Integrated spatial planning is at the heart of the green transition. To meet Europe’s ambitious climate and energy goals, local and regional authorities must ensure that energy, climate, and spatial planning work hand in hand. This is exactly the mission of the IN-PLAN project, an LIFE-CET project supporting regions and municipalities in embedding their sustainable energy and climate plans into everyday spatial planning processes.
A Hands-On Training in Vienna
On 2nd October 2025, the IN-PLAN consortium organised its first in-person Train-the-Trainer session in Vienna, co-hosted with our partners and in cooperation with YES-Europe. The training gathered around 30 participants from across Europe, including local and regional planners, energy experts, and representatives from national agencies, all eager to strengthen their capacity for integrated planning.
The day followed an intensive and interactive agenda, combining IN-PLAN expert presentations on the project objectives, results, and best practices from Lighthouses and Pilots, along with an insightful presentation from Herbert Hemis, from the Department for energy planning (MA 20) of the City of Vienna, on “Phasing-Out-Gas & Vienna Heating Plan 2040”. He presented Vienna’s achievements in spatial heat planning and highlighted how cross-departmental collaboration enables coherent, long-term climate action.
During the morning sessions, participants explored how to connect the dots between policies, plans, and on-the-ground action, and how to overcome the barriers that often hinder the implementation of climate and energy strategies.
Group assignment and IN-PLAN resources
During the afternoon workshop, participants got hands-on experience with two of the project’s core tools:
- The IN-PLAN Practice: a structured framework supporting regions and municipalities in mainstreaming integrated planning approaches.
- The newly released IN-PLAN Checklist : a practical guide helping local authorities identify planning gaps, align stakeholders, and track progress toward climate goals.
These tools sparked lively discussions among participants, who appreciated their practicality and flexibility, noting how they could easily adapt them to their own local and regional contexts.
Participants had the chance to work in groups on real and fictional case studies with the goal to come up with integrated planning measures ad-hoc for the assigned city. After the group work, they had the possibility to present their whiteboards and mind maps to their colleagues.
Participants had the chance to work in groups on real and fictional case studies with the goal to come up with integrated planning measures ad-hoc for the assigned city. After the group work, they had the possibility to present their whiteboards and mind maps to their colleagues.
Insights from the Panel Discussion
The training also featured an inspiring panel discussion with experts from the City of Vienna, who shared their experiences in implementing integrated planning in practice.
The panel included Angelika Winkler (Urban Planning and Zoning, MA 21), Max Rom (Environmental Protection, MA 22), and Gregor Stratil-Sauer (Mobility Strategies, MA 18).
The exchange offered valuable insights into Vienna’s integrated approach, illustrating how early coordination between departments and continuous dialogue across sectors can make sustainability goals a reality.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The Vienna training was part of a three-day programme that blended theory with real-world examples.
On 1st October, participants visited the Spittelau Waste Incineration Plant, an iconic facility combining energy efficiency and artistic design, which hosts over 20,000 visitors annually. The visit offered concrete insights into how Vienna integrates waste management and district heating into its broader sustainability strategy.
Then, on 3rd October, the group explored Seestadt Aspern, one of Europe’s largest and most innovative urban development areas, where sustainable mobility, smart energy systems, and community-driven design come together to create a liveable, climate-resilient neighbourhood.
Engaged Participants and Positive Feedback
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. They highlighted the intense but inspiring nature of the day, the diversity of perspectives, and the opportunity to apply tools directly to real planning scenarios. Many valued the chance to exchange experiences across their local/regional experiences and to see how integrated planning can make a tangible difference at the local level.
Looking Ahead
The Vienna Train-the-Trainer marks an important milestone in the IN-PLAN journey, paving the way for more trainers and practitioners across Europe to champion integrated spatial planning. By combining capacity-building, peer learning, and real-life case studies, the project continues to help local and regional authorities turn climate and energy goals into concrete local action.
A heartfelt thank you to all participants, project partners, and UIV hosts who made this event such an inspiring experience. Stay tuned for upcoming IN-PLAN trainings and resources!
