Mediterranean summers are getting hotter. How can cities stay comfortable for residents and visitors during the hottest hours of the day? That’s the question at the heart of COOL NOONS. We’re proud to share that the project has entered its second phase, from testing to transfer.
What phase 1 delivered
Five pilot cities (Marseille, Lisbon, Imola, Budva and Dubrovnik) mapped Cool Paths, itineraries chosen for their tourist interest and thermal comfort, and tested locally adapted solutions: trees and climbing plants, shading pergolas, drinking fountains and even an augmented-reality museum experience to draw visitors indoors during peak heat.
What we learned
- Small-scale interventions can make a real difference to thermal comfort
- Combining shade, greenery, water and behavioural measures works better than any single fix
- Where heritage limits physical works, cultural venues can become cooling refuges
- Practical know-how (contractors, plant palettes, procurement) is key to replication
Kicking off phase 2
Thanks to Interreg Euro-MED’s Fast Lane, which lets high-performing projects move from testing to transfer without a new call for proposals.
From 9 to 11 November, the COOL NOONS partners meet in person for the first time to start sharing and learning together. Marseille and Lisbon, pilot cities in phase 1, will share what they learned with four new partners : Athens, Valencia, Campobasso and Corte. Their experience centres on the Cool Paths, itineraries chosen for their tourist interest and thermal comfort, mapped and co-designed with local people in each pilot city.
Transferring knowledge means adapting, not copying.
