The impacts of climate change are also increasingly evident across our region of Europe and addressing them is a key priority of the current Poland – Ukraine Programme. An important aspect of action on this issue involves environmental protection in urban areas, which is hindered among other things by insufficiently developed green infrastructure and the persistently low level of environmental awareness of certain segments of the population.
The challenges of counteracting the effects of climate change, preserving and enhancing biodiversity and improving the quality of life of residents through the creation of green infrastructure elements were taken up by the partners of the project "Cooperation beneficial for the climate – the development of the green infrastructure in Łęczna and Kovel" (acronym GreenAction). The long-standing cooperation between the two cities has made it possible to identify converging problems and challenges and to develop a project that responds to common needs, which can only be realised by working in partnership.
On 20th March, the opening conference of the GreenAction project was held at the Cultural Centre in Łęczna, attended by representatives of the regional and local authorities of Łęczna and Kovel, schools and kindergartens participating in the project, as well as institutions involved in environmental protection.
The implementation of joint activities is more than a project, it is first and foremost the friendship of partner cities, which in the case of Łęczna and Kovel has lasted for 20 years and resulted in the implementation of five joint cross-border projects, – said Leszek Włodarski, Mayor of Łęczna.
A testament to the friendship between the two cities and the friendly relations between their residents was undoubtedly the humanitarian aid organised by the Łęczna authorities for the residents of Kovel since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, for which Taras Yakovlev, Deputy Mayor of Kovel, thanked in his speech.
During the conference, a panel discussion entitled "Challenges of climate change and climate protection – the role of green infrastructure and biodiversity", which was attended by representatives of the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Lublin, the Lublin Landscape Parks Complex and the Polesie National Park was held. The discussants shared their opinions with the participants of the meeting about the threats resulting from climate change and the challenges ahead of us in this context, as well as possible ways of preventing them.
Implementation of the GreenAction project will improve residents' quality of life by creating nature- and climate-friendly green infrastructure elements. In Łęczna, activities will focus on the revitalisation of the riverside area, the escarpments surrounding the old town, the Podzamcze Park and the former granary building. Furthermore, an arrangement will be made for the Świnka river valley area. In Kovel, on the other hand, the planned activities include the revitalisation of the Lesia Ukrainka City Park, Taras Shevchenko Park and the green area adjacent to the City Cultural Centre, together with the nearby Turia river area.
In addition, the project aims to increase the environmental awareness and tourist attractiveness of both towns, will strengthen cross-border cooperation and foster people-to-people contacts. The total value of the project is 2 798 288.57 EUR, including Programme funding of 2 468 370.35 EUR.
More information on the project can be found here.
Here you may find the project footage from PL regional television:
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