OTB Europe is proud to embark on a new, exciting opportunity in the Interreg Programme!
The Green B-LEAF project addresses the urgent challenge of climate resilience and sustainability in rural Mediterranean communities. These areas face the dual pressures of environmental degradation and limited resources and require innovative solutions to adapt to climate change and enhance their sustainability. The project’s overall objective is to empower these communities through participatory budgeting, providing them with the tools and knowledge to drive climate-resilient and sustainable transformations. By equipping local authorities with hyper-local climate data and fostering community-driven green projects, Green B-LEAF aims to create lasting, impactful change.
The expected change involves transforming rural communities into proactive agents of climate resilience. This will be achieved through the development and implementation of Green Participatory Budgeting (Green PB) models tailored to local needs. The main outputs include comprehensive data mapping reports, identified climate vulnerabilities, Green PB methodologies, and a toolkit for climate-focused budget analysis. These outputs will benefit local authorities, community members, and stakeholders, providing them with the necessary resources to plan, finance, and execute effective climate adaptation strategies.
Our approach leverages cross-border, transnational, and inter-regional collaboration to maximize impact. By fostering knowledge exchange and collaborative design among Mediterranean communities, the project ensures that best practices and innovative solutions are shared and adapted across the region. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of local interventions but also builds a resilient network of communities capable of supporting each other in the face of climate challenges. The participatory nature of the project ensures that solutions are community-driven, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment.
The Green B-LEAF project will build synergy with other initiatives such as the Cities of Tomorrow and the NEBA project, which support integrating New European Bauhaus values into regional planning. By aligning with these projects.
The overall objective of the Green B-LEAF project is to enhance climate resilience and sustainability in rural Mediterranean communities. By equipping local authorities and residents with the necessary tools and knowledge, the project seeks to foster data-driven planning and budgeting decisions that are responsive to hyper-local climate data. This participatory approach will enable residents to propose and implement green projects, thereby actively contributing to their community’s climate adaptation and sustainability efforts. The expected change from this project is a significant improvement in the capacity of these communities to address climate vulnerabilities, resulting in more sustainable and resilient local economies.
What sets Green B-LEAF apart is its focus on rural areas, where participatory budgeting is less common, and its integration of NEB (New European Bauhaus) principles, emphasizing beauty, sustainability, and togetherness. The project’s innovative use of Green Budget Tagging (GBT) and simulation of climate scenarios ensures that interventions are both effective and future-proof. By involving residents in every step, from data collection to project implementation, Green B-LEAF not only addresses immediate climate challenges but also builds long-term resilience and sustainability through community empowerment and engagement.
The partnership connects 10 partners from Italy (GAL Molise, Coordinator), Portugal (Municipality of Faro, OTB Europe), Croatia (Municipality of Vodnjan – Dignano), Bulgaria (Municipality of Sandanski), North Macedonia (Municipality of Strumica, Center for Climate Change), Greece (Municipality of Pilea-Hortiatis), Spain (Municipality of Quart De Poblet), and Slovenia (Municipality of Beltinci). The project will be funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme (Priority: GreenerMED, Mission: Promoting Green Living Areas) and is set to be implemented over a period of 33 Months.