Actions
Action A.1: Development of Stakeholder Engagement Strategy including Communication Plan
Start date: 01/10/2016
End date: 31/12/2016
During this Action, a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy (SES) including a Communication plan was developed (Del. A1.1). In total, 8 stakeholder groups have been identified. A large number of individuals (>500) belonging in these stakeholder groups has been initially identified (and was later enriched) by the project partners, while representatives from each group have been invited to participate in the Steering Committee of each project area.
Action A.2: Ensuring the official adoption of the local strategies and the implementation of adaptation measures
Start date: 01/10/2016
End date: 30/04/2017
During this Action, the partner municipalities signed the “Covenant of Mayors” agreement, through which local authorities are committed to adopt local adaptation strategies in a period of two years.
Furthermore, the partner municipalities ensured that no permissions are required for the implementation of the small-scale green infrastructure measures. What is more, the municipalities also got the approval for the endorsement of the local adaptation strategies.
Action C.1: Recording of the existing situation in the partner municipalities
Start date: 01/10/2016
End date: 30/07/2017
Activity C.1.1: Investigation of current climate change impacts and vulnerability
During this Action, information regarding the existing and expected climate related impacts to the urban planning sectors of the partner municipalities has been gathered and assessed.
Activity C.1.2: Spatial and bio-physical mapping
In this action, a three-dimensional (3D) digital atlas of the partner municipalities was developed. The mapping activity mostly focuses on creating new layers of information about the morphological, hydrological and natural systems. The activity C.1.2 has been carried out by the IUAV team.
Activity C.1.3: Recording of the socio-economic profile
In this action, the socio-economic characteristics at municipal, regional and national level were recorded based on the available data from the statistical services of the three countries as well as from Eurostat. The indicators collected may be categorised in: Demographic, Economic and Health indicators.
Action C.2: Simulation of current climate and projection of future changes in climate
Start date: 01/10/2016
End date: 28/02/2018
During Action C.2.1, historical climate data for the study areas in terms of temperature and precipitation have been gathered and assessed in order to draw safe conclusions about their vulnerability to climate change. Daily climatic records have been analysed for all stations for the period from 1985 to 2014. Furthermore, regional climate model simulations data from CORDEX (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (http://cordex.org/) were obtained in order to study future changes in climate for each partner municipality. After the evaluation between four RCMs, the Regional Climate Model RCA4, developed by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) has been selected as more realistic for the cases studied in this project. The projections have been generated using two future emission scenarios: the RCP4.5 and the RCP8.5. Action C.2 was mainly undertaken by NOA.
Action C.3: Water-related vulnerability and adaptation assessment
Start date: 01/05/2017
End date: 31/05/2018
C.3.1. Water availability and droughts
C.3.2. Floods
In brief, according to the methodology developed for the assessment of climate change impacts on urban municipalities, the impacts are conceived as a function of the climate change hazards and the vulnerability of the exposed population. For assessing climate change impacts, the composite indicator approach is selected. In addition, a review of the available adaptation measures for addressing water related climate change impacts took place and a questionnaire was developed for the evaluation of the adaptation measures based on a set of criteria (Multi-Criteria Analysis, MCA).
For the impact assessment of water availability, the main water sources of each municipality were studied and sub-indicators were calculated such as, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index, the inflow to surface waters, the groundwater recharge and the water exploitation index. With respect to floods, the impact assessment was carried out with the use of data on flood hazard, low-lying areas next to rivers, runoff indexes, population density, critical infrastructure and social vulnerability. Main responsible for the implementation of this Action was NTUA.
Action C.4: Heat-related vulnerability and adaptation assessment
Start Date: 01/05/2017
End Date: 31/05/2018
C.4.1. Heatwaves and health
C.4.2. High temperatures and energy demand
C.4.3. Peri- urban fires
C.4.4. Ozone exceedances
Impacts related to heatwaves and health were calculated as a function of: number of days with HUMIDEX>38°C, population density and social vulnerability. Impacts related to high temperatures and energy demand were calculated as a function of: number of days with CDD>5, population density and social vulnerability. Impacts related to peri-urban fires were calculated as a function of: number of days with FWI>30, slope, aspect and flammability. Impacts related to ozone exceedances were calculated as a function of population density, social vulnerability and the estimated number of ozone exceedances.
Main responsible for the implementation of this Action was NOA.
Action C.5: Development of the UrbanProof toolkit for supporting cities in adaptation planning
Start Date: 01/01/2018
End Date: 30/11/2018
In this Action the knowledge developed so far is synthesized into a web-based decision support toolkit for adaptation planning (the UrbanProof toolkit).
The URBANPROOF toolkit is a powerful decision support system aimed to enable better informed decision making for climate change adaptation planning. In specific, the user is guided though the different features of the toolkit in order to gain insight into the climate change impacts to the urban environment, to explore and evaluate the available adaptation options and to investigate the effect of adaptation interventions in increasing climate change resilience.
The tool is structured upon five stages reflecting the adaptation process, i.e. Stage 1- Climate change information, Stage 2 – Impact assessment, Stage 3- Exploration and evaluation of adaptation options, Stage 4: Development of an adaptation strategy, Stage 5: Monitoring and review.
The tool currently may be used for conducting an impact and adaptation assessment for every urban municipality in Italy, Greece and Cyprus (~3000 municipalities in total) at 500x500m resolution for each of these municipalities. Higher resolution data are provided for the partner municipalities.
The UrbanProof tool is available here
https://tool.urbanproof.eu/
Action C.6: Implementation, optimization and demonstration of the UrbanProof toolkit
Start Date: 01/01/2018
End Date: 30/04/2021
C.6.1. Implementation, evaluation and optimization of the UrbanProof toolkit
C.6.2. Demonstration of the UrbanProof toolkit
During this Action, the first version of the UrbanProof toolkit was put into practice at the four partner municipalities, through the integration of the relevant databases created during Actions C.1-C.4. Following, it was decided to integrate the databases for all urban municipalities of Greece, Italy and Cyprus to the UrbanProof toolkit, in order to substantially increase and promote the replication potential of the toolkit to other municipalities. Then it was tested and evaluated by the project team and other project stakeholders while further improvements were applied for its optimization based on the input received.
Following, a set of local and national events were organized in all project countries to demonstrate the tool and to promote its replication and transferability.
Action C.7. Implementation of selected green and soft adaptation measures
In the framework of the LIFE URBANPROOF project, selected green and soft adaptation measures have been implemented at the partner municipalities, in order to examine their effectiveness in reducing the impacts of climate change, to increase public awareness on climate change adaptation and to prepare the ground for the implementation of the adaptation strategies.
Municipality of Lakatamia: Reconstruction of Melina Merkouri Avenue roundabout
The Municipality of Lakatamia has renovated the roundabout of Melina Merkouri Avenue. A dominant element in the design of the project is the use of permeable materials such as permeable concrete as well as the collection and use of rainwater. As regards irrigation, a traditional way of it has been established, with the use of irrigation channels, tanks and wells. For the operation of the artificial well, photovoltaic panels have been installed. Concerning the plantations of the roundabout, endemic shrubs and trees with low water requirements have been used.
Municipality of Strovolos: Greening unexploited public area at Georgiou Iona Street
The adaptation measure implemented by the Municipality of Strovolos is related to the greening of 1909m2 of public area.
Within the green area, a botanical garden is created with plants highly harmonized in the natural environment of the area. The plants have been specifically selected due to their reduced irrigation needs and drought-resistant water requirements. The planting techniques which have been used aim at water retention at the level of plant rhizosphere.
As regards irrigation water, a drilling has been constructed so as to ensure its availability. In addition, all pathways’ coatings are covered with water-permeable materials for the sufficient infiltration of rainwater. The plan also includes the construction of a fitness area which will produce energy through the use of fitness equipment.
Municipality of Peristeri: Provision of thermal discomfort information
The Municipality of Peristeri installed a network of sensors across the municipality for providing real-time information to citizens about the level of thermal discomfort within the Municipality and providing instructions and advice for the avoidance of health burden during heat episodes (e.g. air-conditioned rooms, places with low discomfort, etc.).
In specific, a network of 12 online stations recording the temperature and relative humidity have been placed at selected sites within the municipality. The stations consist of 11 online installed at strategic places throughout the municipality, as well as, 1 mobile station installed at a municipal bus that crosses Peristeri. The provision of information to citizens is realized through an electronic billboard which is installed outside the municipality town hall.
Municipality of Reggio Emilia: Green areas, green roofs, permeable pavements and “water squares”
The municipality of Reggio Emilia has chosen 24 adaptation projects already envisaged in Municipal programming and strengthened, where possible, the adaptive aspects for actions not yet definitively designed. In this way, EMILIA has guaranteed the realisation of more green and soft adaptation measures than those initially planned, also integrating some adaptation measures and criteria into the planning institutional tools.
C7.2. Report on the mapping of the Urban Heat Island effect in the municipality of Peristeri
Action C.8. Development of local adaptation strategies for the partner municipalities
In the framework of the LIFE UrbanProof project, the UrbanProof toolkit was used in order to develop the adaptation strategies for the municipalities of Strovolos and Lakatamia in Cyprus, Peristeri in Greece and Reggio Emilia in Italy.
The strategies form part of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP) that the municipalities submit as signatories to the Covenant of Mayors. Before the official submission of the SECAPs, the municipalities also published the draft plans for public consultation in order to increase visibility and acceptability of the foreseen actions.
Municipality of Reggio Emilia:
Approval date: 02/11/2020
Public consultation period: 07/2020 - 08/2020
Corresponding document: Sustainable Energy (and Climate) Action Plan, municipality of Reggio Emilia
The Local Adaptation Strategy defines the “Vision” for adapting the city to climate change which is then “translated” into actions to be implemented on the territory, by identifying 6 strategic objectives, which are further detailed in 20 specific objectives of a more operational nature.
The draft Adaptation Strategy proposal was submitted to public consultation, through the Municipality’s website in July 2020 for about a month and it was presented through two webinars to local stakeholders and to a Municipal Council Commission.
Furthermore, the Municipality published a local on-line questionnaire in order to assess the perception, knowledge and interest of the citizens of Reggio Emilia on the subject of climate change.
On November 2, 2020, the Strategy for adaptation to climate change was presented by the Councillor for Sustainability Policies and approved by the city council. The strategy is included in the Action Plan for Energy and Climate, which has been submitted to the Covenant of mayors.
Municipality of Lakatamia:
Public consultation period: 30/12/2020 - 11/01/2021
Corresponding documents: Sustainable Energy (and Climate) Action Plan, municipality of Lakatamia
The Municipality of Lakatamia announced the launching of public consultation on its Sustainable Energy and Climate 2020-2030 Action Plan. The adaptation strategy was submitted to the Municipality Committee which has approved it to be published. A questionnaire has been developed to inform the public, which was due until 10/1/2021. The strategy is included in the Action Plan for Energy and Climate, which has been submitted to the Covenant of mayors. More details regarding the public consultation process were uploaded in the municipality’s website.
Municipality of Strovolos:
Public consultation period: 16/11/2020 - 30/11/2020
Relevant documentation: Sustainable Energy (and Climate) Action Plan, municipality of Strovolos
The Municipality of Strovolos announced the launching of the 1st Stage of public consultation on its Sustainable Energy and Climate 2020-2030 Action Plan. Submission of contributions was available from 16/11 to 30/11-2020. The strategy is included in the Action Plan for Energy and Climate, which has been submitted to the Covenant of mayors.The Action Plan which was submitted to public consultation was uploaded on the municipality’s website.
Municipality of Peristeri:
Approval date: 20/05/2021
Public consultation period: 05/04/2021 - 12/04/2021
Relevant documentation: Sustainable Energy (and Climate) Action Plan, municipality of Peristeri
The draft Adaptation Plan developed by the municipality of Peristeri in cooperation with NTUA and NOA was submitted to the responsible Vice Mayors and Directors for evaluation. Following, it was published for public consultation in the municipality website from 05/04/2021 – 12/04/2021. The Adaptation Plan was approved by the city council on 20/05/2021. The strategy is included in the Action Plan for Energy and Climate, which has been submitted to the Covenant of mayors.
Action C.9. Replication and transfer strategy
During this Action, the technical and economic viability of the implementation of the proposed UrbanProof toolkit was evaluated. Following, a transfer and replication strategy was developed including a clear set of activities for replicating the tool to other municipalities.
UrbanProof Transfer and Replication Plan
To further promote the replication of the UrbanProof toolkit for supporting municipalities, a Guide was developed providing step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate the outputs of the UrbanProof toolkit in the development of a Climate Action Plan.