What projects against climate change and for adaptation are there in Innsbruck?
EU Energy Efficiency Directive EED III
On October 10, 2023, the new EU Energy Efficiency Directive (hereinafter: EED III) came into force. The EU member states have until October 11, 2025 to transpose the requirements of the directive into national law.
The aim of the directive is to increase energy efficiency in all member states and thus support the achievement of the European climate neutrality target by 2050.
Article 6(5) requires public bodies to draw up and publish an inventory of buildings . This inventory includes information on municipal buildings (use and/or ownership) with a floor space of more than 250 m².
Publication serves the purpose of transparency and is intended to promote the planning and implementation of measures to improve energy efficiency in the public building stock.
The data in the building inventory is updated regularly.
Innsbruck Urban Climate Analysis and Adaptation Strategies
Measures to combat the heat
Heat is becoming a challenge: find out here what the city of Innsbruck is doing about it and how you can protect yourself:
Energy plan: Energy autonomy 2050
At the beginning of the strategic planning there was already the Innsbruck Energy Plan from 2010, which has been updated in the meantime and aims at energy autonomy 2050 as a target scenario.
Environmental and Sustainability Award of the City of Innsbruck
Every two years, the City of Innsbruck organises the Environment and Sustainability Award. Projects and project concepts in the field of environmental and climate protection and sustainability are in demand.
Who can submit?
- Young ideas: Children, young people, kindergartens, schools/pupils, students, apprentices or all educational institutions, parent-child teams, etc. in the city of Innsbruck
- Seen, thought, done: citizens/private individuals and local associations/initiatives of the City of Innsbruck
- Doing business for tomorrow: Companies, institutions, co-operatives and businesses with a branch in the city of Innsbruck
Further information on the submission requirements can be found in the award guidelines.
Submissions for the Environment and Sustainability Award 2026 were possible until 31 December 2025. You could easily submit via our online form.
What is there to win?
The Environment and Sustainability Award of the City of Innsbruck is endowed with a total of 10,000 euros.
The prize money is divided into 5,000 euros each among the winners in the categories Young Ideas and Seen, Thought, Done . The Economy for Tomorrow category does not receive any prize money but, like all prize winners, is entitled to use the title of winner of the City of Innsbruck 2026 Environment and Sustainability Award.
Your ideas are in demand! Taking part pays off in any case!
INN'F4UM - Innsbruck's Fit4Urban Mission
INN'F4UM develops measures that can make Innsbruck climate neutral by 2030. These range from renovation of existing buildings, further use of sealed areas for energy production, for example by means of photovoltaics, and increased use of infrastructure.
EU - FP 7 Project Sinfonia (2014-2020)
The Sinfonia project "Smart Cities & Communities" with more than 30 partners from eight countries has already been completed. In the city of Innsbruck, energy-saving measures were tried out in city districts. Among others, IKB gained experience in the areas of modern cogeneration, solar thermal energy, heat-cold storage, heat pumps for the use of local waste heat sources or heat supply via district heating networks. The project was handled by the Standortagentur Tirol
cool-INN & COOLYMP: Cool urban living spaces
Cool places for a cool Innsbruck. To cool down so-called heat islands, there are already two projects in the city of Innsbruck: cool-Inn & COOLYMP.
cool-INN
cool-INN has already been implemented by the City of Innsbruck, IKB, the University of Innsbruck and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU). The aim was to achieve an improved quality of stay of the square and the park at the fairground in Ing-Etzel-Straße. In December 2021, the construction work was completed and already in summer 2022, the park was enlivened by numerous events (KlimaSalon).
COOLYMP
The DDr. Alois Lugger Square (COOLYMP) in the centre of the Olympic Village is also to be made climate-friendly with the involvement of local residents, clubs and businesses. The neighbouring Olympic Park will also be included in the planning. The particular challenge lies in the fact that the square is completely underpinned by an underground car park, which calls for innovative ideas from the population with the help of technical and scientific expertise. The project team consists of representatives from IIG, ISD, the University of Innsbruck and the City of Innsbruck and is being funded for three years as part of the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund's "Lighthouses for resilient cities 2040" project. The project started on 1 August 2022.
Transport master plans
In the area of mobility, the city of Innsbruck is focussing on the expansion of public transport, cycling and walking.
- The Cycling Masterplan 2030 has already been adopted. The aim is to increase the share of cycling to 20 per cent by 2030. Measures include the expansion of a seamless cycle path network. More information is available at: Cycling
- The walking masterplan is currently being developed. More information is available at: Pedestrians
- The expansion of public transport is progressing in the form of the regional railway and the expansion of the tram network. Meeting zones - not only in the redesign of public squares - are gradually being established. The following street designs are currently on the programme: Rennweg/Universitätsstraße, Bozner Platz, Messe S-Bahn stop and Michael-Gaismair-Straße.
These measures are intended to make cars superfluous as a means of transport in the city centre.
Climate-fit forest
Spruce monocultures are a thing of the past. In future, Innsbruck will rely on near-natural, deciduous, deep-rooted trees. With hardwoods such as cherry, walnut, oak, elm and maple, Innsbruck's forests will become structurally rich and climate-fit. In addition, the forest rangers are focussing on forest hygiene to reduce pests such as the bark beetle - for example by quickly removing timber and damaged wood from the forest. These measures limit soil erosion, snow breakage, storm damage and pests.
Climate-neutral city council
A concept for a climate-neutral city council is currently being developed. Four areas of action are currently defined as priorities(mobility, buildings, procurement, events). An operational mobility management system is currently being developed for the city council with the help of external support. Measures for climate-neutral building management are being developed at the IIG.
Move-in assistance XL - sustainable living
The city of Innsbruck has been welcoming future tenants of city flats in Innsbruck since 2020. To ensure that they are prepared for the move and feel at home in their new flat right away, the Citizen Participation and Participatory Urban Design Department is supporting them with the "Move-in Support XL" programme. In workshops, the new residents receive practical and simple tips on sustainable living and good neighbourliness.
In 2020, the "Einzugsbegleitung XL" programme won the ÖGUT Environmental Award in the "Sustainable Municipality" category. More information is available from the Citizen Participation and Participatory Urban Design department.
"Tree discs" - blooming islands
In spring 2021, the city launched a participatory campaign that offers citizens the opportunity to create their own green island in Innsbruck. Under the motto "Gardening on your doorstep", residents can plant small areas and spots around trees - so-called tree discs - in public spaces according to their own ideas. Anyone who wants to contribute to the beautification of the city can take part. The only condition: Time for regular care and the willingness to take over the design of the colourful island.
Further information and the folder are available at all neighbourhood meeting points and at Service Unit City Garden Administration
e5 municipality
The e5 municipality programme is a federal and state programme for energy-conscious and climate-friendly municipalities. Innsbruck has been a partner in the e5 programme since December 2013 . From spatial planning and architecture to energy solutions and mobility, the programme includes tried and tested energy and climate protection measures. The activities are regularly evaluated by an external commission and - comparable to the "toques" in the catering industry - awarded up to five "e". With a degree of implementation of 67.7 per cent and thus awarded 4 "e's", Innsbruck is considered a pioneer among the provincial capitals.
The energy profile of the e5 city of Innsbruck illustrates the progress made in the various areas of action over the last three audits. © Energieagentur Tirol
The current audit will take place in 2026. An Austria-wide change to the catalogue of measures will place even more emphasis on measurable results of the work for the energy transition and climate protection of the e5 municipalities.
Co-operations
To tackle climate change in Innsbruck there is co-operation between:
- the various departments (environment, forestry, transport, housing, ...) of the city council
- the municipal investment companies IKB, IVB and IIG
- Universities (Innsbruck, Vienna EUnivercities, Ulysseus, etc.)
Europan Innsbruck
Europan is an ideas competition through which innovative strategies for European cities are to be found and implemented. On the platform, young experts in urban, landscape and architectural planning submit their ideas. Also for Innsbruck such an idea competition for the area Innbrücke over market place up to the university bridge was implemented and numerous ideas were awarded.
Smart City
Smart cities conserve resources, strengthen cooperation and improve the quality of life.
Innsbruck as a climate alliance municipality
Innsbruck is part of a global partnership to protect the climate and has thus set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by implementing climate protection measures in the areas of mobility, energy, soil, procurement and nutrition as well as climate change adaptation.