Ferrara, December 2024
Usage Project Wins Third Place in "Future 4 Cities" Award for Climate Action
Usage project wins third place in "Future 4 Cities" award for innovative climate action, recognizing impactful citizen science engagement campaigns and promoting data-driven urban sustainability solutions.
The USAGE project pilot, led by the Municipality of Ferrara, has been awarded third place in the prestigious "Future 4 Cities" award in the category of Climate Action. Competing against over 300 public and private initiatives from across Italy, this recognition highlights Usage’s innovative approach to addressing climate change and environmental risk management.
The award ceremony took place during the Future 4 Cities Festival, held in Milan from November 28th to 30th. The event brought together workshops, exhibitions, and discussions to inspire a more equitable, livable, and sustainable future for urban environments. The festival, now in its second edition, is promoted by Will, an online community with over 2 million followers, From, an agency specializing in urban transformations, and the European Commission Representation in Italy.
The Climate Action category specifically recognized projects tackling climate change through innovative adaptation strategies. Usage impressed the jury with its focus on digital tools to empower local governments in implementing the Green New Deal, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making through robust data collection.
In particular, the award recognizes the impactful citizen science engagement campaigns, organized by the Municipality of Ferrara and project partner Deda Next for gathering data on critical phenomena such as tropical nights, intense rainfall, and biodiversity. This data feeds into a Data Space designed to support informed policymaking and is shared with other cities and organizations involved in the project. The platform aims to provide tools for municipalities, businesses, and citizens to devise innovative solutions for climate change and environmental risk management.
“Receiving this award is an important recognition of our efforts in promoting sustainable urban development,” said Alessandro Balboni, Deputy Mayor of Ferrara, with responsibility for the environment. "It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and partners."
The award reflects the growing significance of digital transformation and data-driven approaches to climate resilience, underlining the importance of local governments in driving change.
As Usage continues, the project team will focus on making its tools and findings accessible to a broader audience, ensuring its impact extends beyond Ferrara. The award not only acknowledges the success of Usage so far but also sets the stage for continued innovation in urban sustainability.
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