Under the theme “Just Transition: Local Action for a Sustainable Future,” the conference emphasised the critical role of cities and towns in leading climate action while safeguarding democracy and social equity. Held in Vienna’s historic City Hall as part of the city’s Democracy Year Programme, the event energised municipal leaders to accelerate inclusive, sustainable change in their communities. The conference was co-hosted by Mayor Michael Ludwig of Vienna and Helfried Carl, Founder of the European Capital of Democracy Initiative.

Throughout two dynamic days, participants explored how municipalities can build broad alliances among administrations, politics, civil society, and businesses. Sessions addressed the urgent need for biodiversity restoration, climate resilience, and participatory democracy — also ensuring that silent or marginalised groups are included in the process.

Highlighting Vienna’s leadership, Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel, City of Vienna, noted, “A sustainable future requires the participation of citizens. And cities in particular play a crucial role in social-ecological transformation and advancing democracy. Cities are home to innovative approaches and many examples of best practice“.

A key outcome of the conference was the signing of the Vienna Declaration, a joint commitment by local leaders to drive climate-neutral, democratic, and inclusive urban transformation. Titled “Just Transition: Local Action for a Sustainable Future,” the Declaration acknowledges the urgency of the ecological crisis and calls for immediate, collective action. Signatories commit to:

• Achieving climate neutrality and restoring biodiversity in their communities
• Ensuring inclusive, participatory decision-making
• Expanding the circular economy and prioritising sustainable energy
• Reducing soil sealing and creating green and blue spaces
• Strengthening democracy, peace, the rule of law, and gender equality as foundations of a just transition<

The Vienna Declaration also urges the European Commission and national governments to support these local efforts with direct funding, autonomy, and strategic involvement in shaping cohesion policy.

Workshops, spark talks, panel discussions, and exchanges featured cutting-edge initiatives from across Europe, offering participants fresh strategies to engage citizens, implement practical measures, and make sustainability a tangible, shared goal.

The conference featured distinguished speakers, among them:

• Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat
• Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe
• Markus Marterbauer, Federal Minister of Finance, Republic of Austria
• Dietmar Prammer, Mayor of Linz, Austria
• Ivan Dyriv, Mayor of Dolyna, Ukraine
• Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel, City of Vienna<
• Thomas Mueller, Chairperson, Austrian Climate Council
• Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Executive Vice President, Senior Adviser, Bertelsmann Stiftung
• Ben Rogers, Urbanist & Academic, LSE Cities

As Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, emphasised, “Achieving social and environmental justice in cities demands innovative housing solutions that are inclusive, affordable, and sustainable.“

As a primary partner of the ACT NOW Mayors’ Conference, the City of Vienna played a key role in shaping the dialogue and contributing to the conference’s success.

The conference concluded with a strong call to action from Markus Marterbauer, Federal Minister of Finance, Republic of Austria: “The collaboration between cities and municipalities should be significantly strengthened. This will help reduce costs and create opportunities for investment.“

The ACT NOW Mayors’ Conference 2025 leaves no doubt: the future of the planet will be shaped by what happens in our cities.

“The inspiring exchange of trans-European best practice was testimony to the difference cities will make for our global community’s destiny,” says Helfried Carl, Co-Founder of the Innovation in Politics Institute and Founder of European Capital of Democracy. “If cities ACT NOW and together with their citizens, it has a sustainable impact, which the European Capital of Democracy initiative is all about,” he adds.