10 partners in 4C: Climate actions, coordination, capacity, creativity
With the held from 7 until 9 December 2021 first training under the project within the framework of the Environmental Protection and Climate Change Program, financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014 – 2021, the work of the experts’ teams in the eight Bulgarian partner municipalities has been initiated.
During the training the expert teams from Burgas, Varna, Kardzhali, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sliven, Stara Zagora and Sofia started their practical exercises, related to the assessment of the risks of the climate change in the big cities – heat island effect, alternate floods (caused by heavy rainfalls) and droughts (with water shortages), as well as urban landslides.
The partners under the project from the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) and from the Western Norway Research Institute (WNRI) familiarized the participants with the drawn up by them report on international experience and good practices. The participants learned about the experience of Spain, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, as well as about methods for risk analysis aiming at assessing possible solutions. The presentations included information on several strategic documents of municipalities, analytical approaches and implemented design solutions for green facades and roofs, rain gardens, green reservoirs for rainwater, urban farming, etc.
A Bulgarian advisory team introduced the participants to a methodology for analyzing existing strategic and planning documents, as well as implemented projects in the municipalities. The municipal teams have started the practical application of the proposed analytical methods, which will allow an assessment of the situation and the possible solutions from different perspectives. Any possible solution must be analyzed in the light of the implications for the overall sustainable urban development, effects on the biodiversity, comfort and safety of the residents, availability of technology for its implementation, legal regulation for such intervention and many more aspects.
The next steps under the project include the work of the expert teams at the municipal administrations and several their meetings for discussions and joint work, as well as study visits to Norway. As a result of these steps, the most appropriate innovative solutions for each municipality for financing and implementation under this project by 2024, will be selected.
In the meantime, there is also a need for updating the regulatory and legal framework in the field of urban development, for which purpose proposals for discussion by the relevant institutions and stakeholders, will be prepared.
Leading role in the project implementation has the National Trust EcoFund, financially supported by the Environmental Protection and Climate Change Program, financed by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021.