On June 9, the Valmiera Integrated Library hosted an insightful seminar titled “Sustainable Rainwater Management in the Urban Environment.” The event brought together industry experts, local residents, and stakeholders to discuss smart, sustainable, and nature-based solutions designed to help modern cities adapt to the increasingly intense rainfall and heatwaves brought on by climate change.
The seminar was organized as part of the international project “LIFE LATESTadapt,” which features participants and speakers from Latvia, Estonia, and Austria. The primary goal of the project is to develop and demonstrate a portfolio of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) to improve urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia.
While project partners spent the morning in working session reviewing progress and planning next steps, the afternoon session at Cēsu iela 4 was fully open to the public, focusing on community awareness and practical experience exchange.
International experience and green infrastructure
During the afternoon’s theoretical session, guest expert Christopher Peiritsch from the “ACO Group” (Austria) shared his international expertise. Attendees were introduced to practical examples of how cities can effectively absorb and manage rainwater using green infrastructure.
The expert emphasized that these solutions offer a double benefit:
- Infrastructure Relief: They significantly reduce the load on centralized urban sewage systems during heavy downpours.
- Environmental Improvement: They enhance the local microclimate and actively promote urban biodiversity.
Practical insights at the Valmiera demonstration site
To bridge the gap between theory and practice, participants joined an educational walk through Valmiera following the lectures. During the tour, they visited the “LIFE LATESTadapt” project’s local demonstration site at Cēsu iela 4. This walk served as a real-world example of how nature-based solutions can be successfully integrated into existing urban infrastructure to improve the everyday quality of life for local residents.
About the Project: This event was implemented within the framework of the European Union’s LIFE program project “Development and Demonstration of a Nature-Based Solutions Portfolio for Improving Urban Climate Resilience in Latvia and Estonia” (LIFE LATESTadapt, call 2021-SAP-CLIMA-CCA).The project is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE program and the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.