Sixteen days, nine federal states and countless encounters: this summer, eight young people embarked on a special journey across Austria. Their goal: to find out what kind of climate future people in the country envision.

The experiences along the way were as diverse as the country itself. From climbing in halls and on rocks to paddling on the Danube, hiking through gorges and over Alpine peaks to cosy conversations on the lakeshore: everywhere there was discussion, laughter, questioning and, last but not least, listening. In climbing halls, train stations, national parks and mountain huts, the participants spoke with travellers, hut owners, foresters, or simply hikers of all ages about their personal climate dreams. The focus was on nothing other than values, responsibility and the future.

On foot, by bike, train and bus, they visited cities, mountains and rivers, met locals and travellers, and spoke to foresters, national park rangers and climbing enthusiasts. Everywhere they went, the question was the same: what does a future worth living look like, beyond numbers and statistics, towards values, desires and visions?

A key aim of the trip was not only to discuss sustainability, but also to exemplify it. The group travelled mainly by train, bus or bicycle and made a conscious effort to eat regional food. This made climate protection a tangible experience in everyday life on the tour, as well as in discussions about personal climate dreams.

The tour was challenging and inspiring at the same time: a full programme, steep paths and unpredictable events demanded stamina, but the encounters strengthened the feeling of solidarity and made the trip a real adventure! The group celebrated the end of their journey in Vienna, where they shared their most moving moments with their families.

For every climate dream collected, Naturfreunde Österreich will donate €1 to a climate protection project run by Naturfreunde Internationale in Mali, which is establishing sustainable tree nurseries to improve food security. Anyone wishing to get involved in climate protection could also donate a symbolic €1 to show their support. In this way, the climate dream tour will continue to provide concrete help long after it has ended, and far beyond the borders of Austria.