The CONE project addresses urban challenges caused by climate change, such as heat stress, biodiversity loss, flooding, water scarcity, and water quality. Central Europe faces increasing heat waves, with cities experiencing higher temperatures than surrounding areas, known as the urban heat island effect. Additionally, changing rainfall patterns are expected to lead to more frequent and severe floods, particularly in northwestern and central western Europe, while southern Europe may experience droughts, especially in Northern Italy and Slovenia.
Municipalities, responsible for urban planning and climate adaptation, face both direct and indirect challenges due to climate change. However, there is a general lack of awareness about climate risks. To address these issues, the CONE project emphasizes transnational cooperation, involving public and private sectors, civil society, and academia, to increase awareness and support Nature-based solutions in urban areas.
The project will establish three pilot cases in five locations across Europe—Padova (Italy), Poljcane (Slovenia), Wejherowo (Poland), Jászberény (Hungary), and České Budějovice (Czech Republic). These urban living labs will follow a three-phase approach: collaborative research, solution ideation, and experimentation. Over three years, the project aims to develop a replicable strategy and present it to policymakers to support urban greening plans in Central Europe, aligning with the EU Biodiversity strategy.
