Communicating Climate Action in Everyday Terms: CoClimA at the 26th Austrian Climate Day in Vienna

April 17, 2026

On April 9, 2026, the research team for the CoClimA project at FERNFH presented the latest project findings at the 26th Austrian Climate Day. The focus was on how climate protection measures can be communicated in a way that makes them understandable, acceptable, and actually implementable in everyday life.

Team members of the CoClimA project at Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH attended the 26th Austrian Climate Day in Vienna and presented their latest findings on climate communication in everyday life.

Project staff member Pia Pototschnig presented the findings during the scientific session titled “Innovative Format,” accompanied by project leader Birgit Teufer. The presentation focused on the question of how climate protection measures can be communicated in a way that not only makes them understandable but also sparks concrete changes in everyday life. The 26th Austrian Climate Day provided the academic framework for presenting and discussing current research findings with an interdisciplinary audience.

By incorporating storytelling elements and actively engaging the audience, the traditional lecture format was deliberately broken up. The starting point was the fictional character Claudia, who was used to vividly illustrate how CO₂ emissions arise in various areas of life and where opportunities for individual reduction exist. This practical approach was chosen to make complex relationships more tangible in everyday life.

Climate Communication: Between Everyday Life and Structural Conditions

A key finding of the presentation concerns the area of mobility: For many people in rural areas in particular, this is where the greatest potential for savings lies, especially through reducing daily car use. At the same time, it became clear that individuals’ scope for action is often limited. A lack of alternatives, long distances, and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to make climate-friendly choices in everyday life.

Effective climate communication therefore operates on two levels: It must highlight concrete, realistic steps for action while also emphasizing the importance of appropriate structural frameworks that support climate-friendly behavior. This is precisely where the CoClimA project at the Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH comes in, by combining scientific findings with practical communication approaches.

Professional exchange and new ideas for project work

The subsequent discussion with the expert audience highlighted the importance of the interplay between individual decisions and political and infrastructural measures. For the research team, the exchange at Climate Day was a valuable opportunity to present project findings, reflect on them, and gain new inspiration for the project’s future work. At the same time, the team’s participation underscores FERNFH’s involvement in current academic discourses on climate communication and sustainable transformation.

About the CoClimA Project