From November 28 to 29, 2024, the historic city of Ptuj (Slovenia) hosted an important event: the GreenScape CE Partner Meeting. Over two days, project partners gathered to address the creation of climate-resilient urban landscapes. The meeting brought together representatives from partner cities, urban planning experts, and civic engagement specialists, all committed to developing innovative strategies to make Central Europe’s urban areas greener, more sustainable, and more livable.
The first day laid the groundwork for innovative and productive collaboration:
- Study Visit: A guided tour of Ptuj’s successful green initiatives allowed participants to witness tangible applications of green infrastructure, providing inspiration and concrete models for sustainable urban development.
- Introductory Discussions: REGEA and ALDA+ led the opening sessions, focusing on project management and communication strategies, sharing significant updates on progress, and outlining the next steps.
- Workshop on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS): Under the theme ‘Sowing the Seeds,’ partners delved into best practices for implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) and green infrastructure (GI), emphasising innovative and replicable approaches.
The second and final day of the GreenScape CE Partner Meeting centered on actionable strategies and planning for future activities:
- Collaborative Workshops: Under the theme “Bring About Change,” partners, guided by ETIFOR and other experts, refined pilot actions, drafted feasibility studies, and developed the technical documentation required for future implementations.
- Strategic Deep-Dive Sessions: Contributions from UIRS – Urbanistični Inštitut Republike Slovenije, AMBIT, Energiaklub, ZRS Bistra, the City of Zagreb, and ALDA+ explored opportunities to connect green infrastructure (GI) and nature-based solutions (NBS) initiatives. These sessions also highlighted strategies to raise awareness and engage local communities effectively.
- Next Steps: Partners committed to expanding the GreenScape CE network, strengthening regional collaboration, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of project results.
The day concluded with a shared and ambitious vision to integrate green solutions into cities, tackle urban climate challenges, and create a roadmap to transform gray areas into green, resilient cities.
The Ptuj meeting reinforced the GreenScape CE consortium’s commitment to creating inclusive and climate-resilient urban environments. It showcased the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) and green infrastructure (GI) in mitigating urban heat island effects while promoting harmonious and sustainable development.
The collaborative energy, innovative solutions, and shared passion among partners perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the GreenScape CE project.
As the project progresses, the GreenScape CE partnership will continue to expand its network, foster local community engagement, and implement innovative solutions to reshape the urban landscapes of Central Europe.
Stay tuned for updates on the next steps of our mission: #MakeGreyCitiesGreener!