2024-08-13 06:50:24
The level of lockdown in Austria’s largest city is higher than expected, according to analysis by WWF. As a result of climate change, the need for action will continue to increase.
According to analysis by WWF, the level of lockdown in Austria’s 15 largest cities is significantly higher than expected. A press release issued on Tuesday said that based on an assessment of satellite data, the blockade area is approximately 37,000 hectares, nearly 35% larger than assumed based on previous methods. The negative leader is St. Pölten with 308 square meters of enclosed area per capita, followed by Wiener Neustadt and Villach.
“Many asphalt deserts are increasingly becoming a threat to our health and quality of life, especially in the summer. Politicians must therefore urgently take countermeasures. In addition to preventive soil protection, cities also need large-scale decontamination and greening programs,” World Nature The foundation quoted soil protection spokesman Simon Polis as saying.
According to WWF, previous determinations of soil sealing were based on general predictions and standard values throughout Austria. On the other hand, the new method’s values are based on satellite data accurate to square meters, so all areas can be recorded more precisely. “The need for action due to the climate crisis is greater than expected and will continue to increase, particularly as heavily sealed areas lead to heat islands that no longer cool adequately at night,” Polis warned.
Among the 15 largest cities, Lower Austria’s capital St. Polten has the highest degree of soil sealing per capita (308 square meters per capita). “In terms of roads alone, about 105 square meters per person are covered with concrete or asphalt,” WWF experts explained. Wiener Neustadt follows closely behind, with an average closed area per capita of approximately 257 square meters. “Wiener Neustadt is the city with the most closed commercial areas per capita,” Polis said. Villach (236 square meters per capita), Wels (225 square meters) and Klagenfurt (221 square meters) follow, ranking third to fifth.
Vienna, the largest city in Austria, ranked 15th among the cities surveyed, with a per capita enclosed area of about 79 square meters. “As a city with millions of inhabitants, Vienna occupies a special position in per capita comparisons, but when measured by total area it has the highest degree of imperviousness at 37%. This is almost 40% higher than previously assumed.”
In Austria, nearly 3,000 square kilometers are now completely cordoned off – equivalent to the entire area of Vorarlberg and Vienna combined. Almost half is streets or parking lots. Polis said: “Excessively wide streets and parking spaces, such as those in business parks or public spaces, should be progressively renovated and deblocked. In addition, politicians must be ambitious in implementing EU recovery regulations so that there are more parking spaces in cities. green space.
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