Transforming | Wirtschaft Innovation Linz

Transforming:
Linz's economy in transition

As one of Europe’s most important industrial centres, Linz plays a special role in climate protection. A large proportion of Austria’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated by local industry. At the same time, it is precisely this industry that forms the foundation of our city’s prosperity and represents a key locational advantage for Linz. Alongside city-wide climate protection measures, industrial transformation is also a key element in ensuring that Linz remains an innovative and competitive location. In Linz, there are three key pillars of sustainability in this regard:

The promotion of hydrogen technologies
Circularity in the construction sector
Harnessing carbon dioxide as a raw material

This is precisely where the opportunity lies: with innovative strength, strong companies and future-proof technologies, Linz is shaping the transition and combining economic strength with climate protection for long-term prosperity.

Climate-neutral industrial city Linz 2040:
A forward-looking city with a sense of responsibility

Linz is a strong economic hub characterised by industry, innovation and research. It is precisely these strengths that the city is harnessing to take a significant step towards the future: Linz has set itself the goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90 per cent by 2040 at the latest, compared to 2019 levels.

To this end, a concrete plan has been developed over a two-year period in collaboration with representatives from industry, business, science, politics and the wider community. At its heart are 52 measures that demonstrate how Linz will secure a high standard of living for future generations.

Climate neutrality plan: download

Progress towards climate neutrality in Linz

The first, and therefore a key, measure of Linz’s climate neutrality strategy is the management and monitoring of progress. Key aspects include

the status of the 52 measures in total and
the development of a city-wide greenhouse gas monitoring system

In many areas, this task extends well beyond the remit of the City Council, particularly as many municipal companies, such as LINZ AG, are also involved in the measures. Furthermore, for many data sets, such as those relating to mobility or consumption, the Province of Upper Austria and institutions operating at national level are also involved. These surveys are a key factor in developing target pathways and plans, managing them and thus being able to implement a sustainable transformation in the long term.

Pioneering City ‘Linz with Ambitio3xn’

How can a city become climate-neutral whilst remaining a strong economic hub with a high quality of life? This is precisely what Linz is working on in the Linz withAmbitio3xn project.

As part of the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure's Klimaneutrale Stadt mission, Linz is developing solutions for energy, mobility and the circular economy in the pilot district of Franckviertel.

This involves developing climate-neutral construction and renovation standards in collaboration with GWG Linz, whilst LINZ AG is gradually decarbonising the energy infrastructure. At the same time, a city-wide greenhouse gas monitoring system is being established to track progress towards climate neutrality. The project team is currently working on 19 of the 52 measures outlined in the climate neutrality concept.

Mehr zu Linz mit Ambitio3xn

re_use Initiative

Working together for circular construction: Accounting for almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, the construction sector is a major contributor to climate change; at the same time, for a city, it is one of the most powerful levers for achieving a sustainable way of life. For this reason, the City of Linz and LINZ AG launched the re_use Initiative, bringing together public administration, business, research and civil society with a single goal: the transition to a circular construction industry and a climate-neutral Linz by 2040.

A key part of the initiative focuses on how circularity and climate neutrality can be implemented within the construction sector. Practical measures are developed and coordinated jointly. The initiative thus serves as both a catalyst and a network, with extensive collaboration extending beyond the city limits.

more about re_use

H2 Linz Initiative

Linz as a centre of excellence for hydrogen: Upper Austria is a strongly technology-driven region, with Linz at its heart. Due to future hydrogen demand driven by the sustainable transformation of local industries, its ideal location in relation to geological gas storage facilities in Upper Austria, its proximity to the industrial region of Bavaria, and the many innovative and forward-looking businesses in the city, Linz is clearly emerging as the H2 centre of excellence in the DACH region.

To drive innovation and bring together the key stakeholders in one place, the H2 Convention takes place every November at the Tabakfabrik Linz.

more about H2 Convention

Carbon Management: Sector coupling for a sustainable industry

Not all industries can achieve their climate targets solely through renewable energy and efficiency measures. In the so-called ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors, which include the cement industry, CO₂ emissions will continue to be generated in the future due to the nature of the processes involved. Other industrial sectors, such as the chemical industry, will have a significant demand for these molecules in the future.

This is precisely where carbon management comes in, aiming to link these sectors together to integrate these industries. Key levers include:

Identifying the key stakeholders of a future CO₂ network
Planning, developing and implementing the necessary infrastructure
Establishing central pilot plants in Linz and Upper Austria

Carbon management is therefore another important building block for achieving Linz’s climate targets in collaboration with local industry!

Shaping transformation with citizens

For Linz to become a sustainable industrial city, it needs not only an innovative and modern city administration, but also the involvement of everyone who lives and works in the city. To this end, it is important to take steps together and drive the transformation forward.In innovative pilot projects, the city acts as a partner, role model, supporter and funder, thereby demonstrating, together with the people of Linz, how sustainability can be put into practice.

H2 Public Day

In addition to the specialist conference, the H2 Convention’s Information Day attracts interested school pupils, students and members of the public to the Tabakfabrik every year to find out about the latest developments in hydrogen technology.

It is important to bring these visions to life and highlight emerging future sectors, the so-called ‘green jobs’. Members of the public thus become an important and essential part of this transformation.

H2 Public Day

Pioneer City Festival

The Pioneer City Festival regularly invites residents to the Franckviertel to discuss climate neutrality. The transition to sustainable mobility in the neighbourhood is being driven by a combination of measures to promote cycling, walking and public transport, and energy and GHG monitoring is being implemented at neighbourhood level and, later, across the whole city.

Climate-social perspectives are incorporated into the implementation, and regular public participation is carried out. The Franckviertel is set to become a climate-neutral blueprint for other neighbourhoods in Linz and other cities.

Linz with Ambitio3xn

Energy Awareness Lab

The Grand Garage has emerged as a key economic driver in the creation of a sustainable society. At the same time, however, this concept remains highly abstract and difficult to grasp. To make energy consumption measurable and visible to everyone, the Energy Awareness Lab was established at the Grand Garage.

In addition to comprehensive hands-on experiments, workshops are also held. The project was funded by the City of Linz Climate Fund and a partnership in the field of hydrogen technologies.

Energy Awareness Lab

GUUTE Trees

Forests serve as important carbon sinks and help create a pleasant microclimate. Primary school children are learning this through the GUUTE project, which was funded by the City of Linz Climate Fund.

Together with experienced foresters and forest educators, they look after forest enclaves and develop teaching materials. The project has even led to the establishment of a new business.

GUUTE projects

Bridging the science practice gap

In collaboration with the Hamburg Distance Learning University (FHOÖ), BFI Linz and companies in Linz, a pilot project has been launched to bring higher education and sustainable transformation together.

The aim is to connect young and motivated students with companies in Linz, enabling them to work directly on the challenges of the future. This facilitates practical learning and helps companies find excellent employees for the future.