VCÖ calls for shade and unsealing at Carinthia's large parking lots as heat intensifies

Heat deaths in Carinthia

The organisation is calling for mandatory measures including unsealing surfaces, greening and tree planting at any parking lot with more than 30 spaces, including those at supermarkets, company sites and leisure facilities. "Um das Mikroklima zu verbessern und gleichzeitig schattige Stellplätze für Pkw zu schaffen, fordert die Mobilitätsorganisation VCÖ verpflichtende Maßnahmen wie Entsiegelung, Begrünung und das Pflanzen von Bäumen für Parkplätze mit mehr als 30 Abstellplätzen", the group said.

Schenk said the measures would also benefit parked cars. Without shade, the interior of a vehicle standing in the sun can heat up to around 45 degrees Celsius within 15 minutes. Shade, she said, can reduce the surface temperature of asphalt by up to 25 degrees Celsius, and grass surfaces are around 20 degrees cooler in the sun than asphalt.

What the VCÖ is proposing

She framed the proposed changes as a win-win for residents and drivers alike. "Mehr Schatten auf Parkplätzen schafft eine Win-win Situation: Für die Bevölkerung in der Umgebung verbessert sich das Mikroklima und gleichzeitig können Autos im Schatten parken", Schenk said, noting that planting trees along access roads, unsealing and greening surfaces would help cool the surrounding area.

The VCÖ said the warning applies not only to Carinthia but also to other Austrian provinces preparing for sustained heatwaves, including Steiermark and Vorarlberg, where large retail and business parking lots face similar conditions. Local authorities have not yet responded publicly to the proposals.

Broader context

Health agencies across Europe have repeatedly warned that urban heat islands, especially large paved areas, contribute significantly to excess mortality during heatwaves. The VCÖ's proposal would bring Carinthia in line with greening requirements already adopted in some other European regions for new large parking developments.

Schenk urged policymakers to act before the next heat peak. "Umso wichtiger ist es, entlang der Fahrbahn Bäume zu pflanzen, Flächen zu entsiegeln und zu begrünen", she said. The VCÖ said it would present detailed recommendations to Carinthian municipal authorities in the coming weeks.

For residents, the most visible change would be the gradual replacement of grey asphalt with shade trees and grass strips, transforming what Schenk described as "asphalt deserts" into cooler, more usable public spaces. The group also pointed to potential co-benefits, including reduced stormwater runoff and improved biodiversity.