•A European town as a scenario test site for a targeted nature-based solution.•Influence of street trees as nature-based solutions for shading.•Potential increase in shading by 49% along paths due to ...planting of street trees.•Spatial analysis to explore nature-based solutions for future urbanisation.•Informed decision-making for improved environmental quality in the urban area.
With more than 75% of the European Union’s population living in urban areas covering 21.5% of the EU territory, the importance of climate-resilient cities, towns and suburbs has increased dramatically. However, the rising impact of human-induced land-use changes on ecosystem services (ES) poses a major challenge to the urban environment. This study focuses on scenario development for nature-based solutions (NbS) in a European town with its intense development area. The concept is exemplified in a town in Croatia, Grad Velika Gorica (GVG), that like many others cities undergoes urbanisation processes with limited resources. It serves as a showpiece for the influence of NbS, in particular street trees along various paths.
Using spatial analysis and modelling, the approach explores NbS for future urbanisation. The results, supported by quantitative analysis, show that 49% of cycle lanes and footpaths in GVG can be shaded by strategically planted street trees. The shading scenario analysis provides a nuanced perspective on the potential of NbS, offering insights into the key tasks for a climate-resilient city and opportunities towards equitable, green and healthy urban areas.
In the context of urbanisation processes and climate adaptation, the study is in line with the overarching objectives of the European Commission which emphasises the need for sustainable NbS alternatives to address environmental challenges. The findings contribute to the framework of informed decision-making towards urban climate resilience. It also supports the pursuit of a sustainable local governance for climate-adjusted environmental quality in urban planning. As towns and cities grapple with the imperative of balancing urban development with environmental protection, this research highlights the central role of NbS, particularly street trees, in shaping climate-resilient and more sustainable urban environments for human well-being in cities.
A number of world-wide changes affect the energy sector; especially electric sector. The goals of modern states are changing due to the increasing desire of citizens to improve the quality of the ...environment, desire to achieve energy security and will to get a more honest price of energy, as well as preventing the consequences of climate change and mitigate their effects. Global progress towards achieving these goals is reflected in: increased investment efforts, the adoption of climate agreements through national policies and the development of various technologies (solar systems, wind power plants, electric vehicles, battery systems, smart grids, blockchain etc.). Although some actors have not yet recognized the potential of green development, an increasing number of citizens, organizations and energy companies are actively involved and linked through the energy transition. Green development is full of innovative process and it includes actors with different business background. In order for the energy transition to gain momentum, more and more organizations are involved in the alternative funding of green energy projects such as crowdfunding platforms. In addition, there is a visible shift in the capital raising of smaller energy companies that rent equipment from citizens for power plants or use other innovative business models to increase the share of renewable energy sources in their energy portfolio and involve citizens in process. Local authorities increasingly recognize and accept the need for more honest energy system by taking on an active role in combating climate change and energy transition. The development of new concepts of green development enables building of trust between energy companies and end users.
Kako bi Europska unija zadovoljila svoje potrebe za energijom, izbjegla korištenje fosilnih goriva, započela prilagodbu klimatskim promjenama i smanjila proizvodnju električne energije pomoću ...rizičnih nuklearnih pogona pribjegla je širem korištenju lokalno dostupnih obnovljivih izvora energije. Ovaj rad će opisati razvoj poslovnih modela s naglaskom na grupno financiranje. Grupno financiranje je alternativni način financiranja kod kojeg grupa ljudi financira projekte, proizvode, usluge ili ideje pomoću Internetskih platformi Hafner et al., 2017. Obnovljivi izvori energije najčešće su financirani modelom zajma kod kojeg velik broj sudionika malim iznosima doprinosi projektu, odnos sudionika i projekta definiran je ugovorom, pri kojem se isplaćuje prinos na pozajmljeni iznos Bergman et al. 2016. Ostali modeli grupnog financiranja su: grupno financiranje temeljeno na vlasničkim udjelima, grupno financiranje temeljno na donacijama, grupno financiranje temeljeno na nagradama i hibridni modeli grupnog financiranja Alternative Finance Lab in UNDP IRH, 2017. Projekti zelene energije se sve više razvijaju u Hrvatskoj pri čemu se osim državnih poticaja i privatnih investicija koristi grupno financiranje. Jedan od inovativnih projekata su „Križevački sunčani krovovi“, a po prvi puta će solarna elektrana biti financirana od strane građana.
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