Bologna, [16.01.2025] – Heat waves and traffic pollution are two major challenges for the city of Bologna inItaly. To address these issues, the I-CHANGE Bologna Living Lab engages citizens in interdisciplinary activities that enhance understanding of climate and air quality while empowering them to advocate for strategies to improve urban life.
On June 6, 2024, as part of the I-CHANGE Day held across eight Living Labs, a group of Bologna citizens equipped with cloud-connected weather stations explored the city by bicycle. Participants experienced and monitored humidity, temperatures, and air pollution levels, gaining handson insights into how urban factors influence local environmental conditions. The event revealed significant microclimate variations across Bologna, highlighting the importance of green spaces in mitigating heat and pollution.
To capture the spirit of the day and its outcomes, the short documentary “The Bologna Living Lab: Sensing the Environment on I-CHANGE Day” was produced. The film showcases the citizen-led exploration and highlights how collaborative efforts between researchers and residents can foster meaningful environmental awareness and change.
“The unique Selling point of I-CHANGE is in the name: I change. So the potential of each individual to make different choices with respect to his or her life daily. […] Understanding the exposure to air pollution or […] temperature, […] is very important. How to convince [people] is a difficult question.” – Silvana di Sabatino, Scientific Project Coordinator of I-CHANGE.
Watch the video and discover how citizens explore the climate in Bologna:
About I-CHANGE
I-CHANGE – Individual Change of HaAbits Needed for Green European transition – is a European Horizon2020 project which runs for 3,5 years (Start date: 1 November 2021). The project aims to face the challenge of engaging and promoting the active participation of citizens for addressing climate change, sustainable development and environmental protection in the framework of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Pact and the European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The activities of I-CHANGE are strongly rooted in real society through interaction, co-development and cooperation with eight interactive Living Labs across Europe (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Dublin, Genoa, and Hasselt), Israel and Burkina Faso
To learn more about I-CHANGE, visit the website: https://ichange-project.eu/
And follow the social media channels:
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ichange-eu
- X: @ICHANGE_EU
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/@I-Change
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101037193.
