The third local training organized within the ENTRAIN project
Environmental aspects related to the development of small district heating networks based on renewable energy sources were the topic of the third local training organised within the international project ENTRAIN: Enhancing renewable heat planning for improving the air quality of communities, financed by the Interreg Central Europe programme. The event took place on 25 January 2022 in an online format and is part of a series of four training, where each focusing on a different aspect of district heating.
The event was opened by Patrycja Płonka - Project Manager of the Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités", who welcomed and introduced the participants to the topic of the meeting. After the introductory words, Anna Fijas, also a project manager in PNEC, presented the activities of the Association and the detailed scope of the ENTRIAN project - its objectives, stages and activities that have been carried out.
Development of the district heating sector in Poland – seminar in Warsaw
The needs and challenges facing the district heating sector in Poland were discussed during a seminar organised jointly by the Association of Municipalities Polish Network “Energie Cités” and the National Centre for Emissions Management, Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute, which was held on 18 January 2022 in Warsaw.
Third training organized under the ENTRAIN project
We are pleased to invite you to participate in a training course on environmental aspects related to the development of small district heating networks using renewable energy sources, organized within the framework of the ENTRAIN project, funded by the Interreg Central Europe program. The event will take place on January 25, 2022, from 10:00 - 12:30, and will be conducted in an online format (via the Zoom Webinar platform).
Success of the GRAD project — Bielsko-Biała bets on green roofs!
We are very happy to inform you that our member city Bielsko-Biała, which had been recently involved actively in the GRAD project, by means of a resolution of the City Council of 21 December 2021 adopted the “Green Roofs for the City of Bielsko-Biała Programme”, funding the construction of green roofs and walls.
The aim of the GRAD project was to develop, in 8 Polish cities: Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, Lublin, Kalisz, Kraków, Warsaw and Wrocław model strategies for the development of green roofs using the experience of the City of Hamburg. Since April 2014 Hamburg has had and implemented its own strategy on simulating the establishment of green roofs in the city.
Launch of Energy Poverty Advisory Hub!
The conference that launched the European Energy Poverty Advisory Hub-EPAH on November 22-23 was organised to present the initiative and create a favourable environment for the exchange of good practices aimed at reducing energy poverty.
European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, in her opening speech emphasized the important role of municipalities in just transition process. It is municipality that is able to reach those in need, therefore local authorities must be at the forefront of implementing solutions aimed at reducing energy poverty.
BEACON comic book - an inspiring graphic story for young people who want to make a change - finally in Polish!
With great joy we announce that the long awaited, unique comic book “Climate change challenge” is now available in Polish.
Created by Portuguese artists Bruno Pinto, Quico Nogueira and Nuno Duarte, based on real stories showing consequences of climate change in countries participating in the project the book follows an incredible story of Sofia and her brother Gabriel, who travel across Europe. Sofia’s goal is to develop a board game about preventing climate change and adapting to its consequences. Seeking inspiration she, along with her brother, visits France, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Czechia, Greece and Italy, where she witnesses the effects and increasingly dramatic consequences of climate change. The siblings can also see what’s been done in terms of completing the objectives of the Paris Agreement – a global plan, signed by over 190 countries, including the EU, that should protect us from a great threat posed by climate change by containing the global temperature rise below 2°C. Sofia and Gabriel can witness how authorities, local communities and climate change activists counteract the negative effects of climate change: preparing agriculture, forestry and urban development for it and reducing the share of fossil energy. All the ideas, experiences and solutions the siblings have collected, make it clear that climate change is far more complex and real than they thought, but that municipalities, local communities and climate actors can really make a big difference as long as they engage in pro-ecological activities together. Sofia realises that her game must be based not on competition but on cooperation, because the climate change is a challenge for all of us and only together we are able to tackle it.
Campus Technical Meeting within the S3UNICA project
We would like to invite you to participate in Campus Technical Meeting, which is a part of the exchange of knowledge and experience program implemented within the S3UNICA project: Smart Specialization University Campuses. The event will be held in an online format on 21 October 2021 from 13:00 - 15:00 and is aimed at representatives of universities and research institutes interested in the topics of energy management, development of renewable energy sources and innovative energy technologies on university campuses. The meeting is organized and realized by LUT University and the Regional Council of South Karelia in Finland.
Visual workshop in Sztum - inspiring collaboration for climate neutrality
Active local leaders, representatives of schools, kindergarten, Municipal and Communal Social Assistance Centre (MGOPS), Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP), Sztum's Cultural Centre, Senior Citizens' Club and the Group of Rural Housewives in Czernin, as well as the Municipal Council of Sztum gathered on 7 October this year in the premises of the Senior Citizens' Club+ to better understand the concept of climate neutrality during a visual workshop and to co-create a common vision of Sztum in a climate-neutral future.
The aim of the BEACON workshop was to explain what climate neutrality means and demystify its concept while creating opportunity to engage with the citizens on the link between climate action and local development.
The city of Sztum has been implementing quite a number of such activities - starting with the use of wind and solar energy in the city and municipality, and support of the energy production from renewable sources in 125 households, through joining the new Covenant of Mayors, developing the Climate and Energy Action Plan and the city Low Emission Programme, to creation of a new position for the integrated city and municipality development and the implementation of the climate projects.
3rd meeting of the Polish Regional Stakeholder Advisory Group within the ENTRAIN project
On 9 September 2021 in the City Hall of Płońsk, after a break of more than a year due to the pandemic, the third personal meeting of the Regional Stakeholder Advisory Group established under the ENTRAIN project took place. The members of RSAG are the representatives of the city and municipality of Plonsk, municipal companies operating in the heating sector, as well as universities and local municipalities. The meeting was opened by Mrs. Anna Jaskuła - Director of the Association of Municipality Polish Network "Energie Cités".
At the beginning of the event there were reminded the objectives and realized activities and their results so far, as well as other activities planned for the near future. The representative of University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw reminded the participants of the most important principles of the prepared Regional Action Plan for development of heating networks based on RES in the target region of the project, which is Płońsk County and the area of the Płońsk Energy Cluster. The current political, legal and financial framework for the development of heating based on RES was also presented.
Multi-level dialogue on accelerating local climate actions in Poland
Accelerating the energy transition and climate actions on local level was the subject of a multi-faceted discussion during the national workshop on 27 and 28 April 2021 that gathered over 50 participants – representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, the Ministry of Economic Development, Labour and Technology, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFEP&WM), Voivodeship Funds for Environmental Protection and Water Management (WFOŚiGW), NGOs and local governments (including Bielsko-Biała, Cieszyn, Gdynia, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Piaseczno, Sztum and Zamość).
The online workshop organised as part of the BEACON project (Bridging European and Local Climate Action) enabled the continuation of the multi-level dialogue on supporting local authorities in the effective implementation and intensification of climate actions.
