Vienna has become the first Austrian state to propose its own climate law, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040. The law, introduced by the city's red-pink government, sets a legally binding framework for Vienna's climate goals, including mandatory climate checks for large city projects.

This initiative comes as a response to the lack of federal climate legislation, emphasizing Vienna's commitment to future generations.

The law also mandates the renewal of the city's climate plan every five years, allowing residents and environmental groups to demand updates if deadlines are missed.

While the law does not introduce new measures, it solidifies existing commitments, such as transitioning 600,000 households to renewable energy sources.

Critics, however, note the absence of new climate-effective measures, particularly in the transportation sector.