21.03.2024.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement of the new Public Call worth EUR 17 million, this year again the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund organised informative workshops for representatives of local units this year on the importance of investing in green infrastructure.Minister of economy Damir Habijan addressed the participants emphasising the importance of the workshop. " Green infrastructure investment projects are vital activities that can improve the quality of life in our cities. Both international and domestic experience shows that such investments have excellent results both in the context of climate neutrality, as well as in energy savings. However, the benefits are far more abundant, from air quality to the quality of health of citizens, which is why we should not neglect these benefits in climate policy."
"Along the climate changes we are witnessing, the growing interest of cities and municipalities shows there is considerable need for such programmes. We are glad that over the past 2 years we were able to support 122 green infrastructure development projects, for which we have provided 28 million euros", said Luka Balen, director of the Fund, noting that the Fund also encouraged the cultivation of seedlings, as well as the preparation of project documentation that is the basis for such projects.
"Today, we are no longer talking about climate change, but about the climate crisis," warned Nirvana Frankovic Mihelj, PhD, in her presentation. She pointed out that the changes in the main climate indicators in previous periods were much slower, while now they were being monitored annually. "While the monitoring so far has focused mainly on CO2 emissions generated by various activities, what is being specifically monitored nowadays are sinks, which means potential that different land types have regarding the absorption of greenhouse gases. That is why green spaces are particularly important and why green infrastructure is crucial for adaptation to climate change, "explained Franković Mihelj.
Aleksandra Čilić, head of the Environmental Protection Sector at the Fund, underlined Croatia’s, being a Mediterranean country, vulnerability to climate change. "This is just all the more reason to strengthen the resilience of our cities and rethink urban planning differently, which we at the Fund have dubbed the “Green Side of the Street”. Through our calls, the Fund co-finances the installation of green canopies, planting trees, greening of public parking lots and parks, hiking paths, public taps, strategic documents, experience exchange projects, as well as education programmes,” said Čilić. She praised the best practice examples of towns and municipalities that had completed their projects successfully.
One of the most common uncertainties when planning urban greening projects is what types of plants to use, which was resolved in a presentation by Marko Radošević, an expert from Hrvatske šume. He stressed the importance of using native species of forest trees and shrubs and avoiding invasive alien species that can be aesthetically attractive, but also cause damage to the environment. "The basic guiding principle should be - the right tree in the right place with the right purpose," Radošević concluded.
“In order for all citizens to become aware of the impact that climate change has on our everyday lives, good communication is key,” said Sunčana Matić from the Public Relations Department of the Fund. She added that it was therefore important to continuously implement various educational activities at the local level and motivate citizens to contribute with their daily habits becoming part of the change for a better future.
