Under the banner “Summer Spotlight – Meet the Transfer Partners,” the Athens-led Cooling Havens project has launched its summer campaign introducing the project’s three Transfer Partners – among them Budapest’s 18th District, whose participation is coordinated by the InnoK Knowledge Management Institute.

Cooling Havens is supported by the European Union’s European Urban Initiative (EUI). Its core interventions take place in Athens, aiming to mitigate urban heat islands through nature-based solutions – shaded, water-cooled public spaces, blue-green infrastructure, and active citizen engagement.

Through the Transfer Partnership (WP8), Athens’ experience becomes transferable to other European cities. The three partner cities are Roeselare (Belgium), Budapest’s 18th District (Hungary), and Sofia (Bulgaria). Partners take part in workshops and study visits; the first joint activities were held in Athens in January 2026.

The 18th District focuses on sustainable urban transformation and climate resilience, preparing for ever-hotter summers and a climate trending toward Mediterranean conditions. Inspired by the Athens examples, the goal is to create more livable, cooler, and greener public spaces. The campaign continues with further articles – including one dedicated to the district’s own work.

This project is co-funded by the European Union (European Urban Initiative, GA EUI 02-098). Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Cooling Havens Consortium and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.