During the implementation of the ActGREEN project under the Horizon Europe programme, particularly within Work Package 3 (sensemaking), we identified the potential of the programme and consortium to connect with various cities within the NZC network on the path toward carbon neutrality. One of these cities was Ljubljana. Our goal was learning.
Since NZC frequently organizes online trainings and knowledge‑exchange sessions, and in cooperation with our city advisor Vlatka Berlan Vlahek from energiecities, a member of the NZC consortium, we arranged a Teams meeting with colleagues from Ljubljana to get acquainted, exchange knowledge and experience in project management, and discuss decarbonisation and sustainability. Our colleagues were extremely helpful and shared all relevant information with the ActGREEN project team.
In the second year of implementation, an opportunity arose — again through the initiative of Vlatka Berlan Vlahek — to arrange an in‑person meeting with colleagues from Ljubljana.
In cooperation with colleagues from the City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning — Tonko Bogovec and Filip Ćurko, Head of the Zagreb Energy Centre (ZEC), where we were hosted — and colleagues from the ActGREEN project (Activation of Green Courtyards for Carbon Neutrality), we organized a knowledge‑exchange meeting between the cities of Ljubljana and Zagreb.
The City of Ljubljana shared its experience related to one‑stop‑shop activities / the “Mission 100 Info Point,” presented by Simon Januš, who provided a broad overview of activities. A presentation by Vita Kontić Bezjak offered a wider perspective on Ljubljana’s green urban infrastructure and sustainability projects, while colleague Milan Dinevski presented the highly interesting topic of green bus stop shelters in Ljubljana, including details of the process and other useful information for participants.
The information we received greatly encouraged us and guided further implementation of activities related to the one‑stop‑shop and HUB components of the ActGREEN project.
ZEC — the Zagreb Energy Centre — serves as the city’s information point, but also as the project’s information point / one‑stop‑shop for ActGREEN, where citizens will be able to obtain in‑person information (in addition to online resources) about the City’s greening activities, nature‑based solutions, green infrastructure, financing models, calls, and other useful information related to the decarbonisation process.
The meeting concluded with questions from the audience and the exchange of experiences and contacts among participants.
After the presentations, we hosted our colleagues from Ljubljana on a visit to two greened courtyards implemented through the City of Zagreb’s pilot call — a parallel city activity aligned with the ActGREEN project — aimed at applying nature‑based solutions to reduce the effects of urban heat islands and promote the decarbonisation of block courtyards.
The visited courtyards were located at Beršćenskog 8 and Novotnijeva 9.
Colleagues from Ljubljana, as well as the NZC representative, with the support of ODRAZ and the University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture, demonstrated in practice how project implementation can improve decarbonisation processes, while also providing an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange and strengthening new partnerships.
