PROJECT ACTIVITIES
All activities of the STEP2CleanPlan project are organized under “Work Package 1”, which encompasses a wide range of components aimed at strengthening climate change adaptation capacity in the Black Sea Basin — from analysis and capacity building to policy design and pilot actions.
Activity 1: Current Situation and Capacity Analyses in Climate Change Adaptation.
In this initial phase, the project partners are conducting an in-depth analysis of the current state and potential of climate change adaptation in the target regions of Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece. A joint expert team has been established to review local, national, and EU strategies. Based on this analysis, a comprehensive “Guide for Local Policymakers” will be prepared, presenting applicable tools and good practices that can be used by local authorities.
Activity 2: Engagement activities.
To raise awareness of the project’s objectives and actively involve local stakeholders, a range of outreach and engagement activities are being carried out. Local seminars will be organized in each partner country. In addition, joint study visits will be conducted for policymakers to observe successful climate adaptation practices in Bulgaria and Greece.
Activity 3: Capacity Building program for the local authorities' experts for strategic planning
A specialized mentoring program is being implemented in the three countries – four target areas to strengthen the practical knowledge and skills of local experts and policymakers. A mentor team consisting of six experts from the three partner countries will provide intensive training and guidance for approximately 30 selected local professionals over a period of three months. The program will cover climate adaptation planning, sustainable urban mobility, and energy efficiency. It will conclude with an international closing conference held in Bulgaria.
Activity 4: Integration of Climate Change concerns into policy design, frameworks and technical assessment of the local and regional policy makers.
This final and most tangible phase of the project will focus on translating theoretical knowledge into practical action through pilot initiatives in the target areas:
● Uzunköprü (Turkey): The city’s first Climate-Neutral Urban Mobility Plan will be developed.
● Kalamaria (Greece): A sustainable plan will be prepared to reduce the carbon footprint of the municipality’s existing waste management system.
● Burgas (Bulgaria): A comprehensive 10-year Energy Efficiency Program will be created for the Burgas region.
● Byala (Bulgaria): A Sustainable Urban Mobility Framework promoting nature-friendly transportation aligned with the city’s tourism potential will be developed.