Sustainable development in Austria An overview

Sustainable development in AustriaAn overview

Sustainability field trip to Austria – September 2012

Graz, 11. September 2012 Marlene Mader, RCE Graz-Styria, University of Graz

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Sustainable development in…

Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Graz-Styria Sustainability field trip

Content

City of Graz

Austria

Province of Styria

3Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Graz-Styria Sustainability field trip

Austria

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• Population: 8.4 million• Area: 83 880 km2

• Capital: Vienna• Geography: mountainous

country (Alps), 2/3 of Austria are above 500 m


Austria – fact sheet

Source: Berufsfotografen Österreichs; www.photographer.at

• Economy: Austria is the 11th richest country in the world (in terms of GDP); HDI: 19th place

• Austria is famous for: music & culture (Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, Wiener Philharmoniker, Klimt, Schiele,…),

nature and tourism (winter sports & culture), food (Apfelstrudel, Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, Red Bull…) and Viennese coffee traditions, …

http://www.photographer.at/

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The Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development

• Developed in 2002 by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management

• Based on Rio declarations (1992 & 2002), EU strategy for sustainable development, Aalborg Charta

Source: Austrian Strategy for Sustaianbility, 2002


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– Climate change– Loss of biodiversity– Increasing conurbation and the sealing of green surfaces– increase in civilization diseases– demographic development (e.g. gender equality,

integration of immigrants, ageing population, …)– Energy intensive consumption habits– …

→ A variety of „solutions“ to solve these challenges…


Challenges the strategy needs to address:

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• Implementing the precautionary principle• Maintaining diversity• Aiming for integrative solutions• Creating scope for innovations• Living the model of fairness and solidarity• Enhancing knowledge and desire• Assuring quality and health• Supporting regionality and subsidiarity• Enhancing local identity• Supporting participation and networking• Achieving efficiency and effectiveness through cost fairness• Guaranteeing further development and permanent learning


„Solutions“


Quality of life in Austria1. Sustainable Life-style2. Opportunities for the

empowerment of all generations3. Gender equality4. Solutions through education and

research5. A descent life for present and future

generations

Austria as dynamic business location1. Innovative Structures Promote

Competitiveness2. A new understanding of business and

administration3. Correct prices for resources and energy4. Successful management through eco-

efficiency5. Strengthening sustainable products and

services

Living spaces in Austria 1. Protection of Environmental Media

und Climate2. Preserving the Diversity of Species

and Landscapes3. Responsible Use of Land and Regional

Development4. Shaping Sustainable Mobility5. Optimizing the Transport Systems

Austria’s responsibility 1. Fighting Poverty, Creating a Social and

Economic Balance2. A Globally Sustainable Economy3. Our World as a Living Space4. International Cooperation and Financing5. Sustainability Union Europe

4 integrative fields of action – 20 key objectives

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• Set of indicators for all 4 fields of action – but without concrete target values → difficult to assess


Fields of action – Set of indicators

Sustainable development is seen as a social process

– Besides political standards and technological change,

– a fundamental shift in values and change of behavior of people is required

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• Climate & energy fund– For innovative and sustainable climate solutions– Topics: renewable energy & energy efficiency / e-mobility /

Building & renovating


Further political sustainability initiatives

• Sustainability Award– To empower and value the sustainability efforts of HE institutions– 8 categories in HE; Uni Graz won 5 awards (2008, 2010, 2012)

• Forum Umweltbildung (Forum for environmental education)– Financed by Austrian ministries; network of partners, schools, NGOs,…– Projects and activities in environmental education & education for

sustainable development

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• HUB Vienna– Co-working space and platform for exchange– meetings and workshops about sustainability topics– approx. 200 members (social entrepreneurs, academics..)


Other stakeholders, networks,…

• INEX – International Network für Educational Exchange– Summer universities in Costa Rica, Panama & Austria– Development of university courses on sustainability


Styria


Sustainable development in the province of Styria

Sources: Federal government of Styria: www.steiermark.at

Styria:- Population: 1.21 million (2011)- Area: 16 400 km2 (→ 57% are forests)

- 16 political districts, 542 municipalities

- Economic growth: 3.9 % (2011) – above average of Austria (3.0 %) The Styrian panther

http://www.steiermark.at/

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• Different federal strategies: – Energy strategy Styria, economic strategy Styria, Styrian

climate protection plan, rural development strategy, `Charta for living togehter in diversity`, …

• Actors & partners:– LA 21 network, sustainability coordination at the Styrian

government, Eco World Styria network, WIN, partners for energy efficiency and waste disposal, centre for environmental education ,….)



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• A variety of awareness raising activities and initiatives: – Different fact sheets (how to live, work, travel, shop

sustainably)– Sustainability glossary– Different topic focuses (CSR, ecological footprint, ‚G‘scheit

feiern‘ (celebrate smart), Alpine World Ski Championships 2013,…)

– Publications (information brochures, multi media)– Playful sustainability (videos, ppt animations, stories)– Sustainability quizzes (measure ecological footprint,

sustainability reports, check sustainability of projects)



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Salzkammergut / Ausseerland traditional handcrafts (esp. traditional dresses) and customs


Examples of sustainability in Styrian regions

Steirisches Vulkanlandparticipate regional development process & high quality products (food & handcrafts)

Holzwelt Murauhandcrafts – esp. processing of wood


Graz

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• Capital of the province of Styria• Population: 267 000 inhabitants (2011), (forecasts for 2030:

288 000 inhabitants)• Area: 127 km2 (thereof 40% green spaces)

• UNESCO World Cultural Heritage


City of

Schloss Eggenberg (2010) – barock castle with imperical rooms and park

Historic center (1999) because of the well preserved city center and coherent roof landscape

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• 40 % of the economic performance of Styria are generated in Graz.

• Graz is known for education & research (4 universities and 1 university of applied science), and economy– Automobile cluster (Magna Steyr, AVL,… - approx. 180 partner

enterprises with 40 000 staff)– Energy and environmental technology (cluster Eco World Styria

– approx. 200 enterprises)– Human technology and bioengineering (cooperation science &

economy, approx. 70 partners)– Creative industries (City of design and several activities)


City of Graz – Characteristics and economic situation

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• City of Human Rights – since 2001– With the aim to respect human rights in allpolitical decisions and activities.– The city has to fulfill certain criteria (i.e. foster

the respect of human rights in all aspects of daily life, establish networks for exchange and learning, …)

– Awareness raising campaigns and establishment of an advisory board

– Resume of the advisory board: to some extent disappointing results (e.g. begging was forbidden,…)


City of Graz – City of human rights

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• Ecoprofit – Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Technology

• Developed in 1991 by the Environmental Department and the Technical University Graz; for enterprises and municipalities

• Aims:


City of Graz - Ecoprofit

ScienceAdministration

Economy

Social acceptance

Economic dev.Cost reduction

Sust. productsEco-efficiency

– Environmental protection– Economic profit– Develop public-private-partnerships

→ focus on energy & resource efficiency and material flow analysis

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• 2012: 53 enterprises participated in the Ecoprofit program

• Emissions and waste savings in 20 years Ecoprofit:– 17.7 million m3 water– 2.2 million tons CO2

– 16.9 million liters fuel and fuel oil– 115.8 million m3 natural gas– 480 600 mwh electricity– 177 000 tons waste


City of Graz - Ecoprofit

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• Smart cities → pilot project for energy efficiency and climate adaptation; development of demonstration projects and a roadmap for a sustainable smart city; focus on communication

• ‚Density dialogue‘→ raising awareness of the need for dense cities to guarantee quality of life (esp. in regards to population growth forecasts)

• Revitalising of urban courtyards → important small green spaces for inhabitants (quality of life & biodiversity)

• Revitalising of specific city districts and streets


City of Graz – Urban planning & development

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• Graz is one of the most popular bike cities in Austria; has around 120 km bike paths.


City of Graz – City of bicycles

45,2 %

19,9 %

18,8 %

16,1 %

Modal split in Graz

Private transportPublic transportPedestriansBicycle

Comparison: modal split in Austria & Sytria:

Private transport: 70 % 74 %Public transport: 23 % 12 %Pedestrians: 4 % 9 %Bicycle: 3 % 6 %

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• City of Graz: www.graz.at • Climate and energy fund: www.klimafonds.gv.at (in German only)• Ecoprofit: www.oekostadt.graz.at/cms/ziel/1939183/DE/ (in German only)• Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (2002)

Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development, http://www.nachhaltigkeit.at/article/articleview/72167/1/26469/ (pdf: The Austrian strategy)

• Forum Umweltbildung: www.umweltbildung.at/english/background.html • HUB Vienna: http://vienna.the-hub.net/ • Human rights city of Graz: www.etc-graz.at/typo3/index.php?id=1011#c2255 and

www.menschenrechtsstadt.at (in German only)• INEX: www.inex.org • Styrian government: www.steiermark.at (in German only)• Sustainability award: www.bmwf.gv.at/startseite/wissenschaft/national/nachhaltigkeit

/ (Website in German, but pdf in English ( downloads)


References

http://www.graz.at/

http://www.klimafonds.gv.at/

http://www.oekostadt.graz.at/cms/ziel/1939183/DE/



http://www.nachhaltigkeit.at/article/articleview/72167/1/26469/



http://www.umweltbildung.at/english/background.html



http://vienna.the-hub.net/

http://vienna.the-hub.net/

http://www.etc-graz.at/typo3/index.php?id=1011



http://www.menschenrechtsstadt.at/

http://www.inex.org/

http://www.steiermark.at/

http://www.bmwf.gv.at/startseite/wissenschaft/national/nachhaltigkeit/



Documents

Sustainable development in Austria An overview