EDUNATE Cities

Objective

EduNate Cities was created with the aim of exploring and sharing solutions for the rewilding of urban and peri-urban areas, integrating them with educational programs aimed at civil society. Cities are, in fact, both drivers and victims of climate change: high temperatures, exacerbated by concrete and asphalt, make sustainable urban planning increasingly urgent.

The project seeks to address these challenges by asking: is it really necessary to rely on complex and costly interventions, or do replicable, accessible, and resilient models already exist? Building on well-established experiences such as urban gardens and the Tiny Forest method, EduNate Cities promotes a holistic approach that combines environmental education, social inclusion, and ecological regeneration.

Area of Intervention

The project involves three model European regions, each with different urban characteristics and challenges:

Vestland (Bergen, Norway)
Tuscany (Florence, Italy)
Rhine-Neckar (Mannheim, Germany)

Through international exchange, EduNate Cities strengthens the capacity of partner organizations to adapt and transfer innovative skills and models to their respective local contexts.

The activities target various groups — adults, youth, institutions, educational bodies, and citizens — with the goal of generating tangible and participatory impact.

The project is inspired by Ban Ki-moon’s statement:

“Cities are where the battle for sustainable development will be won or lost.”

A sustainable urban transformation is possible only through the active involvement of civil society.

Project

EduNate Cities is a European exchange project that aims to:

Promote environmental awareness and green skills through education
Identify and test urban rewilding solutions adaptable to different local contexts
Create resilient infrastructures to face the impacts of climate change

The main activities include:

Mapping and experimenting with educational and environmental formats across three model regions
Scientific, political, and pedagogical evaluation of results
Direct involvement of citizens and local institutions

The project is supported by:

Starkmacher e.V. (training and inclusion) – consortium lead
Fondazione Capellino (scientific research)
Vestland County Governor’s Office (political guidance)

A European Laboratory for Urban Sustainability

EduNate Cities represents a European laboratory for sustainable urban innovation, capable of generating scalable and replicable solutions. Its value lies in the ability to integrate ecology, education, and participation, providing a concrete contribution to the resilience of European cities.

The project serves as a potential starting point for spreading sustainable urban development on multiple fronts. The proposed formats are analyzed from educational, scientific, and political perspectives, making them accessible and usable by various stakeholders.

This international exchange strengthens the position of participating organizations within their local contexts, enabling the transfer and adaptation of innovative skills and models to different regions. Vestland (Norway), Tuscany (Italy), and the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan area (Germany) face specific challenges that require distinct approaches to achieve sustainable solutions.

Targeted exchange and shared expertise will enrich European cooperation. Furthermore, the European community will benefit from the scientific, political, and pedagogical approach, ensuring a broader and more integrated impact of the models adopted.

EduNate Cities is an exchange project with great development potential, capable of generating further outcomes during its implementation.

Objective

Area of Intervention

Project

A European Laboratory for Urban Sustainability

Updates

Project data