Winter 2023, spring 2024, summer 2024 – these three quarters have one thing in common: they are frontrunners. Never in the history of the city of Linz – which goes back to the 1960s – have temperatures been higher in comparable quarters. And this year’s (meteorological) autumn is also on track to be at the top – despite the cold snap at the beginning of September.
- Also read: Warmest summer in recorded history in the Austrian lowlands
The effects of these temperatures and the consequences of global warming are noticeable in Linz, says city climatologist Johannes Horak. Just looking at the summer makes this obvious: floods in June, then heat and dryness and massive rain at the beginning of September. “In four or five days in September, a quarter of the amount of rain fell that would otherwise fall in a whole year,” says Horak. There have been perhaps two or three months in the past three years that were below average in terms of temperatures.
Central role for trees
Quite the opposite: the city’s own measurements show a massive increase in tropical nights (nights in which the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees) and hot days (days in which it is more than 30 degrees) compared to the previous year – see Graphic.
This assessment was made on Monday in a press conference to which Climate City Councilor Eva Schobesberger (Greens) had invited. She referred to the package of measures for climate change adaptation for a climate-friendly restructuring of the city that was unanimously approved by the local council a year ago. Seven of the 30 points on the list have already been implemented, for example the tree offensive in three districts, in which 110 trees have already been planted and 1,250 square meters of soil have been unsealed. Every year one million euros is available for this tree offensive, which is also important, says the climatologist: “Trees not only cast shade, they also have a high cooling efficiency if they are planted correctly.”
Green space concept for new buildings
Schobesberger states that everything must continue to be done to “continue to rebuild our city in a climate-friendly way”. And to preserve it – that’s why she is pleased that the executive vice mayor Dietmar Prammer (SP) refused to rezone the planned location of the Digital University (IT:U) in Auhof. However, she doesn’t trust peace – “after all, State Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP) only said at the weekend that we would have to wait for the mayoral election in January regarding the location.”
- Also read: The no to IT:U in Urfahr is also a no to the master plan
Wherever the IT:U is built, in Linz it needs a green space concept again. Urban Development Director Hans-Martin Neumann demands this for all new buildings. There are already good examples – like the green facade of the Goethe School. However, says Neumann, this is not the preferred type of greenery because many builders would lose motivation to maintain it after a year or two.
There are also negative examples such as Martin-Luther-Platz, which is now to be redesigned. But the “Quadrill” high-rise building currently under construction is anything but successful when it comes to climate adaptation, says Schobesberger. “There is no green space design, and the facade with all the glass leads to additional heat.”
Source: Nachrichten
