GRABS

The GRaBS project aim is to ensure that existing and new mixed-use urban development is adapted to the impact of climate change through the improvement of local and regional planning policy.

The project aims to:

• Raise awareness and increase the expertise of key bodies responsible for spatial planning and development as to how green and blue infrastructure can help new and existing mixed-use urban development adapt to projected climate scenarios.
• Assess delivery mechanisms that exist for new urban mixed-use development and urban regeneration in each partner country, and to develop good-practice adaptation action plans to coordinate the delivery of urban greening and adaptation strategies, as well as cooperation among planners, policymakers, stakeholders, and local communities.
• Develop an innovative, cost-effective and user-friendly risk and vulnerability assessment tool to help strategic planning for climate change adaptation.
• Develop collaboratively regional and local good practice Adaptation Action Plans, including a High-Level Policy Statement in order to ensure the delivery of climate change adaptation through urban greening and water management and cooperation among decision-makers, planners, stakeholders, the private sector and local communities.
• Improve stakeholder understanding and involvement in planning, delivery and management of green infrastructure in new and existing urban mixed-use development, based on community involvement techniques.

• The main outputs of the project are 11 Adaptation Action Plans (AAPs), which were produced using the exchange of experience and best practices in adaptation to climate change. The plans aim to build the adaptive capacity of those delivering adaptation actions and of other stakeholders.
• A database of 15 case studies was developed in order to showcase climate change adaptation approaches, with a particular emphasis on those relating to green and blue infrastructure.
• High-Level Policy Statements committed partner organisations to action on climate change adaptation. Each statement reflects individual partner needs, experience and political situation, and invokes the common theme of improving regional policy via the inclusion of climate change adaptation actions through enhanced green and blue infrastructure.
• Expert Papers were produced to share experience and best practice, and to increase awareness of and knowledge about climate change adaptation. The papers were written by experts involved in the GRaBS project, drawing on lessons learnt during the project and adaptation approaches that have proved useful in the development of partner Adaptation Action Plans.

The “Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco towns” (GRaBS) project has successfully facilitated an exchange of knowledge and experience and the actual transfer of good practice on climate change adaptation strategies to local and regional authorities. During the course of the project, its four main objectives have been achieved:

 Raising awareness and increasing expertise of key bodies responsible for spatial planning and development on how green and blue infrastructure can help urban areas adapt to climate change. GRaBS has also received extensive media coverage.

 Developing 11 partner Adaptation Action Plans to drive the integration of climate change adaptation into local/regional planning and development.

 Developing a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool to aid the strategic planning of climate change adaptation responses.

 Improving stakeholder and community understanding and involvement in adaptation planning. Partners have established 12 new or improved regional policy networks and 10 community networks, and have organised a wide range of community network events and dissemination events throughout the course of the project

The success of the GRaBS project has been evidenced by the recognition it has received from DG REGIO and INTERREG IVC in being a finalist for the REGIOSTARS award. Furthermore GRaBS and its good practices will be presented at the Good Practice Fair in Krakow in November 2011.