By Déborah Camañes, Project Director, and Elsa Boloix, Project Communication. (Original publication in English)

The inaugural in-person meeting of GreenInCities in Barcelona has sparked a movement to reimagine urban spaces. As environmental challenges increase, this new EU-funded project - anchored within two EU Missions: Climate & Cities Missions, serves as a call to action aimed at urban regeneration through the lens of sustainability and co-creation.

Day 1: A Meeting of Ideas and Visions

The area of El Besòs, the municipality of Sant Adrià del Besòs adjacent to Barcelona, became the stage for the first day, as one of the pioneering pilots of GreenInCities. Local figures such as Filo Cañete, the mayor of Sant Adrià del Besòs, and Michael Donaldson, director of Bit Habitat, warmly welcomed the consortium. Their speeches emphasized the critical importance of green initiatives in the fight against climate change. Barcelona's recognition by the European Commission as an EU Mission City for its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2030 provided a powerful reference for the city. Ramón Canal Oliveras, Director of the Technical Programming Office of the Barcelona City Council, reflected on the broader mission of cities around the world to counteract climate change through innovative approaches. Chiara Farinea, Head of EU Projects at IAAC and coordinator of the GreenInCities project, presented the core values of the project, emphasizing the integration of vulnerable communities, recognition of the intrinsic value of our non-human counterparts, and the pursuit of technological advancements such as Digital Twins to lead urban transformation. The day continued in the heart of El Besòs, offering a first-hand view of the pilot project. From Parc del Fòrum to the picturesque streets of La Catalana neighborhood, the consortium's tour highlighted the project's holistic approach to urban regeneration. Francesc Romero Siles, from the Consorci del Besòs, explained the characteristics of the case study, which will focus on regenerating the beach and natural landscape, continuity of tree cover, and the health of biodiversity.

The highlight was an engaging workshop led by LAND through the animal-oriented methodology that highlighted the local fauna and flora, fostering a deep connection between participants and the ecosystems they aspire to protect. The first day concluded with a visit to the Turbine Hall, where the consortium explored the former three-chimney power plant, which has been restored to become an audiovisual center and cultural venue.

Day 2: Valldaura Labs - A Laboratory for the Urban Life of the Future

Nestled in nature, Valldaura Labs provided a striking contrast for the second day of the meeting. This green area, part of IAAC, offered the perfect backdrop.

The day was filled with workshops and discussions designed to foster collaboration and shared learning. Participants delved into pilot studies to identify possible interactions and ideas between leading and follower cities, conducted by the University of Linköping and Universidade do Porto. A session led by THINGS focused on mapping qualitative data from a diverse range of project stakeholders, including non-humans, policymakers, visitors, citizens, and owners. Finally, the last session explored the solutions from GreenInCities: functional spaces that integrate greenery, urban green elements, eco-friendly practices, and horizontal systems to support governance.

The highlight of the day was the visit to the prototypes and projects developed in the #FabLab, each embodying principles of sustainability and innovation in urban planning. Projects like TOVA, winner of a New European Bauhaus (2023) award, a greenhouse made from wood, and urban furniture constructed from biomaterials.

Day 3: Poblenou - Where Ideas Meet Action

The final day took the consortium to the Atelier of the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Poblenou.

The first session was the second part of the Twinning Cities workshop, where each of the follower pilot cities paired with their pioneering counterparts, following a period of reflection on the initial workshop. Next, the follower cities selected their pioneering counterparts based on shared interests and goals, aiming to emulate and learn from their experiences. The formed partnerships were as follows:

• Birštonas will twin with Nova Gorica and Barcelona

• Matosinhos will twin with Prato and Nova Gorica

• Cork will twin with Helsinki and Athens

• Pécs will twin with Helsinki and Barcelona

• Reykjavik will twin with Nova Gorica, Prato, and Athens.

The presentation of a neuroimaging device by NeuroLandscape was one of the highlights, as it offers insights into the future of urban design. A portable and user-friendly neuroimaging device will measure the effects on well-being of real-life environmental exposures, recording neuroscientific data.

The day concluded with a collaborative session on communication strategies, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and engagement to amplify the impact of the "GreenInCities" initiative led by Ideas for Change. The Consortium outlined and identified communication and dissemination actions throughout the project with a live calendar, gathering ideas and valuable information for communication materials and strategies. The Consortium had an overview of the importance of collaborating on these actions.

The journey of #GreenInCities has only just begun, but its vision is clear: to transform urban spaces into green and vibrant communities where innovation, nature, and human well-being converge.