GRAD – Green Roofs for Climate Adaption in Urban Areas

The activities throughout the project addressed the consequences of increased urbanisation processes, in particular the reduction of green spaces in cities. As a solution, the project promoted the creation of green roofs and green walls, which are still rare in Poland. Such green areas come with many benefits: they retain rainwater, increase urban green surface, reduce temperature differences and air stagnation, increase biodiversity, tie CO2 and reduce its amount in the atmosphere.

The project planned the transfer of German experiences and practices in the field of climate adaptation and mitigation to Poland. The focus lay upon the development of strategies and solutions to support the creation of green roofs. Established bilateral exchange with the city of Hamburg led to the development of eight local green roof strategies for eight Polish cities. The results were included in policy documents and the strategies were promoted among other cities to encourage them to take similar action. Planned capacity building and networking activities included the organisation of thematic seminars, workshops, study trips to Hamburg and the development of an inspirational brochure presenting German good practices in the field of green roofs, climate adaptation and climate mitigation strategies. The activities were connected with a widespread dissemination campaign to raise public awareness about the positive climate aspects of green roofs.

• Green roof strategies: As part of the project, the eight Polish pilot cities of Bielsko-Biała, Bydgoszcz, Gdynia, Kalisz, Kraków, Lublin, Warsaw and Wrocław developed comprehensive local green roof strategies and integrated them into their climate plans. They received support in the form of a model template developed in cooperation with the city of Hamburg and intensive guidance. The strategies also serve as showcase examples for other Polish municipalities and lay the foundation for the widespread integration of green roofs into urban planning. 
• More knowledge: Representatives from over 200 municipalities took advantage of the project events to deepen their knowledge of green roof strategies. 
• Publications ensure dissemination: Over 25 materials produced as part of the project and over 1,000 brochures with German and Polish examples of good practice raised the profile of the topic in Poland, aroused interest far beyond the pilot cities and stimulated the development of green roof strategies in other municipalities.