Progress Meeting of HORIZON 2020 JUST NATURE for a just transition to low-carbon cities, based on the principle of the right to ecological space. 

On 10, 11 and 12 October 2022 the 2nd JUSTNature progress meeting was hosted in Chania by Technical University of Crete.

The overall objective of JUSTNature is the activation of nature-based solutions (NbS) by ensuring a just transition to low-carbon cities, based on the principle of the right to ecological space. This in particular refers to the right to clean air and indoor/outdoor thermal comfort for human health and well-being, as well as thriving biodiversity and ecosystems. It also refers to the duty of not constraining the ecological space of others, in particular in relation to the mitigation of climate change and measures required for reducing GHG emissions. JUSTNature will contribute to this vision of shaping low-carbon cities by developing a set of typical Low carbon | High air quality NbS in seven European city practice labs (CiPeLs).

The first two days, 10 and 11 October, the meeting activities were held in Centre of Mediterranean Architecture. Through interactive sessions the scientific and city partners:

• Highlighted Nature Based Solutions potential and design objectives
• Clarified Data and Monitoring needs and
• Identified co-governance strengths and weaknesses

The Technical University of Crete with scientific coordinator Professor Dionysia Kolokotsa, Dean of School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, participates in the JUSTNature with aim to develop a cyclical indicator framework to monitor and evaluate progress in the CiPeLs. The framework will include urban metabolism, environmental and socio-economic criteria.

The city of Chania is represented by KYDON DIMOTIKI Α.Ε., the managing company of the municipal parking. A green wall and urban park at the municipal parking building in Chania, Greece are the planned NbS interventions.

The 3rd day of the meeting, Wednesday 12 October, involved a tour of Chania, focusing on the city’s sustainable development interventions, as well as a visit to the pilot site. The tour was guided by TUC and KYDON. The Managing Director of KYDON, Mr Charalampos Litos introduced the pilot site to the partners. The JUSTNature partners were also welcomed by in Chania City Hall by Vice Mayor Mr Anastasios Aloglou.

More information about the project: https://justnatureproject.eu/

The project partners are: 

• ACCADEMIA EUROPEA DI BOLZANO, Italy
• Technical University of Munich, Germany
• Technical University of Crete, Greece
• Universita ta Malta, Malta
• RWI - LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR WIRTSCHAFTSFORSCHUNG, Germany
• ABUD MERNOKIRODA KFT, Hungary
• E2ARC ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH FOR CITIES, Belgium
• PROSPEX INSTITUTE, Belgium
• IES R&D, Ireland
• INLECOM COMMERCIAL PATHWAYS COMPANYLIMITED BY GUARANTEE, Ireland
• CROWDHELIX LIMITED, Ireland
• STICHTING ISOCARP INSTITUTE CENTER OF URBAN EXCELLENCE, Netherlands
• PLANETEK, Italy
• KYDON DIMOTIKI ANONYMI ETAIREIA EKMETALLEYSI STATHMOU AYTOKINITON, Greece
• LANDESHAUPTSTADT MUENCHEN, Germany
• STAD LEUVEN, Belgium
• COMUNE DI MERANO, Italy
• COMUNE DI BOLZANO, Italy
• GZIRA LOCAL COUNCIL, Malta
• SZOMBATHELY MEGYEI JOGU VAROS ONKORMANYZATA, Hungary