Transformation of Schoolyards to Combat Climate Change Effects and Promote Healthy and Active Environments

Re-Act Schools aims to develop climate-resilient, multifunctional, and health-promoting schoolyards by utilising Nature-based Solutions and novel design practices. The expected impact includes mitigation of the urban heat island effect, biodiversity  enhancement, life quality improvement, and awareness among students and citizen. An innovative climate audit, design guidelines and action plans will be produced for public authorities and stakeholders to reduce the risk hazard across the Med region.

The escalating effects of climate change pose significant threats to cities, particularly heavy rainfall, flooding, rising extreme temperatures, and urban heat island effects, impacting the urban environment, life quality, and health in the Mediterranean. The RE-ACT Schools project addresses these challenges by focusing on climate change adaptation and risk prevention in school outdoor spaces.

Schoolyards, especially in cities with limited public green living areas, are valuable assets that offer opportunities to test and promote Nature-based and innovative technological Solutions for climate change mitigation.

The testing phase to analyse the climatic condition of the chosen pilots will accompany a capacity-building phase to define an innovative design methodology to mitigate their heat stress, manage water resources efficiently, and enhance biodiversity. The knowledge developed will be collected in a toolkit to support Public Administration in managing the transformation of schoolyards and public spaces

The project brings together a diverse partnership from six Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, France, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Cyprus) to transform six schoolyards into green, climate-resilient spaces that promote healthy lifestyles