The necessary changes and inevitable challenges posed by climate change and the adaptation to its effects, especially in the Mediterranean context, call for an ecological transformation based on decarbonisation and the establishment of a “Green City” model at the core of the urban space.
Taken its expertise in ecological transition and carbon neutrality commitment by 2050, Metropole Nice Côte d’Azur (MNCA) has taken the lead of the Dialogue4LivingAreas, of the Mission Green Living Areas project, a European project for institutional dialogue on Green Living Areas, part of the European Interreg Euro – Med Programme 2021 – 2027.
Developing public dialogue around green living areas
This European project, an integral part of the Green Living Areas mission, proposes to create an innovative support mechanism for the main Euro-Mediterranean stakeholders (local/national authorities, European institutions, associations, networks, cooperation programmes, macro-regional strategies), aimed at including their active participation in an Institutional Dialogue Community, strengthening Mediterranean cooperation through the improvement and transfer of initiatives and public policies.
The project focuses on the dynamics of cities as ‘Green Living Areas’, targeting climate change and risk prevention, energy efficiency, renewable energies and citizens’ communities engaged in energy management by promoting sustainable urban transportation, improving water and waste management and developing urban and peri-urban agriculture.
It therefore carries 3 objectives:
– Better identify stakeholders and public policies, and the potential for cooperation,
– Encourage exchanges between the various institutional levels and support the sharing/transfer of experience and practices,
– Improve strategic coordination at national, European and Mediterranean level between the main public policymakers.
The activities of this 7-year project will shape within a tree structure, progressively increasing the number of players involved and the scope of actions towards establishing a sustainable Euro-Mediterranean Institutional Dialogue on Green Living Areas (Dialogue4LivingAreas), with demonstrated results consistent with the 2030 objectives.
Ecological transition, spearheading Nice Côte d’Azur’s sustainable strategy
Nice Côte d’Azur, committed since 2008 to becoming the green capital of the Mediterranean, has been investing in a range of green projects, including soil permeabilisation, new natural areas’ creation, greening schools and urban agriculture. It particularly aims at creating an additional 70 hectares of green space, helping to counter global warming and improve its residents’ wellbeing.
MNCA, a major player in Euro-Mediterranean decentralised cooperation
This new project is part of a series of European projects conducted by MNCA, including MEDNICE, SEACAP 4 SDG and IRIS (energy efficiency and performance), BLUE GREEN CITY (green and blue infrastructure), MEDiate and ALPIMED CLIMA (risk management and climate change), etc.
MNCA is also a major player in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, implementing its strategy and steering its actions at local and Euro-regional level. Nice Côte d’Azur chairs and leads the EUROMED Cities Network, housing its General Secretariat since 2012.
MNCA’s Euro-Mediterranean roadmap is structured around three main areas:
- Green, intelligent and attractive cities
- Climate, health and safety risks
- Culture, memory and youth.
Presentation of the project
Partnership
- Lead partner: Metropole Nice Côte d’Azur (France)
- PP2: Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC) (Spain)
- PP3 : University of Patras (Greece)
- PP4 : Polis Network (Belgium)
- PP5 : West Croatia Regional Energy Agency (REGEA) (Croatia)
- PP6 : Infrastrutture Recupero Edilizio Energia (IRE) (Italy)
- PP7 : Larnaca District Development Agency (ANETEL) (Cyprus)
- PP8 : Lisboa E – nova Agency (LEN) (Portugal)
- PP9: Energy Efficiency Agency of Albania (EEA) (Albania)
Project duration: 7 years (January 2023 – September 2029)
Total budget: €4m
Three Work Packages
- WP 1 Reuse: Mapping the public stakeholders who define/implement public policies
Coordination: Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya (IREC)
- WP 2 Transfer: A cross-disciplinary Euro-Mediterranean Living Lab.
Coordination: University of Patras
- WP 3 Coordination: Community.
Coordination: Metropole Nice Côte d’Azur
Green Living Areas is co-funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme with a budget of 3 199 493.12 € .