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Description
The project involves the implementation of green-blue infrastructure measures related to increasing the area of green spaces, intensifying rainwater management activities in the city and cleaning them up, eliminating the urban "heat island" and improving the microclimate inside the city. The problem to be solved by the Project.
The following actions have been taken in response to the characterized adaptation and mitigation. Their implementation will improve stormwater retention in the city. Green corridors will become integrated spaces for the provision of so-called ecosystem services. The following actions have been planned within the framework of the project: mitigation and adaptation methods have been selected, as well as methods whose adoption in the urban space will bring the greatest benefits to the city.
Results of Project implementation: increase of green areas 93,581 m2 and biologically active areas, support of ventilation processes in the city, reduction of the effect of urban heat islands, elimination of soil sealing and backfilling, capturing and managing rainwater, raising local community awareness.
The main objective of the project is to increase the city''s resilience to negative phenomena resulting from changes climate change and adaptation to it, raising public awareness of climate change, reducing emissions greenhouse gases through the implementation of green and blue infrastructure investments.
Polish Association "Green Roofs"-substantive support during preparation of a grant application, participation in talks with the Norwegian partner, and at the stage of project implementation - organisation of conferences and trainings, participation in information and communication activities and development of a handbook/folder with green-blue solutions infrastructure that have been used in the project.
Wrocław University of Life Sciences - substantive support during preparation of joint assumptions design, and at the stage of project execution.
Summary of project results
“Green urban corridors - climate awakening in Konin” consisted in the implementation of green-blue infrastructure activities related to increasing the area of green ditches, intensifying rainwater management activities in the city, eliminating the urban ‘heat island’ and improving the microclimate inside the city. Also raised were issues of raising awareness of climate change mitigation and adaptation, launching a system for analyzing and monitoring air pollution, and strengthening the implementation of a closed-loop economy.
The indicated activities were accompanied by educational and informational activities, raising the awareness of the city''s residents about the effects of climate change. The project was comprehensive in nature, including adaptation, mitigation and education activities that are consistent and interrelated.
The main mitigation challenges are: :
- existing drought (monthly average in Konin is 20 dry days) – data www.metoblue.com- low precipitation / water shortage (500 mm - diagnosis for MPA),
- local flooding due to torrential downpours,
- post-mining area / post-industrial city,
- Concrete paved yards with few green areas,
- lack of rainwater retention,
- urban “heat islands” that raise the temperature in the city,
- low environmental awareness of the local community
In response to the characterized problems of the city, the Applicant identified such adaptation and mitigation measures that contributed most to the achievement of the project objectives. Their implementation has improved rainwater retention in the city. Green corridors have become integrated spaces for the provision of so-called ecosystem services. As part of the project, the following mitigation and adaptation activities were implemented, and methods were selected that will bring the most benefits to the city if adopted in the urban space:
- activities that fulfill both adaptation and mitigation functions:
- adaptation activities: 7 pcs.
- mitigation activities: 2 pcs.
As part of the project, the following activities were implemented:
- climate change mitigation and adaptation activities were implemented at the urban level such as: green and blue infrastructure investments were implemented - 13 pieces.
- experts in the above-mentioned field were trained - 15 people
- an awareness-raising campaign was carried out - 259,200 people
Permanent in-kind effects were created, such as:
- green walls - 1 item.
- pavement unsealing -1 pc.
- green areas and biodiversity (Green City Yards) - 9 units.
- greening of built-up areas (pocket parks) was introduced - 2 units.
- drainage was introduced (low greenery as natural drainage on green urban corridors) - 1 pc.
- rainwater retention system on green urban corridors was introduced -1 unit.
- small architecture was purchased (trash garbage cans, benches with pots, green pots) - 1 item.
- the number of trees along the streets increased (planting of vegetation that retains water and provides shade) - 1 pc.
- increased energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy sources used for street lighting (introduction of energy-efficient RES lighting on the green corridor
- green islands were created to slow down traffic and gazons with greenery to absorb exhaust fumes - 1 unit.
0.7391 hectares of green areas were created/revitalized, and 0.168 hectares of land were resurfaced.
Educational activities included:
- workshops for adults and students,
- educational competition for schools
- a Guidebook (catalog of green-blue infrastructure solutions) was published
- educational and informational materials were distributed
- an application for an urban educational game was introduced into the urban space
- a map was created on the geoportal entitled Green Corridors (as an effect and promotion of the project), which is part of the Konin Land Information System web portal.
- educational films were created (a series of interviews with specialists) –
- production of a TV spot
- trained through e-training (about 10 thousand people)
As a result of the project''s implementation, there was an increase in the area of green areas 93,581 m2 and biologically active areas, support of aeration and ventilation processes of the city - unsealing , reduction of the urban heat island effect, elimination of soil sealing and sealing, interception and management of rainwater, increased awareness of the local community.
Number of green and blue infrastructure investments implemented
The results achieved by the project are:
- increased environmental awareness, in particular knowledge of climate change and its consequences, mitigation and adaptation to climate change,
- raising awareness of Konin residents, as well as decision-makers in cities and municipalities on the role of green-blue infrastructure,
- disseminate knowledge on green-blue infrastructure solutions - from planning and design to implementation, care, revitalization.
The above-mentioned effects of the project in the form of green urban corridors and informational and educational activities benefited the residents of Konin.
The direct recipients of the effects of the project were: school-age children and adolescents, students.
Parents of children and senior citizens, decision-makers - employees of offices and institutions, local authorities, local activists working in the area related to the project, NGOs, landscape architects, planners, students preparing for these professions on a local scale. Managers of green areas (housing cooperatives), teachers and other residents of Konin, not belonging to the above groups, that is, in particular, young and middle-aged people.
Long-term benefits from the implementation of the project will also be achieved by the following target groups identified on a nationwide scale, i.e. planners, architects, landscape architects, students preparing for these professions on a nationwide scale, representatives of municipalities and cities interested in implementing green-blue infrastructure solutions as a way to mitigate and adapt to climate change, activists and specialists in ecology, specialists in urban topics (researchers, scientists, sociologists), students of urban studies, other people interested in urban topics.
Summary of bilateral results
Benefits obtained as a result of the presence of a project partner: Norwegian Green Infrastructure Association for support during the implementation of tasks. The most important benefits for: education of individual local government authorities, as well as territorial units - residents, exchange based on the so-called Great practices in the field of green and blue infrastructure through participation in scientific conferences, study visits, expert training (certification), workshops for adults and youth. Immediate/long-term benefits: - threat to awareness of climate change and its consequences, mitigation and adaptation to climate change,- raising the awareness of Konin residents, as well as decision-makers in cities and communes, about the role of green and blue infrastructure,- scope of knowledge about access to the range of green and blue infrastructure - from planning to implementation, maintenance, revitalization. The combination of science and first-hand experience inspired and educated Polish project participants and contributed to the improvement of Polish BZI projects. Contact with Norwegian and Scandinavian professionals allowed to build Polish-Norwegian network connections useful for the proposed BZI interventions within and outside the scope of the project.Cooperation with the Norwegian Association for Green Infrastructure provided knowledge, training materials and instructions in the planning and design of green-blue infrastructure (BZI) and solutions in the urban environment. knowledge and innovations were put into practice. Further cooperation/communication in the development of green and blue infrastructure in the city.