Lowered local temperature

Each year, since 2003 between 22 March, World Water Day, and 22 April, World Earth Day, the traditional spring cleaning campaign For a More Beautiful Ljubljana (Za lepšo Ljubljano) is in progress in Ljubljana. The basic goal of the For a More Beautiful Ljubljana campaign is to give a thorough spring clean to functional areas across the City of Ljubljana, and those taking part include Departments within the City Administration, the City’s District Authorities, public companies united within Ljubljana Public Holdings, City of Ljubljana public institutes and various Ljubljana societies. (1 and 5)

The Urban Ecology Agency of Oslo (Bymiljøetaten) installed two CityTrees in the city of Oslo to act as green lungs in the city and reduce air pollution. The two CityTrees were placed at the Solli plass by Sommerrogata and on Nordraaks plass, close to Slottsparken. The CityTree is an environmentally-friendly plant wall with benches. (Ref. 2) It is an invention of a German company, Green City Solutions, and acts both as an aesthetically attractive furniture for resting, while simultaneously combating air pollution in city centres. (Ref. 1)

The city's nature conservation project in Göteborg includes ongoing work on making Lärjeån's valley (Lärjeåns dalgång) a natural reserve. The purpose of forming a nature reserve for Lärjeån valley (Lärjeåns dalgång) is to ensure the area's great natural and cultural landscape and outdoor life values. Parts of the area are of national interest for nature conservation and are also part of the EU's protected nature conservation network, Natura 2000. The ravine landscape of Lärjeån is home to some very interesting flora and fauna like salmon, trout and pearl mussel. The consultation for the project has ended. Comments received during the consultation period are currently being processed. Preliminary new information is yet to come on how the case will be pursued. The nature reserve will be formed with the support of the Environmental Code. (Ref. 1, 7 , 8)

As part of the title Green Capital of Europe, Ljubljana planted the first public orchard. The public orchard is open to citizens and visitors of the city, where fruits are available from mid-summer to late autumn. One part of the orchard includes a plantation of old varieties of apple, plum and pear, while the other includes trees species little known. The public orchard and nectar garden are intended for residents, passersby, volunteers, groups of pre-schoolers, families and educational organisations. The nectar garden is enriched by an innovative didactic adventure trail that winds around the nectar garden. Next to the nectar garden is a hotel for insects and bird feeder intended to promote biodiversity and raise awareness about nature conservation. Nearby is also a renovated playground for children. Three such orchards have been created in Rakovi jelši, Savski naselj and Puhtejeva ulica. The arrangement of the public orchard is one of the goals set in the environmental protection program for the City of Ljubljana 2014 - 2020. (1, 2 and 3)

This underground garage in Alicante, Spain, received a green roof makeover according to Alicante's climatological conditions (Ref. 2). Urbanarbolismo, a Spanish firm with a strong focus on vegetation, designed and installed this succulent garden in the courtyard of the garage. The garden is very low-maintenance and doesn't require any irrigation whatsoever. Further, with every passing year, it will grow more and more beautiful as the plants grow larger and take root. The Urbanarbolismo Benisaudet IVVSA parking garage was created by this Spanish design firm with the purpose of "keep[ing] the underground lot cooler, as well as improv[ing] its air quality." (Ref. 1)

The first " ecological zone" in Ljubljana was established in 2007 in the old city centre. This led to the closure of a 100,000 m² area to motor vehicles, and the renovation of the main traffic axis to make it attractive for pedestrians and cyclists. The new transport regime in this area reduced black carbon levels by 58%. Additionally, the city administration has planted 63 ash trees. Biking and sustainable mobility have been promoted, in line with providing new green areas for social and sporting activities in formerly degraded areas. The "renaissance“ is not focused only on the city center and the implementation of the car-free zone, but it is expanded throughout Ljubljana and covers different fields, such as the revival of degraded areas, the establishment of green public spaces, playgrounds for children, eco-renovation of schools and kindergartens, cultural and sports facilities, etc. Finally, the river Ljubljanica has been the focus of an ecological restoration project. This was done with the aim of reducing pollution and returning the city centre to the citizens, by incentivizing pedestrian and bicycle commute. The "ecological zone" project has been completed. After the completion of the project, further initiatives were taken which is directly related to the project itself. Some of them focusing on converting the city to a sustainable one is still going on. (1, 3, 4 and 8).

The restructuring of the main road Gran Via Fernando el Catolico has seen a rehabilitation of its green areas in two distinct plots: one occurring at its intersection with Calle Lagasca, and one at its intersection with Corona de Aragon. The intervention is connected to relieving the heat island effect that occurs in the city center, increase greenery with the planting of 114 new trees and making the main traffic artery more accessible and pleasant to pedestrians. (Ref. 1-5)

The project aimed to make the banks of the river Sava a more secure place by setting up illumination poles and thus motivate people to go there also by installing potable water fountains. The project includes environmental friendly illumination of both sides of the river Sava, development of 6 water pipes and toilets and renovation of the pedestrian and bike paths (4 sq km). The project in the second phase will also include additional illumination and water stations up to Jankomirski Bridge (in total 16 km, on both sides of the river Sava) (Ref 1).
The locals use the area for running, dog walking and for relaxation. Previously the place didn't have lights which made it unsafe during the night. The Mayor promised the citizens to return the river as well as an emphasis on the bridges that "conect, rather than separate" (Ref 1, 2, 3, 4).

On a yearly basis, the city of Zagreb, Zagrebački holding plants new trees and bushes to maintain Zagreb as a green city with 114 hectares of green spaces (Ref 2). Also includes maintenance of green surfaces, such as grass in public parks along with tram tracks and planting new trees and maintaining existing ones next to kindergartens and schools (Ref 2). Maintenance of city parks, lawns and tree lines includes cleaning, mowing and collecting grass and garbage from green areas, restoration of trampled lawns, maintenance and pruning of trees, shrubs and hedges, maintenance and care of seasonal and permanent flower beds, maintenance of paved and dune areas in parks and installation and maintenance of urban equipment in parks and children's playgrounds (Ref 1).

The city of Zagreb prepared city-owned land on 10 locations for urban gardening, called "city gardens" for citizens who do not own land in Zagreb. The project "City Gardens" is a positive example of sustainable use of urban land and improving the quality of life of our citizens in social, economic and environmental terms. City gardens provide access to healthy food and improve the household budget of citizens, contribute to preserving a healthier environment, preserving biodiversity, environmental awareness of citizens, connecting with nature, healthy leisure and promoting a healthy lifestyle and developing partnerships between the City of Zagreb and citizens (Ref 1).