Project: Realizing potentials of nature-based climate shelters in school environments for urban transformation

Acronym COOLSCHOOLS (Reference Number: F-ENUTC-2021-0177)
Project Topic COOLSCHOOLS is a transdisciplinary applied urban research project that examines the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) to support the creation of climate shelters in European school environments. We assess how nature-based climate shelters can drive social-ecological transformations towards urban sustainability, climate resilience, social justice, and quality education at multiple urban scales (from schools to metropolitan region) and translate them into practical building capacity for school communities and beyond. Building on pioneering pilot NBS projects of school transformation in Barcelona, Brussels, Paris, and Rotterdam, COOLSCHOOLS unravels the specificities of each context and finds common patterns related to climate shelters transformation capacities, focusing on marginalized groups. Through participatory and co-creation methodologies, we propose an interdisciplinary approach that combines natural, bio-medical, social, and education sciences. To further promote a holistic approach to school climate shelters transformation capacities, we will actively disseminate the pilots’ best practice and key learnings among city governments, urban planners, companies, school communities and other relevant stakeholders. The consortium’s cross-sectoral composition ensures active multi-stakeholder involvement through an urban living lab and other co-engagement actions, that are planned to boost reflection and learning, and the wider use of COOLSCHOOLS outputs.
Network ENUTC
Call 1st ENUTC Call 2021

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
Barcelona City Council Observer Spain
Brussels Environment Partner Belgium
Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN) Observer Serbia
City of Rotterdam Observer Netherlands
El Globus Vermell Observer Spain
EUN Partnership AISBL (European Schoolnet / EUN) Partner Belgium
Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Coordinator Spain
Hasselt University Partner Belgium
IVN Natuureducatie Observer Netherlands
National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) Partner France
Paris City Hall Observer France
Stichting Springzaad Observer Netherlands
UN-HABITAT Observer Spain
University of Antwerp Partner Belgium
University of Twente Partner Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Partner Belgium