Deadline: 17 August 2020
The Minister of Climate, as the Operator of the Programme “Environment, Energy and Climate Change” announces a call for proposals for co-financing of projects aimed at “The implementation of green and blue infrastructure in cities” to be financed from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
The main aim of the Call for Proposals, intended to co-finance projects in the programme area Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation shall be to enhance the resilience of cities to the adverse impacts of climate change and adaptation to climate change by implementing investment projects in the scope of green and blue infrastructure in cities with fewer than 90,000 inhabitants.
The implementation of the projects shall contribute to strengthening the resilience of cities to the adverse impacts of climate change, raising the public awareness of climate change issues and reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the level of local communities.
The objective scope of projects may include the implementation of measures related to:
- increasing the surface of green areas in cities (including the so-called green infrastructure), which support the city ventilation processes, promote green corridors, prevent fragmentation of cities, improve ecosystem functions and their services and enhance the surface of biologically active areas in cities;
- capturing and managing rainwater on the site where it falls or in its close vicinity, the so-called green and blue infrastructure, which promote a network of natural and semi-natural solutions increasing retention, including small water retention, reduce local inundations and minimise the flood risk;
- reducing the impact of the urban heat island effect and improving the microclimate in cities by expanding green areas which contribute to lower temperatures and reduced energy consumption in buildings, e.g., by using collected rainwater to irrigate green roofs and walls;
- eliminating soil compacting and sealing by using water permeable surfaces;
- countering threats posed by flood and drought, mitigating the impacts of heat waves and the urban heat island effect in cities and/or taking action to minimise threats caused in urban areas by extreme weather events;
- reducing emissions of greenhouse gases such as transition e.g. towards electromobility, development of sustainable means of transport, enhancement of the role of cities in reducing food waste.
Funding Information
- Minimum grant amount: EUR 500,000
- Maximum grant amount: EUR 2,300,000
- Amount allocated to the Call for Proposals: EUR 23,029,413
Types of Project
The call shall support municipalities’ implementation of strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Applicants may apply for funding for measures to increase resilience to climate change and measures to reduce emissions from e.g. transport or other sectors, including revitalisation and creation of green areas and improved water management such as water retention. A project application shall contain educational and awareness measures as integrated parts of the project proposal.
The projects selected within the scope of this call will contribute to achieving the Programme’s Outcome 1: “Ability of local communities to reduce emissions and adapt to a changing climate increased” and Output 1.1 “Measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation on municipal level implemented”
Eligibility Criteria
The following entities are eligible applicants and may apply for grants as part of the Call for Proposals:
- local government units with population below 90 000 inhabitants, (as well as their unions, entities providing public services as part of the implementation of territorial government units’ own tasks)
- non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as defined in Article 1.6(n) of the Regulation on the implementation of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.
- Projects submitted in partnership with an entity from the Donor States (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) will receive additional points in accordance with the merit criteria.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.pl/web/climate/announcement-of-a-call-for-proposals6