Developing and demonstrating portfolio of nature based and smart solutions for improving urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia

Introduction

There is urgency of improving the climate resilience within territories of Baltic local governments, to solve practical urban climate-coping challenges as well as transform the regions to be more resilient in extreme weather events in future.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the Project is to increase resilience of Estonian and Latvian urban areas to extreme weather events, by focusing on four specific objectives:

1. Nature-based solutions
2. Digital change
3. Quality of planning
4. Engaged communities and skilled enablers

Specific Measures

More specifically, the project will develop and test a set of measures that will help to prevent and respond in case of pluvial flooding, i.e., flooding generated locally by an overload of the urban drainage system by extreme rainfall.

Development of Tools

The new high-potential plant communities will be composed, a pluvial flood simulation model and integrated decision support system for mitigation measures will be developed, and nature-based solutions (NBS) will be designed.

Testing and Implementation

These tools and solutions will be tested in eight urban demonstration sites of Latvian and Estonian local governments. Green infrastructure (GI) and NBS will be operationalised in local urban municipal planning by:

• Co-creation of policy and management options
• Adoption of NBS maintenance rules
• Urban greening plans

Capacity Building and Awareness

In addition, the capacity of local governments (planners, project managers, and politicians) will be strengthened on developing and managing NBS and urban planning of GI. Awareness will also be raised on adaptation to climate change effects and thriving co-creation of NBS with the local communities.

Project Implementation

The project will be implemented by 16 Latvian and Estonian partners in close cross-border cooperation, and the results will be transferred to other local governments in the Baltic region as well as to other EU Member States.