Cool LIFE project to eliminate urban heat islands in Szeged

Sándor Nagy, deputy mayor for urban development, held a press briefing last Thursday in downtown Szeged on the Cool LIFE program, a large-scale program aimed at eliminating heat islands in the city.

One part of the program is information, so the Cool LIFE website and Facebook page have already been launched, not only to provide information on urban plans but also to provide ideas and methods for reducing heat islands in and around private homes. The city aims to involve residents and businesses in tackling the problem.

This issue is important because the municipality's authority is limited to public spaces, where it can take action to reduce the impact of heat islands. One such heat-reducing project of the municipality was the renovation of Bartók Square, which was finished and handed over in February this year.

In front of the former grocery store next to Károlyi Street, the concrete will soon be replaced with greenery. There will be similar interventions citywide, with these small pilot projects providing a model for mitigating the impact of heat islands.

For example, on both sides of Kossuth Lajos Avenue between Vadász Street and Kiskörút, a green lane will be created, where the focus will be on retaining rainwater, thus enhancing the long-term ecosystem services of the on-site woody vegetation.

The platform of the Anna-kút tram stop in the direction of Európa Liget is currently exposed to high levels of heat radiation, so a green shading area will be created here after the platform is widened.

The green reconstruction of the street in the section of Hajnóczy Street between Nagykörút and Jósika Street, at the new office building currently under construction, will be a collaborative effort between the municipality and the building's owner, Kész Zrt. The project will be partly financed by the Cool LIFE project. With a special focus on raising awareness about climate change, the project will also include the greening of a primary school yard.

The Cool LIFE project will also focus on involving the public and entrepreneurs in the future, as there are concrete courtyards and gateways over which the municipality has no control. By providing information, the municipality may be able to help private property owners understand that planting more vegetation on their properties could significantly reduce the effects of heat stress. The different project elements and services currently being planned will provide benefits, discounts, and other incentives to different target groups of residents and businesses to carry out heat island reduction activities and investments.

The European Commission's LIFE program is the European Union's flagship environment and climate program, which supports environmental and climate policy objectives as part of the European Climate Change Strategy. The Municipality of Szeged and its partners in the Cool LIFE project will research ways to reduce urban heat and develop tools and solutions to inform, encourage, and facilitate public and business participation in creating a cooler, more livable, and sustainable city. The project starts on September 1, 2024, and will run until August 31, 2027.

Photos: Press briefing on August 15 at the Károlyi Street heat island in Szeged. Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify