Peer Review Highlights Climate Adaptation and Community Engagement in Sofia

In a collaborative step towards building more resilient cities, representatives from the Municipality of Chișinău and the Association for the Development of Galați visited Sofia for a peer review focused on climate adaptation. Hosted by Sofia Development Association, the visit provided partners with an up-close look at Sofia's Be Ready pilot project—an innovative initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure while fostering community participation. Located near Lion’s Bridge - a densely built urban area particularly vulnerable to the urban heat island effect, the pilot involves the renovation of a municipal building yard into a climate refuge, a public space designed to mitigate heat stress through urban greening, shade structures, water features, and accessible seating. The pilot project is implemented in the framework of Be Ready project, Interreg Danube Programme, co-funded by the European Union.

A key highlight of the peer review visit was the dialogue with local leaders and changemakers. Partners from Chișinău and Galați held fruitful exchanges with Sofia Municipal Councilors and with Serdika District Mayor and Deputy Mayor, who shared insights into the local governance and policy efforts enabling such climate adaptation projects. These discussions emphasized the critical role of local political will and cross-sector collaboration in implementing sustainable urban solutions. Decision-makers underscored the importance of aligning municipal priorities with both climate goals and community needs.

The climate refuge also integrates public art by young artists from Knot studio, creating an engaging environment that fosters climate awareness. Civil society and private sector partners—including B’Cause Foundation, CleanTech Bulgaria, Green Sofia, and JTI—further contributed to the initiative, reinforcing its scalability and replicability across the region.

The peer review affirmed that tackling the challenges of urban heat requires more than technical solutions; it demands inclusive planning, artistic expression, political commitment, and cross-border learning.

Photos: Sofia Development Association