Lisbon Heat Reduction Initiative Underway
The Cool Noons project, led by the Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories (Agence des Villes et Territoires Méditerranéens Durables), aims to establish "cool paths" in cities across the Mediterranean region. The European Commission's Interreg Euro-MED program has provided over €1.8 million in funding for this initiative.
The project is being implemented in four other cities apart from the pilot city, Lisbon, Portugal: Budva (Montenegro), Dubrovnik (Croatia), Imola (Italy), and Marseille (France).
In Dubrovnik, the Cool Noons project is creating pedestrian-free areas, installing shade canopies, planting trees, and setting up picnic tables with sun protection and planters. The project's goal is to attract visitors to refreshed spaces in the city, combating both heat and congestion.
The University of Coimbra team in Lisbon is collaborating with the City Council to study the impact of the cool paths selected by the municipality. Researchers are collecting data on the effects of air temperature on city visitors and the benefits of the "cool paths" for tourists and residents.
The Cool Noons project is scientifically coordinated by researchers from the University of Coimbra, with Ana Maria Caldeira, a researcher at the Center for Geography and Spatial Planning Studies (CEGOT), leading the project team. The study of thermal comfort of residents and visitors in the summer aims to implement effective measures to cool urban routes during the hottest hours of the day.
Cooling solutions will soon be tested in Alvalade and Monsanto in Lisbon. Furthermore, an augmented reality app is being tested at the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum as part of the Cool Noons project.
The Cool Noons project is a significant step towards enhancing public health and well-being by mitigating extreme heat in city environments and providing comfortable outdoor spaces during the hottest parts of the day. The project recognises the risky scenario for tourism and urban life due to increasingly intense and frequent heat waves, and hopes to contribute to thinking about cities' future adaptation to climate change, especially in urban planning and development initiatives.
The Cool Noons project will run until September 2026. For more information, visit https://coolnoons.interreg-euro-med.eu/.
- The Cool Noons project, headed by the Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories, is also being executed in Portugal, specifically in Lisbon.
- In the health-and-wellness sector, the Cool Noons project aims to mitigate extreme heat in city environments, thereby enhancing public well-being.
- The University of Coimbra, scientifically coordinating the Cool Noons project, is studying the impact of "cool paths" on both tourists and residents in Lisbon, focusing on the effects of air temperature.
- As part of the Cool Noons project, an augmented reality app is being tested at the Dubrovnik Maritime Museum, promoting environmental-science and fitness-and-exercise by encouraging visitors to explore shaded, refreshed areas of the city.
