Narrative
The LIFE LATESTadapt project aims to increase the resilience of urban areas in Estonia and Latvia to extreme weather events by developing and demonstrating a portfolio of nature-based and smart solutions. The project focuses on four specific objectives: nature-based solutions, digital change, quality of planning, and engaged communities and skilled enablers. The project will address pluvial flooding, which is flooding caused by an overload of the urban drainage system during extreme rainfall, by developing and testing measures to prevent and respond to such flooding. This includes the creation of new high-potential plant communities, the development of a pluvial flood simulation model, an integrated decision support system for mitigation measures, and the design of nature-based solutions (NBS). The tools and solutions will be tested in eight urban demonstration sites across Latvian and Estonian local governments. The project will also focus on operationalizing green infrastructure (GI) and NBS in local urban municipal planning through co-creation of policy and management options, adoption of NBS maintenance rules, and urban greening plans. The capacity of local governments, including planners, project managers, and politicians, will be strengthened in developing and managing NBS and urban planning of GI. The project will also raise awareness about adaptation to climate change effects and promote thriving co-creation of NBS with local communities. The project will be implemented by 16 Latvian and Estonian partners in close cross-border cooperation, and the results will be transferred to other local governments in the Baltic region and other EU Member States.
Financial data
Total Eligible Budget: €5,144,488, EU Contribution: €3,086,693, EU Funding Percentage: 60%
Recommendations
• Develop and test a range of nature-based and smart solutions to address pluvial flooding in urban areas.
• Create high-potential plant communities that can contribute to flood prevention and resilience.
• Develop a pluvial flood simulation model and an integrated decision support system for mitigation measures
• Implement nature-based solutions in eight urban demonstration sites, involving local governments and communities in the process.
• Incorporate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions into local urban municipal planning, including policy development, management options, NBS maintenance rules, and urban greening plans.
• Strengthen the capacity of local governments, including planners, project managers, and politicians, in developing and managing nature-based solutions and urban planning of green infrastructure.
