The second student group hosted a conversation with Jana Plöchl from BOKU University, who provided a social science perspective on the Austrian Climate Council process. During the discussion on deliberative democracy, students were especially interested in facilitation methods, the importance of a respectful discussion climate, participant selection processes, and inclusion. The expert emphasized that many participants felt politically empowered for the first time through the Climate Council, though some were disappointed by the lack of implementation of the results.

The Viennese students then deepened the discussion with a role-playing exercise on the controversial Lobau Tunnel project. Berlin students took on various perspectives and developed arguments for and against holding a referendum on the tunnel’s construction.

The second excursion day began with a walk through the 15th district, focusing on the ongoing redesign of the climate-resilient outer Mariahilfer Straße and a “Grätzloase” (neighborhood oasis) in Reindorfgasse. This was followed by a visit to the district management office, where Bea Vogler-Kautz and Daniel Dutkowski spoke about their work at the interface of neighborhood engagement, administration, and residents’ everyday concerns. In response to student questions, they noted that climate adaptation is rarely addressed directly but is reflected in everyday issues like “My apartment is too hot” or “I can’t find a shady place to sit.” The group then visited Dadlerpark, where topics like community gardening, quality of stay, and neighborhood dynamics intersect. The students presented the Vienna Climate Team—a democratic participation format that involves citizens in the design of climate-relevant projects. The Berlin students developed their own project ideas for climate adaptation in the district, with a popular proposal being to turn Reindorfgasse into a car-free market zone on weekends.

The “Supergrätzl,” a pilot project by the City of Vienna, served as a case study for tactical urbanism. With the help of an audio guide and e-book, Berlin students gained insight into the project’s development and participation process over the past years. They then explored the “Supergrätzl” from the perspectives of different interest groups (children, youth, adults, seniors), developed their own improvement suggestions, and marked them with sidewalk chalk. Despite varied focuses, a shared cross-generational vision emerged: Public space that supports movement, social encounters, and heat protection through greening, water fountains, and non-commercial gathering spots. The day ended with a discussion in Erlachpark, centering about the questions who uses the newly designed space—and who might no longer feel welcome. It became clear that climate adaptation and public space redesign can lead to displacement. To avoid this, space for appropriation should remain, allowing local residents to respond to changing needs.

On the final day of the excursion, the group visited the Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV) office, where Petra Schöfmann presented the “Raus aus Gas” project and answered questions about its implementation. The discussion made it clear that legal frameworks and financial resources are key challenges regarding the decarbonization of the building sector. With the aim of enabling a more structured approach, the Vienna Heating Plan was developed, outlining when and where neighborhoods will be connected to the district heating network to avoid “unnecessary” construction and promote integrated planning. Ms. Schöfmann emphasized that centralized solutions are often more efficient in the long term than many individual ones.