The Elementary School Kopfing is the Climate Miles Summer Winner 2026

5 October 2026 The Elementary School Kopfing is the Climate Miles Summer Winner 2026 Mobility Minister Peter Hanke honours 80 pupils for 2,417 climate-friendly school routes

photo: BMIMI / Domnanovich

2,417 climate-friendly school routes in just 14 days: With this result, the 80 pupils of elementary school Kopfing from the municipality of Kopfing in Innkreis secured the Climate Miles Summer Victory 2026. Mobility Minister Peter Hanke honoured the children along with Climate Alliance Managing Director Elke Kastner at the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure.

In the Climate Miles campaign of Climate Alliance Austria, children across Austria collect "Climate Miles" for climate-friendly kindergarten and school journeys - walking, cycling, using scooters or public transport. The Volksschule Kopfing impressively demonstrated how many everyday journeys can be made without cars and that exercise and independent mobility start on the way to school.

Award for climate-friendly school routes

For their commitment, the pupils and educators of Volksschule Kopfing were awarded with a certificate and the Climate Miles trophy. As a prize, the pupils also received a trip to Schönbrunn Zoo. The travel to and from the summer victory ceremony was provided by Austrian Postbus AG.

"Children are already shaping how the mobility of tomorrow looks. The Climate Miles campaign shows that active mobility starts on the way to school: Those who walk, cycle or use scooters, move, become more independent and experience their own environment in a whole new way. The 2,417 Climate Miles from Kopfing impressively show what is possible together. I warmly congratulate the pupils on their victory," said Mobility Minister Peter Hanke."Especially because we are a rather small school, I am particularly pleased with how great the commitment of our children was during the Climate Miles campaign. Everyone contributed their part and together we were able to collect an impressive 2,417 Climate Miles. It's nice to see how involved our pupils were and how much we can achieve together as a school. They can really be proud of that. A big thank you to all the children, teachers and parents who participated and supported the campaign," said Principal Christoph Raab-Wiesinger."The journey to school is an ideal place to practically test climate-friendly mobility. The children experience that walking, cycling or scooting is not only climate-friendly but also fun and creates independence. That's exactly what the Climate Miles campaign has made visible for more than 20 years: From many small paths something big grows together," emphasizes Elke Kastner, Managing Director of Climate Alliance Austria.

On your feet, get set, go: collection continues in autumn

The summer victory does not mark the end of the Climate Miles season: Kindergartens, schools and leisure facilities up to the 7th school grade can also collect Climate Miles in autumn. Participating is simple: For every kindergarten or school route taken without a car, the children collect a Climate Mile. For this, they receive a sticker for their personal collection pass or the joint group poster.

All Climate Miles reported back by 10 October 2026 will be presented along with the "Green Footprints" collected across Europe at the 31st UN Climate Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey. Thus, the many climate-friendly paths of children also gain international visibility.