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11 December 2018, 18:05

UNDP Green Cities project reaches practical phase in Belarus

MINSK, 11 December (BelTA) – The UNDP project “Supporting Green Urban Development in Small and Medium-Sized Cities in Belarus (Green Cities)” for 2016-2021 has reached a practical phase as its initiatives are being launched in three pilot cities, project manager Irina Usova told a press conference in BelTA's press center.

The UNDP project “Supporting Green Urban Development in Small and Medium-Sized Cities in Belarus (Green Cities)” is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection in 2016-2021. One of the main components of the project are the pilots on sustainable urban transport in Polotsk and Novopolotsk and energy efficiency in Novogrudok.

“In 2018 we focused more on theoretical part of the project as elaborating the approaches to the development of urban areas are of crucial importance. The experts reviewed the practices currently in use and developed recommendations at the national level. We prepared analytical reviews that include passports, profiles and information about the status of the pilot cities across 10 major components. For all three we developed the plans of green urban development - step-by-step strategies to achieve the desired state of the city. Coordination groups were set up to implement the project. Much attention was paid to involving local residents in the discussion of the initiatives. Surveys were conducted to identify the problems,” Irina Usova noted.

Speaking about the project implementation, Irina Usova reported that Polotsk and Novopolotsk, which are more focused on urban mobility, are already finalizing the technical design specification and will soon announce a tender for the development of the project documentation for the construction of a bicycle path which will connect the two cities. Various options were considered. Eventually the one which passes through the village of Ekiman was chosen. The project provides for the development of the bicycle infrastructure in Polotsk and Novopolotsk: bicycle routes, bicycle parking, bicycle cafes, repair shops and rentals. The project also provides for the replacement of public transportation stops, installation of electronic display boards at bus stops, installation of adaptive traffic control systems for synchronization of signals of traffic lights. This is the first time when an unified plan of sustainable urban mobility has been developed for two cities in Belarus. This will allow Polotsk and Novopolotsk to address local public transport problems together.

Energy efficiency activities will be conducted in Novogrudok. They will include the replacement of inefficient lighting systems for smart LED lights and the introduction of a smart energy metering system in housing facilities. “The Novogrudok city authorities have designated the pilot house which is run by a partnership of owners. We are planning to install smart meters there but we still need consent from all tenants. For this we are planning to carry out informational and educational activities,” Irina Usova said.

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