Cooling Urban Life - Governance Model Incentivising Behavioural Change to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

As one of the hottest cities in Hungary, Szeged has recognised that in order to reduce urban temperatures and improve living conditions for city residents, changes not only need to be made in public areas and in local governance mechanisms by incorporating heat island mitigation strategies. Residents, local businesses and communities must also be encouraged and incentivised to use mitigation measures in their private built-up areas, as the active engagement of citizens is necessary to reach actual behavioural change. To achieve this, COOL LIFE will set up and demonstrate an innovative, complex governance model which includes the use of behavioural change incentives for all stakeholders to mitigate heat islands in urban environments. This will be complemented by guidelines both for professionals and the general public, as well as community involvement, communication and dissemination activities.

Europe's urban areas are home to around 325 million people, or nearly three-quarters of the EU's population - with almost 40% residing in cities alone. Cities and towns play a crucial role in responding to climate change, and urban settings also face greater damage risks from climate change than rural areas due to the high concentration of people, economic activities, assets and critical infrastructure. All of Europe's cities are at risk from climate change, but current and projected impacts vary depending on hazards in the given location combined with the city's exposure and vulnerability. A city has specific climatic conditions (urban climate) compared to those in open spaces. The basis of the difference is complex: it arises from the physical presence of buildings, infrastructure and pavements on the one hand, and from various human activities (transport, heating, industry) on the other, as well as from emissions. Excess heat often develops in the air of the city, on its surface and in the layers below. This is the urban heat island phenomenon, and it is most obviously manifested during heat waves.

COOL LIFE will be implemented in Szeged, a medium-sized city with a population of around 160,000, located in the south-eastern part of Hungary (46.3°N, 20.1°E) at 79 m above sea level on a flat floodplain. The River Tisza passes through the city but there are no other large water bodies nearby. Szeged has an administration area of 281 km2, but the urbanised area covers only about 40 km2. The city is committed to climate protection and the implementation of sustainable energy management. In this context it joined the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in 2017, prepared the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) in 2018, and joined the Under2 Coalition (which brings together large cities acting for climate balance) through the Association of County-Right Cities in 2018. The Climate Strategy of Szeged was prepared in 2020 and approved by the General Assembly on May 25, 2021. Based on the severity of the topics of the Urban Adaptation Barometer, there are three priority problem areas in Szeged: air quality, heat waves, and drought/soil degradation. The city may face serious challenges due to heat waves and drought/soil degradation at several points, for which it must be prepared.

OBJECTIVES

• The COOL LIFE project proposes an urban heat island mitigation incentive governance model that increases the number and quality of actions aimed at mitigating urban heat islands, thereby contributing to improving the city's resilience to climate change and contributing to sustainable living conditions for its residents - thus helping to achieve the goals defined in the European Green Deal.
• The project contributes to the general objectives of the LIFE Programme by proposing the development, demonstration and promotion of an innovative approach targeting all stakeholders which will promote local climate mitigation measures.
• It aims to prepare a heat island mitigation strategy for the city of Szeged and incorporate it into municipal governance and the daily operation of city services. It will also create a heat island mitigation incentive mechanism to involve residents, local businesses and communities.
• The project plans to demonstrate five effective heat island mitigation interventions; raise awareness, change behaviour and boost skills linked to evidence-based policy design and the implementation of mitigating interventions; and stimulate replication and uptake of the methodology and results at a regional, national and international level.

RESULTS

• COOL LIFE will improve the local municipal governance model and enhance the capacities of public and private actors and the involvement of civil society.
• The introduction of key urban heat island mitigation strategies (such as (1) creating wind corridors for ventilation; (2) increasing tree and vegetation cover; (3) installing green roofs and façades on buildings; (4) using lighter colours and cool pavements in construction; (5) using smart growth practices; and (6) making better use of water) will help reduce urban temperatures and improve living conditions for city residents.
• The project aims to incentivise behavioural change, reduce mainstream emissions, and promote resource- and energy-efficient actions. By acknowledging and rewarding local businesses for implementing mitigation measures - especially nature-based solutions - on their private property, businesses are expected to change their behaviour and make more greening investments in the long run.
• The amount of nature-based carbon removed or stored will be recorded in a specially-created tree inventory.
• It will be possible to calculate the carbon sequestration and air pollution removal by the urban forest in Szeged on a per tree basis.
• Preparing Szeged’s heat island mitigation strategy (T2.3); integrating it into the municipal governance model (T2.6); extending the transformation to the daily work of city service providers (T2.6); and developing a heat island mitigation incentive mechanism (WP3) will enable COOL LIFE to realise a comprehensive governance model to ensure faster adaptation, as all stakeholders will contribute to the same climate goals.
• Six direct interventions will be realised:
  • heat mitigation of tram stop Anna kút
  • cooperation with private investment in Hajnóczy street for green space rehabilitation and water retention
  • pavement greening in Kossuth Lajos Avenue
  • courtyard greening in educational institutions
  • condominium courtyard at 36-38 Tisza Lajos street
  • facade greening at 36-38 Tisza Lajos street.
• Another 20 interventions will be completed through the heat island mitigation incentive mechanism.
• A city-wide educational programme will be developed and organised as part of the COOL LIFE project, reaching students in at least 75 schools.
• At least 25 communities will be actively involved in the maintenance of urban green public space and 25 residents will join a Climate Watchers Network
• 80,000 citizens and 4,700 students will be reached through various awareness-raising and communication activities relating to the mitigation of urban heat islands.
• Networking with other LIFE and EU funded projects is planned on a regular basis. International replication is planned mainly through the 17 twin cities of Szeged, consortium partners in Nature4Cities, and international networks of which the city is a member (such as the Covenant of Mayors and the Danube-Cris-Mures-Tisa Regional Cooperation).