EU Chapter

EU Chapter.

At its Board meeting in Oslo in 2019, WGIN decided to set up an EU Chapter of the network, with the aim of increasing the awareness of EU policymakers about the multiple benefits of green and blue infrastructure with a specific focus on building integrated vegetative systems (green roof and living walls).

The EU Chapter goal is to increase the number of square meters of green and blue infrastructure in European cities delivering benefits to citizens, the economy and the environment.

Thus far, four leading companies in the green roofs and walls sector have agreed to participate in WGIN’s EU Chapter and contribute to implementing its advocacy effort. These firms are: Urbanscape by Knauf Insulation, Sempergreen, Sika and Optigrun.

In addition to growing the green roofs and walls market in the near future, the benefits of the WGIN EU Chapter membership, include:

Logo exchange and visibility through WGIN EU Chapter communication channels and in relation to the annual organisation of the European Green Infrastructure Day.
Access to information and policy intelligence.
Speaking opportunities at workshop and events.
Access to European Commission civil servants, members of European Parliament and other institutional stakeholders.
Ability to attend WGIN board meetings (non-voting member).
Exclusive ability to attend EU Chapter working group meetings.
Ability to shape public policy.

EU CHAPTER

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS.

In addition to growing the green roofs and walls market in the near future, the benefits of the WGIN EU Chapter membership, include:

Ability to attend WGIN board meetings (non-voting member).
Exclusive ability to attend Working Group meetings (stormwater, biodiversity, clean air).
Access to European Commission civil servants and members of European Parliament.
Access to information and policy intelligence.
Ability to shape public policy.
Speaking opportunities at workshop and events.
Logo exchange and visibility through WGIN EU Chapter communication channels.

FEES.

The annual fee is 25,000 Euros (VAT excluded) and WGIN requests from members a statement of intent for annual support over three years.

For Membership Inquiries:
Contact Jure Šumi (WGIN Treasurer)

For further information and inquiries:
Contact Luigi Petito (WGIN EU Chapter)

EU CHAPTER NEWS

Briefing for MEPs | Making European Cities more Resilient through Urban Green Infrastructures

The European Chapter of the WGIN is publishing a new policy briefing entitled “Making European Cities more Resilient through Urban Green Infrastructures”. The paper intends to explain the challenges cities are facing and will be increasingly confronted with as a result of extreme weather events and how to support their adaptation to climate change. In that context, this briefing demonstrates how urban green infrastructures, namely green roofs and walls, are key solutions to enable an increased resilience of urban areas while providing many accompanying benefits for their inhabitants such as stormwater management, the restoration of biodiversity in cities, reducing pollutants’ concentrations and increasing residents’ wellbeing. Concrete examples are provided to showcase these benefits. The briefing also explains why urban green infrastructures are central for several upcoming EU initiatives, in particular the European Climate Adaptation Plan and the European Water Resilience Strategy, and provides a few suggestions to boost the deployment of urban green infrastructures in the new EU political mandate. Read the full paper here.

GoNaturePositive! launches an open consultation on the Nature-Positive Economy

GoNaturePositive! is a collaborative initiative backed by the European Commission dedicated to accelerating awareness and transformative action towards a nature-positive economy among policymakers, investors, businesses and wider society. Its consortium has launched an open consultation on the Nature-Positive Economy. This initiative aims to foster prosperity while protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which we all depend. By promoting a Nature-Positive Economy, we seek to create new opportunities for innovation, job creation, and food security, all while mitigating our vulnerability to nature loss. Luigi Petito, Head of the WGIN EU Chapter Secretariat, is a member of the GoNaturePositive! Impact Board, helping to refine the key points that outline the essential elements of what a nature-positive economy could look like. Businesses, policymakers and citizens are encouraged to take part in this dialogue by sharing their insights and feedback before 30 November 2024 through this link: bit.ly/4hpkMFk. To learn more about GoNaturePositive and how you can get involved, you can visit their consultation page: Welcome to the GoNaturePositive! Consultation.

Making Europe’s Built Environment Greener, Healthier and more Resilient

In the past political mandate, the EU has pursued legislation to combat climate change, restore nature, and promote circularity, aiming for climate neutrality by 2050, as part of the European Green Deal. This led to significant improvements when it comes to the inclusion of urban green and blue infrastructures in EU energy and climate policies. Now, the 2024-2029 EU term must drive the structural transformation of cities from grey to green. In this context, the new WGIN EU Chapter is publishing the briefing “Making Europe’s built environment greener, healthier and more resilient” that provides an overview of the developments for green and blue infrastructure in EU policies in the past political mandate as well as recommendations to support their deployment over the next five years. The paper explains the importance of green infrastructure for the future of Europe’s cities and their crucial role in any future EU urban policies. Read the full publication here.

Cultivating Change: The Role of Urban Agriculture in European Policy

Roof garden, Vegetable garden on the roof, Vegetables on the roof of the building, Agriculture in urban on the roof of the building. Shutterstock ID:1010959666 In the concrete jungles of our cities could take root a quiet revolution: urban agriculture. As we struggle with the challenges of food security, environmental degradation, and climate change, harnessing the potential of urban spaces for agricultural production can emerge as a solution. Urban agriculture has a myriad of benefits which could be delivered to people through a reevaluation of European policies. Urban agriculture offers a broad range of benefits that extend beyond mere food production. Firstly, it fosters food security by bringing fresh, locally grown produce closer to urban dwellers, reducing reliance on long-distance transportation and mitigating the increasing risks associated with disruptions to global supply chains. Moreover, cultivating crops within cities promotes biodiversity as green spaces created through urban agriculture serve as habitats for diverse flora and fauna. Additionally, urban agriculture plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. By converting impervious surfaces, vacant lots, rooftops, and walls into productive green spaces, carbon sequestration is enhanced, while reducing the urban heat island effect and mitigating stormwater runoff, thereby increasing urban resilience to extreme weather events. Finally, engaging in urban agriculture fosters community cohesion and social inclusion. Community gardens and allotment schemes provide spaces for interaction, knowledge sharing, and skill development, forging stronger bonds among residents and promoting a sense of ownership and pride in local neighbourhoods. Read the full article by Luigi Petito, Head of Secretariat at WGIN’s EU Chapter in the Spring 2024 issue of Living Architecture Monitor.