Representatives of Czech state administration, cities and NGOs visited Austria in order to get a full picture of the  unique long-term initiative for sustainable mobility - klimaaktiv mobil. Since its establishment, klimaaktiv mobil has initiated about 21,000 climate-friendly mobility projects that were implemented by around 17,700 businesses, 1,500 cities, municipalities, and regions, 1,300 tourism organisations, as well as 500 schools. As a result, approximately 350,000 tonnes of CO2 are being saved annually. An inspiration event took place in Vienna, on March 8-9, 2022.

The inspiration event for Czech stakeholders was organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK). A workshop consisted both of theoretical background and practical excursion.

The outputs of the event will be presented at the Czech National Cycling Conference held on 17-18 May 2022 in Jihlava. The date was set on purpose, as a celebration of 1-year anniversary for the Vienna Declaration & PEMP adoption.

About the klimaaktiv programme in 2021

Considering the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, it has become more important than ever to promote active, climate-friendly and health-promoting mobility. The Covid-19 pandemic has also had a strong influence on our mobility patterns. Cars have been used more frequently, whereas public transport has seen a sharp decline in the number of passengers. Active mobility, on the other hand, and in particular cycling, is booming. People are clearly much more aware of the health benefits that active mobility promotes.

With new active mobility priorities and partnerships, the klimaaktiv mobil financial support and consulting programmes as well as awareness-raising and further education initiatives aim to contribute to this development in the long term.

The federal government has therefore established a initiative for active, soft mobility as an express key topic of the Government Programme. In this context, the main pillars are the implementation and advancement of the Cycling Master Plan and the Master Plan for Walking.

The klimaaktiv mobil financial support and advisory programmes and the amended klimaaktiv mobil funding guidelines as well as the klimaaktiv mobil awareness, education and certification programmes represent the BMK’s consistent implementation of the promotion of active mobility and mobility management and in particular the increased federal funding for cycling and new funding for walking as it has been enshrined in the Government Programme. As an immediate measure, the BMK increased klimaaktiv mobil funding for cycling projects and mobility management tenfold to some EUR 40 million in 2020 and 2021 and launched a new funding initiative in 2021 to promote walking. 2022 the available funding volume for klimaaktiv mobil projects to promote active mobility and mobility management was increased further up to EUR 60 Mio.

The Inspiration Event was made possible thanks to Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) and Energy Agency Austria. 

Photos: Hana Jirickova, Jitka Vrtalova, Partnership for Urban Mobility