 2009 ). Promoting
functions and services within ecosystems is considered imperative as these are considered more cost-effective and sometimes more viable than simply trusting grey
infrastructure (COM 2009 , 6). The “Austrian Strategy on Adaptation to Climate
Change” (2012) adopted by the Council of Ministers also makes it clear that along
with measures to limit the global rise in temperature it also takes suiTab. and timely
adaptation measures. This second pillar of climate policy constitutes a major complement to climate protection seeing as it reduces greenhouse gases. More specifi -
cally, the Austrian strategy emphasises the negative effects of heat waves on people’s
health and the importance of measures to reduce these (Federal Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 5). The rise in
hot days and the heat stress they create are considered tomorrow’s challenges which
adaptation measures are required for. Land-use planning is addressed as one of 14
main fi elds of activity (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and
Water Management 2012a , b , 16). “Prevention of overheating and heat islands and
compensation of bioclimatic stress for people’s health” is to be made possible by
providing, in development plans, “green” and “blue” infrastructure for built-up areas,
as well as “measures with an impact on bioclimate” (Federal Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry, Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 117f). The strategy also
calls for a ‘Climate Proofi ng’ of spatial planning and tools “to systematically consider the impact of climate change” (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 118f).
9.2.2 Strategic Approach to UHI-Relevant Aspects in Vienna
The City of Vienna has taken a strategic approach to climate-sensitive action and
measures to adapt to climate change.
The objectives and results of the individual aspects were combined to form the
“ Smart City Vienna Framework Strategy ” adopted by the Vienna City Council
in 2014. It is an umbrella strategy for the period up to 2050 to be implemented step
by step, individual objectives being subject to continuous monitoring. The overriding
goal is to reduce CO 2 emissions from currently 3.1 tons per head to approximately
one ton (minus 80 % from 1990 to 2050). Unlike comparable strategies in other
cities it encompasses environmental protection goals beyond that, such as reducing
the share of motorised private transport from currently 28 to 15 % by 2030, or
maintaining the high share of green areas of 50 %.
D. Damyanovic et al.
9.2.1 Consolidation at the European and the National Level
The “EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change” (2013) is based on the premise
that climate protection measures must be paired with adaptation measures if Europe
is to master the challenges of climate change. From the point of view of the EU
Commission “it is cheaper to take, early, planned adaptation action than to pay the
price for not adapting” (COM 2013 , 2). The objective must be to raise climate resilience in Europe. The adaptation options are threefold: “gray” and “green” infrastructure approaches, as well as “fl exible” structural approaches (COM 2009 ). Promoting
functions and services within ecosystems is considered imperative as these are considered more cost-effective and sometimes more viable than simply trusting grey
infrastructure (COM 2009 , 6). The “Austrian Strategy on Adaptation to Climate
Change” (2012) adopted by the Council of Ministers also makes it clear that along
with measures to limit the global rise in temperature it also takes suiTab. and timely
adaptation measures. This second pillar of climate policy constitutes a major complement to climate protection seeing as it reduces greenhouse gases. More specifi -
cally, the Austrian strategy emphasises the negative effects of heat waves on people’s
health and the importance of measures to reduce these (Federal Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 5). The rise in
hot days and the heat stress they create are considered tomorrow’s challenges which
adaptation measures are required for. Land-use planning is addressed as one of 14
main fi elds of activity (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and
Water Management 2012a , b , 16). “Prevention of overheating and heat islands and
compensation of bioclimatic stress for people’s health” is to be made possible by
providing, in development plans, “green” and “blue” infrastructure for built-up areas,
as well as “measures with an impact on bioclimate” (Federal Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry, Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 117f). The strategy also
calls for a ‘Climate Proofi ng’ of spatial planning and tools “to systematically consider the impact of climate change” (Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
Environment and Water Management 2012a , b , 118f).
9.2.2 Strategic Approach to UHI-Relevant Aspects in Vienna
The City of Vienna has taken a strategic approach to climate-sensitive action and
measures to adapt to climate change.
The objectives and results of the individual aspects were combined to form the
“ Smart City Vienna Framework Strategy ” adopted by the Vienna City Council
in 2014. It is an umbrella strategy for the period up to 2050 to be implemented step
by step, individual objectives being subject to continuous monitoring. The overriding
goal is to reduce CO 2 emissions from currently 3.1 tons per head to approximately
one ton (minus 80 % from 1990 to 2050). Unlike comparable strategies in other
cities it encompasses environmental protection goals beyond that, such as reducing
the share of motorised private transport from currently 28 to 15 % by 2030, or
maintaining the high share of green areas of 50 %.
D. Damyanovic et al.