Source: European Union 2
The Cool Noons project, cofinanced under Interreg Euro-MED Programme, brings together the cities of Lisbon, Marseille, Imola, Dubrovnik and Budva around a shared challenge: how can we make it easier for tourists to visit cities during the hottest hours of the day?
According to Lu’u Dauxais, project manager at the Agency for Mediterranean Cities and Territories (AVITEM, lead partner of the project), ‘The Cool Noons project reveals the need to address urban heat as a major health, social and human issue for the coming years in our Mediterranean cities. To tackle this issue, the project fosters a network of walkable green corridors linking bioclimatic shelters and promotes living soils and the protection of fauna.’
Launched in 2024 and co-financed by the European Union, this very active project is already showing its first results as all five cities have already identified and mapped 15 cool paths. These routes connect green and shaded areas and take visitors to iconic locations, as well as lesser-known spots.
To achieve this, the project has organised participatory workshops with local authorities, tourism stakeholders and, of course, residents. ‘We are looking forward to new practices in tourism,’ adds Agnese Comissari, project manager for Imola Faenza Tourism Company. ‘How the locals live in the city is a real inspiration for tourists.’ ‘Another key idea was the importance of scaling up solutions—not in terms of the size of the interventions themselves, but by expanding networks and sharing knowledge across cities. In my view, the most effective approach remains “think global, act local” adds Valentina Siela, Bologna project manager.
More broadly, Cool Noons promotes the implementation of a wide range of solutions to cool urban spaces, including:
- Nature-based solutions: planting trees, green pergolas, public gardens, greening balconies, etc.
- Water-based solutions: public fountains, misters, etc.
- Urban design: benches and rest areas in parks, shade structures, light colours, fresh air corridors, traffic restrictions.