In July 2025, the Cool Neighbourhoods partnership convened for a powerful and symbolic meeting in an extraordinary setting: the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, hosted by our partner PRO-SUD at their offices in Ellergronn—a former mining site now transformed into an ecological and cultural landmark.
🔗 Learn more about the site: Minett Biosphere
A Living Example of Regeneration
The Minett Biosphere perfectly captures the essence of the Cool Neighbourhoods project. Once defined by environmental degradation and industrial use, the area has been revitalised into a space of biodiversity, education, and community pride. It now stands as a living example of what is possible when vision meets action—something our project aims to achieve in pilot neighbourhoods across the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) region.
Our two-day meeting opened with reflections on the power of regenerating underused spaces, and the importance of turning climate challenges into opportunities for resilience and renewal.
Nature-Based Solutions at the Forefront
The biosphere provided the perfect backdrop for key discussions around:
- The development of Neighbourhood Heat Stress Action Plans (NHSAPs)
- Tools and methods for empowering local stakeholders
- The design of community-led and nature-based urban cooling solutions
Just like the Cool Neighbourhoods pilot sites,
the biosphere embodies:
✔️ The transformation of neglected or vulnerable places
✔️ The integration of nature-based solutions to improve environmental
conditions
✔️ Community-driven design and stakeholder participation
✔️ A long-term vision for both environmental and social resilience
Setting the Tone for Action
Our partners left the biosphere inspired—not just by the serene surroundings, but by the reminder that transformative change is possible, even in the most unlikely of places. The sense of alignment between place and purpose energised the discussions and set the tone for the rest of the meeting.
We extend a sincere thank you to the PRO-SUD team for their thoughtful hosting and for sharing the story of a place that so closely mirrors the ambitions of our project.
Together, we are building cooler, greener, and more liveable neighbourhoods—and places like the Minett Biosphere remind us of what’s at stake and what’s achievable.
Let’s continue transforming spaces—and futures—across Interreg North-West Europe regions.