Liverpool City Council’s Urban GreenUP project, which was recently shortlisted for a world Green City Award, won big at the CIRIA 2024 Big Biodiversity Awards.

Held in London, the city’s innovative nature-based solution programme secured awards in the following categories:
• CIRIA Innovation Award
• CIRIA Habitat Creation Project of the Year Award
• CIRIA Biodiversity Overall Winner

The EU-funded programme, which has introduced urban raingardens, green walls and pollinators posts around the city centre as well as a number of floating islands in the city’s docks and parks, was also Highly Commended in the ‘Living Green for Climate Change’ category at the World Green City Awards 2024 held in Utrecht.

The accolades follow hot on the heels of the programme scooping a golden pineapple trophy for its Climate Resilience submission at the 2024 Festival of Place.
Liverpool has also recently become the world’s first ‘Accelerator City’ for climate action, under UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action (ECCA) programme.

The title comes in recognition of Liverpool’s impressive commitment to innovation and smart regulation to rapidly decarbonise the live music and TV/Film production sectors – both vital parts of the city’s economy – following several years of developmental work by ACT 1.5, an artist-led research and action effort, and climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

• Liverpool’s Urban GreenUP programme involves a collaboration between the Council, the Mersey Forest and the University of Liverpool. It has set a number of goals to mitigate climate change impact on the city, such as enhancing air quality, reducing flooding risks, improving water management, and increasing urban sustainability.

For more information go to: https://www.urbangreenup.eu/cities/front-runners/liverpool/liverpool-uk-re-naturing-urban-plan-with-nbs.kl

REACTION

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robison, who is Cabinet Lead for Climate Change and Net Zero, said: “I’m extremely proud to say I think our city is heading in a great direction in how we tackle the impacts of climate change. I hope the rest of the country follows in our path and we can all make amazing changes together.”
Dr. Juliet Staples, Senior Project Manager Urban GreenUP at Liverpool City Council, said: “It has been a privilege to lead this project. The recognition we have received reflects the hard work and dedication of our teams and partners, and we are excited about the positive impact Urban GreenUP will continue to have on our city.”

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, added, “We’re thrilled that the Urban GreenUP project continues to be recognised as innovative both nationally and internationally. Using nature-based solutions to regenerate urban areas is vital for creating thriving communities, supporting our local economy, and helping us adapt to our changing climate.

“This was very much a partnership project, and we’re thankful to Liverpool City Council for showing leadership, as well as to the University of Liverpool and the range of contractors involved. We look forward to continuing the Mersey Forest Plan in Liverpool, with new projects already planned for this year.”