Cooling Networks: Reducing Outdoor Heat Stress in Cities

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2025-02-03

Description

Description (EN):

Cities in the NSR-region are confronted with heat stress more often, longer, and with warmer temperatures as a result of climate change. Urban areas tend to experience 4 to 7°C higher air temperature than their rural surroundings, especially during the night. Heat stress leads to public health issues, impairs vital economic functions, and has an impact on the liveability of our cities. Unfortunately, NSR-cities are relatively inexperienced in dealing with heat stress. In the COOL CITIES project a consortium of local/regional authorities, a sectoral agency and knowledge institutions will jointly work on making cities in the NSR-region more heat resilient. We do this by realising a network of cool routes and cool spots in outdoor urban areas: a Cool Network. Through transnational cooperation we're able to tackle the complexity of urban areas from a spatial/social perspective. This requires an innovative and well-thought-out Cool Network Plan , targeting vulnerable residents and based on an analysis of the local situation with a shared strategy (Output 1). As heat stress is only one of the challenges faced by NSR-cities, solutions must be aligned with other urban challenges to ensure the long-term feasibility of the network. Moreover, limited resources in NSR-cities require cost-effective solutions that have proven to be successful. To overcome these barriers, the consortium will implement 7 Cool Network pilots in 6 cities (Output 2). We will deliver a Cool Network Roadmap (Output 3), including scalable solutions that can be rolled-out in the NSR-region. The Cool Network will have special attention for residents that are most vulnerable to heat stress due to their young/old age, illnesses/disabilities and/or socio-economic situation. This aspect, as well as the network aspect and the focus on the barriers for city-wide implementation, make the project innovative and ensure it goes beyond existing and previous projects on which results we build.

Actual Achievements (EN):

This reporting period covers the start phase of the Cool Cities project, with the following activities: On April 3, 4 and 5 2024 the Kick-off of COOL CITIES was organised in Rotterdam (NL). 40 participants including project partners, the JS and strategic partners joined for the kick-off followed by the first partner meeting. The Rotterdam partnermeeting and three online partnermeetings (11 Dec 23, 8 Feb 24, 10 June 24) focussed on the set-up of the project, planning and responsibilities. Besides this great effort was put in responding to the technical assessment and signing the Partnership Agreement. The COOL CITIES communication strategy has been set up and a communication working group with communication advisors from all PP's has been formed. The COOL CITIES website has been filled with the first basic project information; a COOL CITIES linkedin Group (company) page has been created and the first newsletter has been sent out. LP, AUAS and Middelburg made contact with the European Network Climate Alliance, C40-network, NWE Cool Neighbourhoods project and the Interreg Central Europe Ready4Heat project. Content wise the focus in this first reporting period has been on WP1 activities led by AUAS as part of the development of the Cool Network Plans: AUAS developed a comprehensive plan with key milestones for WP1. AUAS conducted an extensive literature review as foundation for the WP1 methodologies and developed a Spatial Inventory and Analysis methodology. PPs - in collaboration with local partners - collected and shared heat data and input on their heat policies as input for the inventory and local analysis by AUAS. This data was standardized and AUAS also identified, translated and created additional datasets. AUAS facilitated a co-creation session with each partner city on spatial and policy inventory and analysis. AUAS started the development of an interactive web map to be used in the project. Furthermore, PPs started preparing their pilot activities as part of WP2.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/cool-cities

Thematic information

Urban development Social inclusion and equal opportunities Climate change and biodiversity

Priority: (VI-B_NS_3) Priority 3: A climate resilient North Sea region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.4. Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 060 Adaptation to climate change measures and prevention and management of climate related risks: others, e.g. storms and drought (including awareness raising, civil protection and disaster management systems, infrastructures and ecosystem based approaches)

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: Gemeente Arnhem

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Nl00018.25.112.B01

Address: Koningstraat 38, 6811DG Arnhem, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.arnhem.nl

Total budget: EUR 1 268 166.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 760 900.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 507 266.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Name: Hogeschool van Amsterdam

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL815291152B01

Address: Rhijnspoorplein 2, 1091GC Amsterdam, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.hva.nl

Total budget: EUR 342 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 205 272.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 136 848.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Zentrum für Energie, Bauen, Architektur und Umwelt GmbH

Name: Zentrum für Energie, Bauen, Architektur und Umwelt GmbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE213593764

Address: Grosse Elbstrasse 146, 22767 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.zebau.de

Total budget: EUR 262 933.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 157 760.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 105 173.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

VILLE DE SAINT-OMER

Name: VILLE DE SAINT-OMER

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR76216207654

Address: Rue Saint-Sépulcre 16, 62500 Saint-Omer, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.ville-saint-omer.fr/

Total budget: EUR 431 161.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 258 697.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 172 464.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stadt Göttingen

Name: Stadt Göttingen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2020024084

Address: Hiroshimaplatz 1-4, 37083 Göttingen, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.goettingen.de

Total budget: EUR 729 360.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 437 616.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 291 744.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Göteborgs stad

Name: Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Göteborgs stad

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE212000135501

Address: Köpmansgatan 20 (Box 2554), 40317 Gothenburg, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://goteborg.se

Total budget: EUR 124 208.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 74 525.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 683.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stad Sint-Niklaas

Name: Stad Sint-Niklaas

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207464192

Address: Grote Markt 1, 9100 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.sint-niklaas.be

Total budget: EUR 594 789.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 356 873.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 237 916.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

HafenCity Universität

Name: HafenCity Universität

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE256502509

Address: Henning-Voscherau-Platz 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hcu-hamburg.de

Total budget: EUR 427 017.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 256 210.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 170 807.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Gemeente Rotterdam

Name: Gemeente Rotterdam

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 1876387B01

Address: Coolsingel 40, 3011AD Rotterdam, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.rotterdam.nl/

Total budget: EUR 638 250.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 382 950.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 255 300.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Gemeente Middelburg

Name: Gemeente Middelburg

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL2128032B01

Address: Kanaalweg 3, 4337PA Middelburg, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.middelburg.nl

Total budget: EUR 731 328.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 438 797.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 292 531.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

COMMUNAUTE AGGLOMERATION PAYS DE SAINT-OMER

Name: COMMUNAUTE AGGLOMERATION PAYS DE SAINT-OMER

Partner’s ID if not PIC: N.a.

Address: Rue Albert Camus 4, 62219 Longuenesse, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.ca-pso.fr

Total budget: EUR 447 998.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 268 799.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 179 199.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cooling Networks: Reducing Outdoor Heat Stress in Cities

Project acronym: COOL CITIES

Project ID: 25w4PN1VX

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2027-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 997 330.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 598 399.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 598 399.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

The City of Göttingen operates with its jurisdiction and no technical requirements or permissions are required at this time. As the design and implementation process of the pilot starts, the necessary documents will become available. - EUR 0.00 -
Building permit (end 2024, after approval of APD - definitive programme), approval from Architecte des Bâtiments de France (project committe member). - EUR 0.00 -
To conduct the interventions, municipal planning permissions are necessary. The city coordinates the process and will start it up early in the life cycle of the project to ensure that the process is completed in time. - EUR 0.00 -
The 'Omgevingsvergunning' (building permission) planning permission will be sought for the two works. The tendering of the construction/work itself will be started soon after. - EUR 0.00 -
formal decision from the council to start procedure for contractor (and appointment), spring 2025 technical design and construction file, spring 2025 official permit (environment), summer/fall 2025 - EUR 0.00 -
Building and planning permission by the municipality and the tendering of the construction/work itself. The city coordinates the process and will start it up early in the life cycle of the project to ensure that the process is completed in time. - EUR 0.00 -
Building permit (end 2024, after approval of APD - definitive programme), approval from Architecte des Bâtiments de France (project committee member) - EUR 0.00 -

Deliverables:

Activity 1.1 Inventory and local analysis of the partner cities / The strategy for the inventory is set up by our knowledge partners (e.g., what data to collect and defining 'sufficiently cool'). GIS data (e.g., PET, vegetation, socio-economic information, existing cool spots/routes) and policy data are prepared by the partner cities and shared with AUAS. They analyse and synthesize the data to draft Cool Network Plans and the LAPs. AUAS will provide guidance and support where needed.
Activity 2.1 Co-creation/participatory process local implementation Cool Network pilot / Based on the Local Action Programmes (activity 1.3), we will set up a co-creation process with all relevant stakeholder based on a first draft of the detailed design for each of the pilots. Co-creation ideally has 3 dimensions with: a) residents and b) external professionals, and c) internal professionals (from policy themes). This process will result in a finalised design for the local pilots including a budget calculation and a financial coverage plan for the implementation and its maintenance.
Activity 3.1 Describing the direct and indirect benefits of the Cool Network / Based on the results and lessons learned from the pilots in WP2, we collect the (in)direct benefits of the Cool Networks in our partner cities. We focus on the following aspects: The attractiveness of the place, also during other seasons than spring and summer The use of the newly built network (current vs new features) Biodiversity and ecosystem services Other city challenges These might also include negative effects. The activity is coordinated by AUAS and performed by the partners with a pilot.
1.2 Drafting Cool Network Plans (CNP) / Together with the knowledge partners, the seven partners cities + Hamburg (via ZEBAU/HCU) will analyse their local situation (activity 1.1) resulting into their Cool Network Plans (CNPs; activity 1.2) using a transnational framework developed by our knowledge partners. These plans outline the long-term, city-wide vision for a Cool Network through policies, strategies and maps. It provides a spatial overview of the local context, highlighting existing and potential cool spots and routes.
Activity 2.2 Transnational learning teams / To facilitate the transnational cooperation between the partners, transnational learning teams are set up, which are coordinated by the knowledge institutions. This includes an exchange programme and the organisation of twinning workshops for our personnel based on needs of partners and their pilot projects. Joint design workshops are organised by HCU. Partners share best practices and lessons learned in relation to their pilots combined with a study visit to the site.
Activity title 3.2 Preparation of the Cool Network Roadmap / We will start the preparatory work for the Cool Network Roadmap (O.3) by drafting a handbook (guideline) for policy makers and practitioners. Best practices from the pilots (WP2) and the (in)direct benefits (activity 3.1) will be included. A draft version will be reviewed by our target audience of urban planners and professionals in the fields of the built environment and climate change adaptation, after which it will be improved and finalised. The activity is coordinated by HCU who will be in the lead of drafting the report, with assistance from AUAS.
1.3 Developing Local Action Programmes (LAPs) / We develop Local Action Programmes (LAPs) for the seven partner cities + Hamburg by means of co-creation sessions (strategy provided by the knowledge partners). These LAPs provide a concrete list of and map of potential project locations for new cool routes and/or spots derived from the CNP. This document will also include relevant stakeholders and potential challenges and opportunities for location-specific interventions to realise more heat resilient outdoor spaces.
Activity 2.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the pilots / We monitor the 1) usability and attractiveness from the perspective of stakeholders, in particular residents; 2) financial (investments and maintenance) and planning effects (i.e., implications of matching measures with other challenges) and 3) participatory approach. We also model the effect on PET as the project duration is too short to fully monitor the growth/effect of urban greenery. The methodology is developed by HCU, which is used by the partners with a pilot to draft summary reports.
Activity 3.3 Educational sessions on the Cool Network / We organise 8 transnational sessions for at least 16 organisations outside the partnership (2 organisations per partner with a pilot). We discuss case-studies and possible options for co-creation. We aim to help participants in taking steps towards the planning of their own Cool Network. To assure the use of the material (developed with support from ZEBAU), partners will promote its use after the project and entrust associations to actively promote the material.
Activity 1.4 Communication activities / Knowledge institutions will develop publications on the why and how of Cool Networks Plans aimed at professionals (in- and outside the consortium). They will also give presentations during meetings and seminars. Contact has, for example, already been made with the C40 Network and the EU-network Climate Alliance on how our insights can be shared with others, within their network.
Activity 2.4 Local communication activities / The local communication activities in WP2 focus on outreach and engagement in the communication to user groups of the pilots and residents involved. We will support the local co-creation processes by giving presentations and sharing brochures, information leaflets and local online information. Our focus will be on raising awareness, informing and inspiring local stakeholders, residents/residential groups, policy/decision makers and professionals to participate in the local co-creation processes.
Activity 3.4 Communication activities / Communication from the partners will be focussed on providing comprehensive knowledge about the Cool Network Roadmap and communicate this to mainstream and roll out the Cool Network approach. Activities include: development of inspirational booklets, videos, webinars, publications, presentations on conferences and study projects with universities/students. Partner cities will share the lessons learned in their region, member state and networks of which they are a member (see also 1.4).
Activity 2.5 Communication activities: mid-term event / We will organise a mid-term event in the third year to get stakeholders and the (external) networks of the partners involved (see part C.3.4 and C.9.3). The partners present their Cool Network Plans and the strategy to analyse local situations (WP1). We also focus on the design/implementation of the pilots testing elements of the Cool Network plan (WP2), which will have been implemented in most cities at this point. Invitees will most likely consist of practitioners (see activity 1.5).
Activity 1.5 Communication activities: start event / To enhance general awareness, we will organise a start event in the first year to get stakeholders and the (external) networks of the partners involved. The partners present their plans for the upcoming 4 years in the project. Invitees will most likely consist of professional stakeholders/practitioners (e.g., policy makers, urban planners, researchers). All events are combined with a partner meeting (in person) to discuss the progress of the work packages (see part C.7).
3.5 Incorporate outcomes in research and education / The knowledge partners can incorporate lessons learned as part of the Cool Network Roadmap into their research (AUAS/HCU) and information/dissemination (ZEBAU) activities (see also 3.3). These lessons learned can also be disseminated via various bachelor and master programs at AUAS and HCU. Partner cities will try to integrate the Cool Network Roadmap in existing and future strategies and policies on climate adaptation. Deliverable is an adjusted research, education or dissemination programme.
3.6 Communication activities: final event / We are organizing a final event to share results and lessons from COOL CITIES with our network of practitioners. Attendees will include cities/regions in the NSR and beyond, knowledge institutions, and other stakeholders involved in heat stress issues. We will present our jointly developed Cool Network Roadmap (O.3) and hold educational sessions to encourage adoption of the Cool Network approach. Invitations will be extended to the European Commission and the Joint Secretariat.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

The strategy sets out how ‘the EU can adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change and become climate resilient by 2050.’ COOL CITIES contributes to smarter and more systemic adaptation by developing a strategy on how to develop data driven Cool Network Plans to improve heat resilience of cities in the NSR (and beyond). We promote nature-based solutions (urban greenery) in the pilots and gather more and better data on the implementation of the Cool Network also.
The more ambitious adaptation strategy was announced in the Green Deal to which COOL CITIES also contributes. We add to the overall well-being of EU citizens by improving their thermal comfort. The elements of the Cool Network we implement during (and after) the project will contribute to cleaner air and more biodiversity in urban environments (effects are monitored and evaluated). Our aim is for others to also adopt our approach and contribute to these benefits of the Green Deal as well.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 2
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 7

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-02-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

791 / 791 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Cooling Networks: Reducing Outdoor Heat Stress in Cities

Description

Thematic information

Partners (11)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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