On the 10th and 11th April 2024, EMEA Project Manager, Joanna Grodzka, Communication and Research Officer, Kirsty Fairhurst and Research Assistant, Riccardo de Angeli, travelled to Turin, Italy to participate in the kickoff event of the Green Living Areas Thematic Community. The event was organised by mission partner Environment Park, with the aim of gathering all 19 thematic projects together for the first time to find synergies and common actions, to promote green living areas in the Mediterranean.
In the session, The Ecosystemic Transition Unit Model for Green Living Areas, Joanna Grodzka led the discussion on developing a multidimensional integrated framework, fit for the use of the Thematic Projects using a systemic thinking approach. The session began with testimonials from the municipality of Brdovec, Croatia, Fundación MUSOL, ANCI Lazio, and Environment Park, on their experiences of the ETU model from the previous project INTERREG MED Renewable Energy.
Following those presentations, the Thematic Projects were split into working groups focusing on 5 key themes: green finance, sustainable mobility, citizen engagement, green and renewable energy systems, and green spatial planning. The thematic projects were invited to work directly with the proposal of the ETU model and share what tools and solutions they will develop and who the end users will be. These discussions start an integrated building process to gather the projects’ results and to transfer them through the ETU model to regional and local public authorities and other stakeholders. Research Assistant, Riccardo de Angeli connected with the discussions to prepare work on the upcoming ETU-White Paper for Energy Transition.
The next time the Thematic Community meets will be in Spring 2025 in Barcelona. To learn more about the Green Living Areas Mission, head to the website.
The Green Living Areas Mission aims to improve the lives of Mediterranean citizens by promoting the development of green living areas. As part of the Interreg Euro-MED Programme, the Mission undertakes projects that bring local communities to life with green development at their centre, reducing negative climate impacts on the region’s ecosystems, and enhancing climate resilience. EMEA is a project partner of Community4LivingAreas and co-leads coordination.
