1. Climate protection

1.5 Production sector (industry, trade, agriculture, fluorinated gases)

The City of Vienna and the Vienna Public Utilities support enterprises in the fields of decarbonisation and efficiency increase with a package of measures. Thus, OekoBusiness Vienna, the Vienna Business Agency and Urban Innovation Vienna (the climate and innovation agency of the City of Vienna) are stepping up consultancy programmes for companies.

In the course of revising the Vienna 2030 – Economy & Innovation strategy, climate protection and climate adaptation were confirmed and further emphasised by all relevant local business players as issues of major importance for the city’s economy.

With regard to the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy and electricity in the production sector, initial groundwork is being laid, which also serves the purpose of clarifying and structuring strategic options. In the context of preliminary work to prepare a Vienna Climate Alliance, initial structural requirements of enterprises, industries and business circles were surveyed and formulated in co-operation with the City of Vienna (represented by Municipal Department MA 23 – Economic Affairs, Labour and Statistics).

The decarbonisation of the production sector is above all advanced by EU provisions, for example on the basis of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the EU Taxonomy Regulation or the F-gas Regulation. The revised European Emissions Trading System (ETS2), which will apply from 2027/28, likewise provides enterprises with guidance in their actions and, in this way, exerts a positive effect on Vienna’s greenhouse gas balance.

Illustration that sketchily combines various elements related to the production sector: a tractor, and farm animals: cow, pig, chicken, a crane lifting fruit and vegetables on a large plate, a conveyor belt on which beakers are placed, and two people exchanging advice.

Highlights:

Promoting decarbonisation and increasing energy efficiency
Stepping up consultancy programmes for enterprises: OekoBusiness Vienna (focus on circular economy and biodiversity), energy efficiency, SolarFit! (PV consultancy for enterprises), renewable energy sources
Creating a basis for decarbonisation in the production sector
From 2027/28, the new European Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings (ETS 2) will substitute the carbon tax at the federal level
EU directives including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Taxonomy Directive
Reduced use of fluorinated greenhouse gases due to the EU F-gas Regulation