Networks and cities' news

How can cities activate unused green spaces and buildings?

Picture yourself in that dark grey building or street, which does not smell nice, feels unsafe and makes you wonder only about one thing: I feel so bad, why did I come here? Now, picture yourself in that same building or street wondering only about one thing: OMG, it’s an amazing place, why didn’t I come here earlier?! 

So… what’s happened? What’s changed to this area that you have to twist your daily itinerary to come and enjoy this area? And what is there actually to do?

The 9 Project Partners of the GreenPlace network – Boulogne-sur-mer, Bucharest-Ilfov, Limerick, Löbau, Nitra, Onda, Quarto d’Altino, Vila Nova de Poiares, and Wroclaw- have experimented this journey, using the knowledge and methodology gathered over the first year and a half of the network. Their stories tell us more about actions to make abandoned buildings, forgotten tram depots, unused green areas, or unused yet to be renovated built areas – attractive and worth coming to. 

Seine-Saint-Denis Hosts URBACT Local Group Meeting on Early Childhood and Migrants' Rights

On March 27, WELDI partner Seine-Saint-Denis held its 8th URBACT Local Group (ULG) meeting on services for early childhood. A good opportunity to get to know a particular systematic approach to working with the ULG.

FIRST FLOWERS FESTIVAL IN VRATSA CELEBRATES SPRING AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

The first Flowers festival was organized in Vratsa during Easter time this year. The event involved over 20 florists from all over the country. The entire city was transformed with stunning flower-based decorations and installations, creating a colourful and joyful atmosphere in every corner. Streets, parks, and public spaces were adorned with beautiful floral arrangements, bringing the essence of spring to life. The city, usually known for its scenic beauty, became a living canvas, where each decoration was a reminder of nature’s fragility and the need to protect it.

Project Kick-Off: Aligning Goals for a Strong Start

Where are the children? Putting young people back into Sustainable Urban Development

Sustainable cities for whom? It’s time to put young people back on the map

Energy Poverty Intelligence Unit: an innovative energy poverty reduction solution designed and implemented in the city of Getafe

In 2018, it was estimated that around 15% of Getafe’s households – approximately 30,000 residents – could not keep their homes warm in winter. Additionally, rising climate change impacts and increasingly frequent heatwaves made summer conditions more extreme. Yet, fewer than 1,000 residents (234 households) in Getafe sought assistance – revealing a significant gap between those in need and those receiving help.

“This was a clear sign we have to act,” says Fernando González Ferreira, one of the key developers of the Energy Poverty Intelligence Unit. “But the more we searched for the solution, the more we realized that there was none suitable for our situation. So, we knew we had to get innovative and do it ourselves in close collaboration with our community.”

And they did it! Since 2022, when it became operational, the Energy Poverty Intelligence Unit assisted over 2,750 households (more than 6,850 citizens) and, on average, reduced their energy bills by 20%, improved the internal coordination between municipal services, and established fruitful cooperation with a diverse array of external partners like universities, NGO’s, consultancies, etc.