PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Home to a large percentage of Europe’s population, cities are facing great challenges related to climate change. These include rising annual temperatures, more frequent summer heat waves and droughts, and the increasing likelihood of heavy rainfall, windstorms, and landslides. Land use, especially uncontrolled urban growth, sealed surfaces, and development on open spaces can moreover increase the risk of extremely high temperatures and floods and contribute to soil desiccation and a shortage of drinking water sources.
Climate change and its main impacts have been included in the Adaptation Strategy of the Slovak Republic on Adverse Impacts of Climate Change. Bratislava began adaptation efforts to climate change through the project EU cities adapt (2012-2013) that resulted into the drawing up of an adaptation strategy. Based on assessments, Bratislava Karlova Ves is one of city’s most vulnerable areas, especially given the number of prefabricated buildings it contains. Current legislation does not sufficiently promote a balance of adaptation and mitigation measures to climate change.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE DELIVER project aimed to introduce adaptation and mitigation measures in residential areas consisting of mostly prefabricated buildings. The aim was to increase their resilience and reduce carbon footprints to boost the health and comfort of local citizens, improve their property protection and increase biodiversity. The project contributed significantly to EU policy priorities for climate adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity in urban areas. Specifically, the project aimed to:
- increase knowledge of common consolidated climate resilience and carbon footprint assessment, as well as the monitoring of progress in urban residential areas;
- promote and demonstrate the integrated adaptation and mitigation approach with emphasis on eco-based climate solutions and biodiversity promotion;
- increase the inclusion of residents into the process of combating climate change to strengthen their safety from related risks and to promote biodiversity;
- propose changes and improvements to national climate legislation;
- increase awareness and promote the project approach to other cities in the EU with similar climate problems.
RESULTS
The project achieved all foreseen objectives, and some expected results were even exceeded. Implementation of crucial and costly prototype climate solutions, implemented in two public buildings (schools) and public space, are innovative in Slovak conditions and were accomplished even despite the pandemic and a significant increase of building material costs. The prototype consists of climate adaptation technical solutions in buildings together with outside biodiversity enhancement measures. These prototype solutions are sustainable for a long time and the knowledge is being widely transferred to experts and public. A developed climate-related online tool (www.klimasken.cz) is being replicated in towns and buildings of Slovakia and Czech Republic and has been included in the database of tools under the EU Climate-ADAPT. Among many other project outputs, the approved Climate Resilient Low Carbon Action Plan for Bratislava-Karlova Ves municipality guarantees in the near future implementation of the climate measures developed by the project. Furthermore, the project contributed especially to the Slovak Act on Nature and Landscape Protection by specification of climate adaptation measures and to the Slovak Water Policy by considering sustainable use of urban rainwater. Various stakeholders were involved in development of climate resilient tools, strategies and plans, e.g. local government, architects, NGOs, public, schools, and the Union of Towns and Cities of Slovakia. The consultancy and educational activities offered by the Community Centre for Climate and Biodiversity, established by the project, have demonstrably enhanced social interaction, and fostered a stronger sense of community.
