The Power of Nature in cities

Urban greening for climate adaptation 

12 November 2024, Ljubljana, Slovenia

In the face of climate change, restoring nature and enhancing its benefits for people and the environment is becoming increasingly important in urban policies. The ability of nature to mitigate the effects of climate change is particularly important in urban environments, where most people live.. 

How much green in cities is necessary to make them healthy, safe and pleasant places to live in the face of climate change? What are other benefits of green spaces for individuals and communities? What greening actions can cities take today to respond to the challenges climate change poses to urban life?

We will explore the answers with experts in the field of urban nature and green space planning and management from organisations and cities that are developing and testing new concepts and solutions in different European cities. They will help us understand the future challenges and find answers to the problems of Slovenian cities. 

In the first part of the conference, our two keynote speakers will share with us their international perspectives and experiences. 

Professor Dr Cecil Konijnendijk is one of the most renowned experts in the field of urban forestry and co-founder of the Nature Based Solutions Institute (NBSI), which aims to support urban greening with the best knowledge and solutions. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, Canada and author of the 3-30-300 concept. The concept essentially frames the benefits of trees for human health and the quality of the living environment into three pragmatically verifiable quality criteria: 1) every home should have a view of at least three trees of a decent size, 2) every neighbourhood should have at least 30% tree canopy cover, and 3) every person should live no more than 300 metres from the nearest park or public green space where they can recreate and regenerate. 

Professor Dr Lilli Lička is a landscape architect and head of the Institute of Landscape Architecture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU). She is a lecturer, researcher, writer, consultant, designer and activist working on urban development, open spaces and parks. Among other things, she monitors and presents landscape architectural practice in Austria and is actively involved in the development and enforcement of professional standards. She will share her experience of greening Vienna’s streets and how they involve residents in the process.

The conference is aimed at representatives of ministries, municipalities and utility companies in the field of green space management, spatial planners and anyone else who would like to learn more about how to maximise the benefits of urban greening and where to start.

Conference agenda will be available soon.

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Attendance is free. The conference will take place in Slovenian and English with simultaneous interpretation.

Conference is organised by the Ministry for natural resources and spatial planning, IPoP – Institute for Spatial Policies and Association of Municipalities and towns of Slovenia as part of the project Supporting the implementation of spatial and urban policy. The event organised with support of URBACT and European Urban Initiative.