Planning for a Cooler Future: Zenica Hosts Climate Sandbox Workshop

On May 29, 2025, the City of Zenica hosted a lively local workshop at the ZEDA Development Agency as part of the ongoing Be Ready series of climate sandbox workshops on planning pilot interventions. The event highlighted innovative nature-based strategies to mitigate urban heat island (UHI) effects.

The workshop opened with a presentation of the project, offering insights into UHI risks and vulnerabilities identified using a methodology developed within the project framework.

Participants were introduced to key elements of Zenica’s pilot initiative, including a designated intervention site and proposed “green acupuncture” solutions—targeted, nature-based interventions aimed at cooling urban areas through vegetation. The event concluded with a productive exchange of ideas and experiences on integrating green acupuncture measures into Zenica’s urban fabric. While the discussion centered on the pilot intervention, it also expanded to address ongoing and future climate-related projects.

By bringing together representatives from government, academia, business, and civil society, the workshop fostered meaningful collaboration around green—and to a lesser extent, blue and white—acupuncture strategies to help build a cooler, more resilient city for all.