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Description
The aim of the project is to strengthen civic participation and to increase the direct involvement of young and adult residents in local decisions regarding adaptation to climate change. We are implementing the project in municipalities located in the Central Oder Valley. There is a threat of water scarcity and the loss of biodiversity in this area, that affects also the most valuable riparian forest habitat. The threat is related to plans to build water steps on the Oder River, between the Lubiąż village and the town of Nowa Sól. According to scientists, water scarcity is already occurring and will be a major problem caused by both climate change and the poor state of water management in Poland. In this project, we draw the attention of local communities to how they can increase the resilience of the local environment and protect water resources and biodiversity. We prepare young people to carry out a water resources diagnosis, involve residents in discussion and prepare petitions to local decision-makers. We demonstrate the use of small-scale retention by implementing grassroots initiatives such as rainwater beds, rain gardens or green zones. We conduct training and webinars. We will organise a Youth Climate Camp and a conference in cooperation with the "Time for the Oder" Coalition. The project’s results will be the increase in the residents’ involvement in shaping local policies and in their sense of empowerment. The project will involve 160 people from 8 municipalities. Our information activities disseminating the good practices of the project will reach approximately 20,000 recipients. The project partner is the ''pro Natura'' Foundation. The Foundation runs a social reserve in the Łacha Valley close to the Oder River, implements active protection projects, conducts educational activities and research. It also has an Education Centre for the organisation of workshops.
Summary of project results
Poland is affected by the effects of climate change. Water deficit already exists and will continue to be the main threat resulting from the effects of climate change in Poland. The project was intended to draw the attention of local communities, especially young people, to how to increase the resilience of the local environment in response to decreasing water resources and declining biodiversity. Green and blue infrastructure has many functions: regulating temperature, storing and purifying rainwater, absorbing pollutants, creating a livable space, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening resistance to climate change. The direction and pace of implementation of changes at the local level should be the subject of public discussion, involving primarily young people, because their level of awareness will determine whether in the future actions adapting to climate change will be implemented in the local environment, as well as whether the topic of changes climate and water deficit will be an important topic for local decision-makers. In the project we reached: - 16 representatives of organizations/schools who improved their competences in engaging communities around climate initiatives. - 59 participants of 2 webinars and 48 conference participants benefited from the presented good practices of adaptation to climate change on a local scale. - 24 participants of the Youth Climate Camp improved their knowledge of climate activism. - 32 representatives of the organization improved their competences in engaging communities around climate initiatives and local policies, diagnosis of the local environment, and cooperation with local governments. - 188 residents taking part in the debates improved their knowledge of climate change, developed adaptation ideas for the local government, and strengthened their sense of agency and influence on the course of local affairs. - 80 residents were involved in planning and implementing initiatives and working for the common good, creating bonds of cooperation between residents and the local government, and a specific ecological change took place in public space.
1. Organizational recruitment We invited 4 organizations, 2 schools, 1 library and 1 KGW to participate in the project.
2. "Local communities for climate" training on good examples of local activities undertaken by communities to protect nature and climate.
3. Climate debates Youth, with the support of adults, organized climate debates in their communities, collected information about the effects of climate change in the commune and indicated that despite being aware of climate-related changes, they did not realize that they had a real impact on the quality of life and could take local actions, that adapt to climate change.
4. Open climate initiatives Youth implemented 8 initiatives: - 3 rain gardens in Primary School 1 and Primary School 3 Polkowice and in Szczytniki, - box rain gardens of Primary School 3 Chojnów, - revitalization of a pond in the village of Radecz, - 2 plantings of perennials in the area of the Library in Chojnów and around the pond in the village of Biała - box discounts at SP 3 Góra.
5. Youth climate camp The camp aimed to integrate young people implementing initiatives, showing the pressure of climate change on the natural environment and taking actions/campaigns for the climate.
6. Sharing good practices and project evaluation We conducted a webinar informing on how to implement climate initiatives, engage young people and cooperate with local government, as well as a webinar for teachers on how to engage young people and residents in climate activities. We held a conference that touched upon the important topic of the Oder''s vision in terms of adaptation to climate change.
7. Communication activities - we created a project subpage, - we update the foundation''s Facebook page, - we broadcast a program on Radio Wrocław, - we printed posters and a banner for the project, - we published an article in regional media, - we have prepared a YouTube video about the implementation of the initiatives, - we developed and published a brochure "Restoring rivers to nature".
The project participants included 8 groups of youth and 16 adult guardians. We prepared young people from schools and towns to conduct a diagnosis of water resources in their immediate environment, and we included residents in a discussion on the observed effects of climate change. An important aspect of the project was the joint implementation of grassroots initiatives (retention discounts, rain gardens, green zones) showing examples of climate action. There were training courses, webinars, a Youth Climate Camp, a conference in cooperation with the Partner, a publication "Restoring rivers to nature" and a reflection report on the project. Extensive information and educational activities were carried out through social media, website, press, radio and by organizing numerous meetings. The project strengthened civic activity and direct involvement of young people and residents in local decisions regarding adaptation to climate change. 8 climate initiatives were created to support biodiversity and rainwater collection, and there were significant changes in the space and surroundings of young people. Eight debates were held to raise the knowledge of young people and residents about the effects of climate change and the possibilities of taking adaptation actions. As a result of the implementation of project activities by 8 local communities (188 participants) from Polkowice, Chojnów, Biała, Radecz, Góra, Szczytnik nad Kaczawa, the level of ecological awareness and the activity and involvement of the local community in specific activities mitigating the effects of climate change increased. The result of these activities is an increase in young people''s sense of agency in climate matters.