#98 Vienna: European Capital of Democracy – Sharing and Shaping the Future

In this episode recorded live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, we sit down with Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy, and Personnel for the City of Vienna, Austria.

This episode highlights Vienna's new role as the European Capital of Democracy and the city is championing democratic innovation and sustainability. We explore Vienna's challenges and successes in addressing climate change, digitalisation, and inclusivity in its rapidly growing urban landscape.

Overview of the episode:

[00:01:38] Teaser Question: "If Vienna were an animal, which animal would it be and why?"

[00:03:01] Our guest's background: Jürgen Czernohorszky shares his journey to becoming Executive City Councillor

[00:05:42] Vienna’s new role as the European Capital of Democracy

[00:11:22] Participatory initiatives like the "Klima Teams" and their impact

[00:17:50] How Vienna ensures inclusivity in democratic processes

[00:22:09] Addressing challenges: Balancing inclusivity, innovation, and speed in decision-making

[00:28:57] Open-floor reflections: Jürgen’s vision for the European Capitals of Democracy initiative

[00:32:50] Trial and Error – Lessons learned from Vienna's participatory projects

[00:38:43] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"

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