"The main objective of the project is to strengthen climate protection through the implementation of projects and measures at local and regional level - with reference to the global context. The basis for this is provided by qualification measures in the field of adult education.""Think globally - act locally"" - in order to be able to fulfil this goal and to promote and push the absolutely necessary local action in addition to the European Green Deal, it requires comprehensive qualification of those who want to get involved locally in climate protection. In order to achieve this, a curriculum will be developed and applied in a staff training course to qualify the staff of the partner organisations as trainers for local climate protection initiatives in order to be able to achieve effective and local climate protection in a global context.In 7 pilot communities in the partner countries, active citizens and community leaders will be trained in a participatory green deals process to implement climate-relevant projects on a municipal level. The citizens learn to analyse the current situation, to identify fields of action and to develop a plan of action with concrete implementation projects in coordination with municipal representatives.The first measures are implemented during the project period and under the supervision of the partner organisations. Subsequently, the climate protection teams are able to implement further measures under their own management. As an orientation and stimulus - both for the trainers and the climate protection teams - a best-practice and expert database with projects and experts on climate-protection-relevant topics will be created. In addition, measures to raise awareness, the use of various media (conventional and digital) and intensive public relations work in the pilot communities are intended to reach all residents, sensitise them and motivate them to make their everyday lives more climate-friendly in all areas of life.At the start of a Green Deal process, the current status of local climate protection in each area of life will be evaluated in each municipality with the help of a software-supported climate protection radar. On the one hand, this serves as a basis for the development of the catalogue of measures, on the other hand, it can be used to make international comparisons and identify tandem communities that have already done good work in a field of action that is still unresolved in their own community. In this way the communities can learn from each other across borders.Through the direct participation of citizens in the pilot communities and the dissemination via community and climate protection networks of the consortium partners, the project receives a high level of attention during the project period. After the initial implementation of the Green Deal process, the qualification and participation format can be transferred to other municipalities as a multipliable climate protection process. The partner organisations will train further process facilitators and climate protection teams in other communities after the project has been completed in order to implement Green Deals processes. The database will be continuously expanded and updated. The Climate Protection Radar is available to all Green-Deals communities and can be surveyed at regular intervals in order to make the effectiveness of local climate protection measures visible and to establish contact with other Green-Deals communities."

"As scientific evidence for the negative impacts of climate change has grown in the last years, the UN and the EU have both reacted with ambitious energy and climate policies - shifting energy production from fossils to renewables being a cornerstone. Yet, in stark contradiction to this absolute urgency, changes needed are not realised to the envisaged and sufficient extent. As a major driver to make the energy transition happen, engaged citizens and stakeholders are needed to form a necessary bottom-up critical mass supporting the top-down endeavours - respectively to set European and national targets – of policy and decision-makers. This engagement can be triggered and supported by integrating renewables in the classrooms today, equipping them with key competences and skills for a sustainable and secure energy supply of the future.Thus, the overall objective of the project was to develop a course for pupils aged 10 -14 on solar thermal energy, an important representative of renewable energy with underestimated future potential. It comprises high quality learning materials, combining theoretical background with all practical, technical, organisational, legal, and financial aspects of building a solar thermal installation – also hands-on setting up a solar thermal plant with two panels of 8 m2 each producing approx. 9.600 kWh of energy per year. With a hybrid learning approach, it will empower learners to actively engage in renewables. Teachers can lead children to the learning goals in building many different skills and competences: STEM, project management and stakeholder integration skills, reinforcing handcraft and strengthening their soft skills as well as their digital experiences applying dedicated tools within the course. Learning units forming together a complete program can also be used stand-alone separately in various settings adapting to specific needs to ensure the fit of the course for a maximum number of learners. Main activities of the project included creation of learning and teaching materials; development of ICT-tools needed, evaluation and fine-tuning. Dissemination was important for the consortium to stimulate broad uptake of our innovation by schools. We have implemented one training activity to pass on and evaluate the learning units in Austria. The Multiplier Events had to be conducted online due to the Covid situation. Four of the six consortium meetings of all project partners were held on site, status meetings were held remotely online on a monthly basis. The final results comprise:A Curriculum on solar thermal energy installation/ Implementation Guide (information on the realisation of Our Solartown projects/Guide for technicians (information about building processes, tools, materials, etc.).Theoretical learning units about the theoretical background on solar thermal energy including a broad interdisciplinary perspective plus one role play: 1. General introduction: LU 1_1_Energy sources, LU 1_2_Solar energy, LU 1_3_Climate change, Role play: RP 1_3_Greenhouse effect. 2. renewable energy production:, LU 2_Solar energy technologies. 3. Process aspects: LU 3_1_Site selection, LU 3_2_Solar-thermal systems_planning installation, LU 3_3_Solar-thermal system costs. 4. PR: LU 4_1_Public relations Practical learning units will give at hand technical knowledge on the plant construction, tutorial videos show the building steps and matching role plays give at hand know-how to communicate with the relevant stakeholders: 4. PR: LU 4_2_Solar newspaper. 5. Building a plant: LU 5_1_Practical realisation, LU 5_2_Presentation. 6. Excursions: LU 6_Excursions. Role plays: RP 3_1_Site selection, RP 3_2_Installation_pros and cons, RP 3_3_Financing a solar plant. Solar thermal energy planning tool: Climatological, technical, financial, social, and political aspects have to be considered in plant construction. A map based planning tool assists in finding the best site. Online process manual: The process manual accompanies a step-by-step guidance, provides additional information, space for uploading and documenting the project. The public view on the data is a directory of already existing locations and a competition feature for the award (O6). Award framework: The award framework consists of a reusable compilation to make learners’ achievements comparable and builds a perfect base for the recurring award event, promoting both the educational program and the solar thermal technology.Educational videos on Solar thermal energyOutputs furthermore include skilled teachers and learners, two completed solar thermal energy pilot projects and broad dissemination of projects’ results. Our project is designed to inspire, give orientation and empower. Due to their newly gained skills and competences our alumni can contribute to ""a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy"" envisioned in the Europe 2020 strategy."

"<< Background >>Climate CHANGE was yesterday - climate CRISIS is today - climate CATASTROPHE will be tomorrow - if we don't act.The need for climate protection does not need to be explained in 2021, it is clear and laid down in political targets on all regional level (e.g. EU Green Deal) and reflected in the Green Erasmus Priority. Becoming climate-neutral by 2050 is not a task to be mastered by some voluntary action here and there, but it needs concerted and streamlined climate action, reporting and monitoring.To enable the world to face the crisis we need employees with skills to roll out purposeful, fact-based, effective and bold climate action on municipal, regional and company level throughout Europe. Although the internet is full of resources, tools and services to support climate action, yet climate managers from municipalities and companies cannot draw from these resources, because the information is scattered in many different sites and the intended purpose and use of these services is not intuitively clear and difficult. This project will develop a customized VET training to close this urgently missing gap on the educational landscape covering: 1.climate action during the digital transformation: knowledge on how to use digital tools and resources for campaigning climate action on mitigation, adaptation and resilience.2.climate data literacy: skills for data analyses, collection of climate data, basic understanding on mathematics and statistics, monitoring and assessment of the impacts of climate action to be able to plan, monitor action and impacts and report on them.3.a comprehensive overview of digital services available in a repository to support their adequate choice and use to be able to come up with alternative greener ways of implementing the required climate activities.Our TARGET GROUPS are “climate managers”. While their exact job title is varying (Sustainability Manager, CSR Manager (corporate social responsibility)), ESG Manager (environmental social governance), Climate and Energy Officer) their job profile is clear: responsibility for climate action, climate communication and monitoring - in terms of renewable energy produced and greenhouse gas emissions reduced. Climate managers work in municipalities, regional governments or entities of the private and public sector - they are needed everywhere due to current and upcoming obligations of climate/sustainability reporting requirements in all sectors, just as financial reporting.With the CINAMON education package, we want to skill up today’s climate managers parallel to their occupation, as well as those striving for this new work assignment – with hundreds of thousand of job vacancies upcoming due to new legislations.The consortium consists of four NGOs dedicated to climate education and action and a company deeply involved in provision of digital services: Climate Alliance Austria, Climate Alliance Europe from Germany, REFLEX from Hungary, Alleanza per il Clima Italia and the research-based SME akaryon from Austria team up to spice up digital skills for climate action and monitoring. This partnership is ideal to meet the given challenges of accelerated urgencies on climate action and the requirements of digitalization and sustainable development. Partners combine multi-year international experiences, profound and complementary interdisciplinary knowledge, management, pedagogical and digital skills as well as a close connection to the target groups in different European countries together with awareness on existing and upcoming climate regulatory frameworks on national and EU level. There are few other actors who could deliver on these results with the proposed cost-benefit-ratio. Due to the digital character of the developed educational package the impact can easily be upscaled as demand rises to make a crucial impact on European climate action.<< Objectives >>Our vision: We strive to educate, skill up and empower climate managers through the acquisition of digital competencies for climate action and communication in the field of mitigation and adaptation; and by building capacity to implement science-based processes - with the help of digital services and tools - to work in their respective work environment or sphere of influence on greenhouse gas reduction and resilience.The project will deliver capacity building processes with two newly developed e-learning courses. It will leverage effects of digital services already available, often thanks to European funding (tools to account climate relevant data, calculate greenhouse gas emissions, develop conclusions for climate action measures, identify best practices etc.), as learners will be shown how to use those for their climate monitoring and action work on the educational resource repository established in this project. O1 OBJECTIVE 1 is to compile and test a newly developed e-learning course “Digital climate action and campaigning for professional climate managers” combining communication and digital skills in the field of climate action and resilience. O2 OBJECTIVE 2 is to compile and test a newly developed e-learning course “Digital climate impact measurement for professional climate managers” combining digital skills needed to use digital services with mathematical and statistical knowledge to interpret climate relevant data and impact indicators, to plan and evaluate climate action efficiently. O3 OBJECTIVE 3 is to establish a new “Digital Climate Action Repository” - an interactive online platform to provide structured information on already existing digital services, facilitating selection of services as well as their use.O4 OBJECTIVE 4 is to organize, test and introduce digital climate-summits – online events for ongoing capacity building, networking and exchange of knowledge and good practice for climate action and impact measurement –contributing to sustainable maintenance and use of all project outcomes during and after project. O5 OBJECTIVE 5 is to find additional sources of financing to ensure further runs of the course after the project's lifetime to guarantee sustainability of the project's outcomes.O6 OBJECTIVE 6 is to attract attention and interest for the CINAMON project and its results in Europe and beyond and establish a plan for future involvement of the target groups reached during the project.A general introduction to climate issues is NOT an objective – as this education is already broadly available, with some offers from the partners itself. The consortium is very keen to achieve these objectives in spreading to the climate managers profound knowledge on digital communication and data analysis to support awareness raising on climate action and to deliver on climate actions for mitigation, adaptation and resilience. Only educated, skilled and empowered staff equipped with adjusted digital services to support their efforts will be able to take effective vast climate action needed in their field of work and actively engage in the transition to a decarbonized economy smartly combined with the digital transformation. We are convinced, that this project and its results, can make a major contribution towards a sustainable society.<< Implementation >>As all project partners are involved in the processing and elaboration of all results, a regular exchange is necessary and planned with the regular VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETINGS (every six weeks) and TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT MEETINGS (4 in total). The regular and transnational exchange is an important constant for the achievement of all project objectives and to ensure proper project handling and to reach common results in a joint effort. Permanent exchange (including exchange while working on results) will promote the understanding of the political and economic conditions of the different challenges in the different countries.The following objects will be reached by the subsequent and often complex WORK ON THE RESULTS throughout the whole project: O1 and O2 (to establish the two novel e-learning courses) and O3 (to establish the Digital Climate Action Repository). This work will lead to the delivery of the results R1 Curriculum digital climate-action training courses and recommendations / R2 e-learning course Digital climate action and campaigning for professional climate managers / R3 e-learning course Digital climate impact measurement for climate managers / R4 Digital Climate Action Repository. This will include an intense knowledge sharing process within the consortium and CO-CREATION PROCESSES and FEEDBACK LOOPS with the climate managers from the associated partners for the production of these results.The four MULTIPLIER EVENTS “digital climate summits” aim at connecting climate managers, attracting future learners and motivating alumni to keep making a difference and fit to O4 (to perform digital climate summits). O5 (to identify sources of financing for sustainability) will be reached by looking for (public) fundings or gaining revenues from courses held using project results according to the D1 Dissemination plan. Results will be accessible freely. Example approach from the consortium: e.g. CAA is still able to maintain the further development of a course established during a former COMENIUS project by means of funding from the federal states and from the participants themselves.The four MULTIPLIER EVENTS in person are intended to inform stakeholders, especially multipliers about all results of the project; other DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES are implemented according to the D1 Dissemination plan. These activities are geared to reach Objective 6 – (to attract interest for the CINAMON project and its results). Contributing to O6 will not only depend on our DISSEMINATION activities during the project, but also on establishing and implementing a PM8 Future plan. MANAGEMENT of the project is well-organized. Co-ordinator akaryon has already successfully managed ERASMUS projects and will encompass proven management methods. All partners, although some of them new to the ERASMUS programme, have co-operative project experiences at European level.EVALUATION, summarized in PM7 Evaluation plan, is also prepared in detail for the project activities and management processes as well as for the results. External evaluation for quality assurance of the results is also foreseen and will be subcontracted to relevant universities/research institutions from the fields of digitalization and sustainability.We are convinced, that the political environment with an ever-increasing demand for digital learning courses like ours will boost the effects of this project.<< Results >>The CINAMON project will produce an educational package for climate managers to spice up their digital and analytical skills for climate action and monitoring leading to advanced career prospects and resulting in purposeful, fact-based, effective and bold climate action - required by European policies - across public and private organizations in Europe, thereby raising awareness for climate in the general public.R1 Curriculum digital climate-action training courses and recommendations:The paper will list the learning objectives, didactical approaches, table of contents of all learning modules of the two e-learning courses and overall competencies and skills. The recommendation chapter will sum up the lessons learned by the consortium during the project as potential source of knowledge for other VET providers. R2 e-learning course Digital climate action and campaigning for professional climate managers:The new course, an organic coherent online product, will consist of e-learning modules (open source freely available) and exchange sessions focused on digital climate action and campaigning including eg. fact-based climate communication and digital PR for mitigation / adaptation. R3 e-learning course Digital climate impact measurement for climate managers:This new course, in similar to the one above, will train the learners in data analysis skills to better plan climate action and to assess the impact of climate actions planned or conducted. The latter is the essential skill set for reporting and monitoring climate action according to European legislation. The two courses can be attended one after the other or independently. They will be tested in all partner countries once for evaluation and fine tuning.R4 Digital Climate Action Repository:This digital repository will be an interactive online platform providing structured information on existing digital services (e.g. greenhouse gas monitoring software, climate action catalogues, personal CO2-calculators...). This expandable repository will be designed to support a simplified and qualified choice: First it will include an intelligent search structure, second, for each tool listed a standardized “product sheet” will show the purpose and appropriate application. Third and most importantly, the repository will support transferring knowledge into action, by hands-on ""how-to-use instructions"" (from the service provider as well as from other users). In order to guarantee “objectivity”, the consortium will set up an onboarding process for the tools (to guarantee they are in scope and of sufficient quality/usability) and will moderate posts from users (to avoid unjustified negative comments). MULTIPLIER-EVENTS: During the project, each country will host a multiplier event in person for at least 40 stakeholders of our target groups and an online climate summit for up to 100 participants. The climate summit will consist of a seminar by an expert on a climate topic of current interest or key notes from learners/users on best practices to foster peer-to-peer learning experiences.DIGITAL SKILLS: This project’s results will raise digital skills of trainers and learners. It will underline the importance of online experiences as a source of education in the digital era. Further it will emphasize the importance of intelligent digitalization: all digital “helpers” still need accompanying instructions and educated users that allow them to exploit the tools in order to enfold real-world impacts.EQUALITY: The partners have assured a gender-balanced staff and particular attention will be given to the integration of gender aspects into all project activities and results e.g. gender distribution of speakers at events.CLIMATE ACTION BY CLIMATE MANAGERS: Triggered by the activities of the project, we envision more and better skilled climate managers who will tackle the climate crisis by effectively doing their jobs."

CONTEXTClimate change is one of the most significant challenges facing society today. The European Union places special emphasis on mitigating and curbing the problem:“A European Green Deal - Striving to be the first climate-neutral continentClimate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, Europe needs a new growth strategy that transforms the Union into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where:there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050;economic growth is decoupled from resource use,no person and no place is left behind”- 96% of Europeans think that we have a responsibility to protect nature;- 95% of Europeans consider that looking after nature is essential for tackling climate change.”“COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION of 22 May 2018 on key competences for lifelong learningUnesco’s Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development affirms that education for sustainable development is an integral element of quality education and key enabler of all other Sustainable Development Goals. This aim is reflected in the revision of the Reference Framework.”OBJECTIVESThe overall goal of our project is to help communities of European municipalities to prepare for climate change by sustainably maintaining and developing urban biodiversity and green spaces. Specific objectives:O1 - Exploration and processing of Nature-Based Innovations.O2 - Forming the key competencies of local community stakeholders. Expanding knowledge related to the field, improving skills and changing attitudes.O3 - Improving the relationship between the partner organizations and expanding their knowledge related to the field. O4 - Evaluation of the implemented adult education process.O5 - Widespread dissemination of the results of the tender to ensure their sustainability.TARGET GROUPSThrough the activities of our grant application, we want to reach the following target groups:TG1 - Staff, decision-makers, members and volunteers of partner organizations - 6 organizations, at least 30 people - direct target group with active achievements.TG2 - Stakeholders of local communities - staff, decision-makers and representatives of local governments, NGOs and institutions - 50 communities, at least 150 people - contacting the direct target group in an active manner.TG3 - European citizens interested in the topic, contacting them in a passive manner- 150,000 people.RESULTSResults of our project in light of the planned activities:- Nature-Based Innovations case studies;- Learning manual on Nature-Based Innovations;- Multiplier events for stakeholders in local communities;- Web platforms for Nature-Based Innovations.INDICATORSThe main professional indicators of our project are as follows:- 1 survey - aimed at exploring adaptable Nature-Based Innovations - at least 40 proposals to be completed;- 1 electronic publication with at least 12 case studies (2 case studies / partner);- Learning manual, Part I - electronic document in English, German, Hungarian, Romanian, Croatian and Italian;- Learning manual, Part II - country-specific electronic document in Hungarian, Romanian, Croatian, and Italian;- Review and evaluation of responses in English, Hungarian, Romanian, Croatian and Italian.INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS - IO 1 - Nature Based Innovations case studies - The partners will prepare the case studies. Nature-Based Innovations can include a municipal rainwater collection and utilization scheme, or a long term care sustainable system designed for the roots of municipal trees, or a design for municipal green spaces that provides for more biodiversity while requiring less labor and energy to maintain.- IO 2 - Learning manual is being prepared on the topic of urban green spaces, consisting of two main parts: 1. Innovations in urban green space management - this is based on case studies, which we rework so that it can be presented in the form of a training. 2. Regulation of green space management - In the partner countries, we review and incorporate the regulation of green space management into the learning manual.MULTIPLIER EVENTSNature-Based Innovations for local communities - 13 workshops - 260 participants - The event will be presented by the staff of the partner organizations with the help of the knowledge gained during the Staff training through the project intellectual outputs. Following the presentation, the meeting will continue in the World Cafe format, with the possibility of group consultation. The event ends with a hands-on tour of the local Nature-Based Innovation, provided the site will allow the realization of such an exercise.LEARNING TEACHING TRAININGStaff training on Nature-Based Innovation - The short-term joint staff training takes place in Szeged, Hungary.

The proposed project aims to engage public authorities through a competition and to develop a targeted peer-to-peer learning program, to increase the uptake of cross-sectoral integrated urban planning at district level. The consortium is composed of 7 competent partners from countries covering different socio-economic and geographical areas of Europe, 6 of whom will implement all the project activities in their country, while the last partner, including its linked third party, serves as a supporting expert. National competitions for municipalities will enable the matching of forerunner cities in the field of integrated planning with committed cities, based on their excellence as well as outstanding ambitions. This transparent and innovative matching procedure will help to promote the contents of the project and to activate municipalities. The following peer-to-peer learning program, including a total of 42 municipalities will increase the capacities of municipal politicians, technical planning staff and communications representatives to effectively plan, finance, communicate and implement the energy transition. Targeted workshops will address the specific needs of these groups. The partners will draw on their broad experience to enrich, guide and moderate the peer-exchanges. With their increased capacities, 24 committed cities will develop institutionalised Energy Plans for the energy efficient development of one model district in their territory. The program also includes a European exchange dimension, to connect municipal authorities across the EU. The knowledge gained during this program will be disseminated by the consortium to further multiply the number of integrated planning projects for energy efficiency. MULTIPLY will contribute to the expected impact, triggering energy savings of around 177GWh/year and the production of renewable energy of around 80 GWh/year. It will link 42 municipalities across Europe and directly reach an estimated 960 municipal professionals with its learning programs.