Think Green. The Culture of Sustainable Urban Development

Narrative Synthesis 

The "Think Green. The Culture of Sustainable Urban Development" project, implemented by Universitatea Politehnica Timișoara (UPT), was a collaborative initiative aimed at promoting environmental citizenship and sustainable urban development. The project sought to raise public awareness—particularly among students and young people—about the role of green culture in shaping resilient urban environments. Through bilateral exchanges, educational programs, international conferences, and community engagement activities, the initiative fostered knowledge transfer, institutional partnerships, and civic participation in environmental sustainability efforts.

Objectives and Vision

The project was designed to achieve several key objectives:

• Enhance public awareness of the importance of green culture and environmental citizenship.

• Strengthen institutional partnerships through bilateral collaboration between Romanian and Norwegian institutions.

• Facilitate knowledge transfer on sustainable urban development, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions (NBS).

• Engage young people through hands-on activities that encourage responsible environmental behavior.

• Promote Timișoara as the 2023 European Capital of Culture, integrating sustainability into cultural and urban initiatives.

• Disseminate findings and best practices through publications and public outreach campaigns.

Key Activities and Achievements

1. Bilateral Visits and Institutional Collaboration

The project established a strong collaborative framework between UPT and its Norwegian partners, including:

• University College for Green Development (HGUt) in Bryne.
• Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) in Ås.

A series of bilateral visits facilitated knowledge exchange:

• January–February 2023 (Norway) – Romanian experts visited Norway to explore best practices in green urban development and sustainability education.
• May 2023 (Timișoara, Romania) – Norwegian partners attended the project's international conference and seminar.
• June 2023 (Timișoara, Romania) – Experts from Norway participated in the summer school organized for students.

These interactions played a crucial role in fostering academic cooperation and research alignment, ensuring that both Romanian and Norwegian institutions benefited from each other's expertise in urban sustainability.

2. International Conference on Sustainable Urban Development

On May 25, 2023, the project hosted the international conference titled "The Culture of Sustainable Green Urban Development – Technical, Social, and Environmental Challenges." With 54 participants from Romania, Norway, Italy, and Spain, the event provided a platform for multidisciplinary discussions on sustainable city planning. Topics covered included:

• Nature-based solutions for urban resilience.
• Community engagement in environmental projects.
• Innovative approaches to urban greening and climate adaptation.

3. Seminar on Nature-Based Solutions vs. Technical Solutions

A follow-up seminar was held on May 26, 2023, titled "Nature-Based Solutions vs. Technical Solutions in Sustainable Urban Development: Synergies and Trade-offs." Attended by 20 experts from Romania and Norway, the session explored:

• The comparative benefits of nature-based solutions vs. engineered infrastructure.
• Strategies for integrating green infrastructure into urban planning.
• Case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of NBS in climate adaptation.

4. Summer School on Environmental Citizenship

One of the most impactful activities was the Summer School on Environmental Citizenship, held from June 19–23, 2023. Initially planned for 30 participants, the program attracted over 100 students, teachers, and international experts. The summer school focused on:

• Developing environmental awareness among young participants.
• Teaching concepts related to green infrastructure, sustainable city design, and circular economy.
• Hands-on activities, including building birdhouses and insect shelters using recycled materials.
• Workshops on rain gardens, green facades, and urban biodiversity.

A particularly successful component of the summer school was a collaboration with local schools, such as Școala Gimnazială Topolovățul Mare, where students learned practical applications of sustainability and urban greening.

5. Development of the Brochure "Think Green: Environmental Citizenship"

As part of its educational outreach, the project produced a bilingual brochure titled "Think Green: Environmental Citizenship." The publication covered:

• The role of environmental education in shaping sustainable cities.
• The importance of psychology in environmental behavior.
• Green urban solutions such as rain gardens, vertical gardens, and eco-friendly architecture.

This resource serves as a learning tool for students, educators, and policymakers, reinforcing the long-term impact of the project.

6. Public Outreach and Media Dissemination

The project placed strong emphasis on public engagement through various media channels:

• Coverage in local and national press.
• Social media campaigns to raise awareness about environmental citizenship.
• A YouTube report documenting the summer school's hands-on activities.

These outreach efforts helped to amplify the project's impact beyond its direct participants, ensuring that knowledge and best practices reached a wider audience.

Long-Term Impact and Sustainability

One of the key strengths of "Think Green" was its emphasis on sustainability beyond the project's duration. To ensure its long-term relevance, the following measures were implemented:

• Continuation of educational programs at UPT on environmental citizenship and urban sustainability.
• Publication of open-access materials, making key findings available online.
• Integration of project outcomes into university curricula, fostering future research and learning.
• Development of new research proposals on the relationship between urban development and environmental education.
• Institutional agreements for student and faculty exchanges, strengthening academic collaboration between Romania and Norway.

By embedding environmental education into urban planning discourse, the project created a lasting framework for sustainable development, ensuring that its impact extends beyond its initial implementation.

Conclusion

The "Think Green. The Culture of Sustainable Urban Development" project successfully bridged environmental awareness, academic research, and community engagement, demonstrating the vital role of green culture in modern cities. Through international collaboration, educational initiatives, and public outreach, the project empowered citizens, policymakers, and researchers to take an active role in shaping sustainable urban futures.

By fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, the initiative ensured that the next generation of urban planners, architects, and citizens will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to create greener, healthier, and more resilient cities.