Climate Change Adaptation of Buildings Using Nature-Based Solutions: Application in Alentejo Central - LIFE myBUILDINGisGREEN

Abstract

Climate change has been recognized as one of the most serious environmental, social and economic challenges facing the world today. The Intermunicipal Plan for Climate Change Adaptation in Alentejo Central (PIAAC-AC), has already identified the tendencies and future scenarios of climate change in Alentejo Central until the end of the XXI century, namely the increase in the number of days with very high temperatures, the number of tropical nights (above 20 ºC) and heat waves and the general decrease in annual rainfall. In this scenario, the concerns with school communities and users of social services increase. The project “LIFE-myBUILDINGisGREEN” - “Application of Nature-Based Solutions for local adaptation of educational and social buildings to Climate Change”, developed in partnership by CIMAC (Portugal), CARTIF Technology Center (Spain), Diputación de Badajoz and CSIC - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Real Jardin Botanico – Spain – Project Leader) and the Porto City Council (Portugal), focuses on the construction sector, in particular on education and social services buildings in cities in Europe. It aims to implement prototypes (building adaptation) of nature-based solutions (NBS) on walls, roofs, exterior surfaces and parking on three pilot buildings. The overall objective is to contribute to improve resilience in these buildings using autochthone natural vegetation. This paper presents the project, its objectives and expected results.