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Description
In this project, we are engaging the residents of the five most smog-polluted districts of the city of Toruń in activities to reduce low emissions, i.e. the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere. We want to involve citizens in information and education activities aimed at people with outdated coal-burning cookers.
In Toruń, the largest share of air pollution comes from household emissions (65.9%) and point source emissions (17.5%). According to data from Toruń City Hall, interest in grants for replacing heating has dropped significantly since the beginning of 2022. In the first quarter, only 33 applications were submitted for a city grant, compared to 87 in the same period in 2021.
As part of the project, we are recruiting and training 20 community anti-smog advisors. Their task is to contact residents and inform them about the need to replace their heating, available subsidies and where to get advice. The advisors identify problems and barriers to replacing cookers. The information collected will be used to develop recommendations on the offer of support available in Toruń. In addition, we are conducting an educational campaign. The advisors will be provided with ongoing mentoring and team-building meetings. Ten of them will have the opportunity to become certified energy auditors. We also organise workshops for people representing local authorities in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province. Their aim is to present the conclusions of the project and discuss the possibilities of introducing new solutions in individual municipalities. Thanks to this project, we will collect data necessary to introduce changes to anti-smog tools, which in the future will contribute to faster replacement of cookers and improved air quality. The project is coordinated by the Bydgoszcz Smog Alarm association in cooperation with the Sustainable Development Laboratory and the City of Toruń.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to engage the inhabitants of the 5 most smog-polluted districts of Toruń in reducing low emissions by actively involving them in information and educational activities aimed at owners of outdated coal stoves. In Toruń, the largest share in air pollution comes from dust emissions from individual coal and wood heating sources in households (65.9%). (data for 2019). In order to reduce low emissions in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, anti-smog resolutions were introduced. According to their provisions, class-free furnaces could only be used until December 31, 2023.
All project partners saw the need to introduce improved anti-smog solutions in Toruń. Due to the deadlines set in anti-smog resolutions, this was the last moment to intensify activities and join forces of local decision-makers, NGOs, social activists and the residents themselves.
Experience from previous projects has shown that reaching out directly to residents is the best strategy to inform, educate and encourage them to take action. The activities undertaken so far by the City Hall in informing and motivating Toruń''s residents to replace heating sources have been insufficient and have not allowed Toruń to achieve its goals.
Therefore, the project proposed the creation of a social network of anti-smog advisors who
they worked with residents in 5 districts of the city most affected by the problem of air pollution. Social advisors directly provided information to residents, especially owners of classless stoves, about available subsidies and assistance in replacing heating sources. They also collected information about residents'' needs and concerns related to heating replacement. The implementation of changes, based on information collected from field work of consultants, helped to accelerate the pace of replacement of coal furnaces in Toruń.
As part of the project, we conducted 7 info-edu meetings regarding the problem of air pollution, applicable regulations and available subsidies for heating replacement. The meetings were addressed to residents of the districts of Toruń most polluted by smog, members of district councils, property managers, seniors from the senior club and the University of the Third Age, as well as participants of the Clean Air picnic.
In total, we recruited 16 eco-advisors who underwent internal training in 3 sessions. Additionally, 6 advisors completed courses for energy auditors and for issuing energy certificates. After the training, eco-advisors started working in the field, knocking from door to door and persuading residents to replace their heating.
At the same time, we ran an info-edu campaign aimed at encouraging residents to get rid of coal stoves. As part of the campaign, we prepared leaflets, posters and graphics to promote the Ciepłe Mieszkanie program on Facebook. We also carried out radio interviews, press interviews, promotion of the project on Facebook and a campaign using fence banners.
At the end of the project, evaluation workshops were held, based on which we formulated recommendations for the City of Toruń. Additionally, in order to share the results, experiences, conclusions and recommendations from the project, we organized experience exchange workshops for municipalities in the region.
The most important achievements of the project are the training in anti-smog knowledge of a group of several Toruń social activists, members of district councils, who after the project completion remain multipliers of the content and postulates we provided. The result of the project is also learning about the main barriers that block the replacement of outdated stoves by Toruń residents, social eco-advisors reaching over 466 stove owners and informing them about available options, creating recommendations for Toruń and forwarding the project conclusions to other local governments in the region.
The most important result of the project is the training of a group of social activists and members of district councils. The social network of eco-advisors includes people who have already been active in their districts, most of them well-known Toruń social activists and activists well-embedded in local communities. Now they are equipped with new knowledge and skills, thanks to which we expand the scope of our anti-smog activities and increase our impact on the gradual elimination of low emissions from the most polluted districts of the city.
2 eco-advisors ran for the City Council in 2024. Anti-smog demands were part of their election program. One candidate started a petition in which she demands an increase in the level of municipal subsidies for heating replacement and a reduction in the bureaucracy associated with the payment of this subsidy, which would significantly speed up the pace of replacing furnaces.
The project also resulted in learning about the main barriers that block the replacement of outdated furnaces by Toruń residents. 137 residents completed our survey during conversations with social eco-advisors. According to the results obtained, the high cost of investment, lack of assistance in choosing the type of heating, problems with finding contractors, fear of high heating costs and formalities cause reluctance to act. Thanks to the results obtained in the survey and using the conclusions and experiences of social eco-advisors, we managed to formulate recommendations for the City of Toruń, which are a proposal of actions necessary to take in order to overcome the barriers standing in the way of replacing furnaces in Toruń.
As part of the project, social eco-advisors reached 466 stove owners and informed them about available financing options for heating replacement and anti-smog regulations. 115 people took part in the info-ed meetings. Some people tried to replace the heating and were provided with help from the Office''s advisory and consultation point.