Christmas Meeting of the Partners of the "Silesia. Blue Sky Restored" Project

On December 9, 2024, the Christmas meeting of the Partners of the integrated LIFE "Silesia. Blue Sky Restored" project took place at the Marshal's Office of the Silesian Voivodeship. The event gathered local and subregional eco-managers, representatives of subregional unions, employees of the Silesian University of Technology, the Silesian Botanical Garden Association, the Institute of Fuel and Energy Technology, the EUWT TRITIA group, and the Intercommunal Association for Ecology in Żywiec.

The official opening was delivered by Mr. Rafał Adamczyk, Member of the Board of the Silesian Voivodeship, who welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of cooperation within the project. Warm words of greeting and thanks were later shared by Ms. Barbara Kubiak, Director of the Department of Regional Projects, and her deputy, Mr. Damian Olma.

The meeting was held in a festive atmosphere, with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that set a cheerful holiday mood. Each participant received small gifts, which added a special touch to the event and reflected appreciation for the Partners' commitment to the project.

During the meeting, the achievements of 2024 were summarized. The first phase of the project was completed, engaging 79 local and subregional eco-managers. A significant milestone was the completion of the second edition of postgraduate studies in Ecoenergy, with 103 graduates. Eco-managers actively enhanced their skills by participating in workshops organized by the Competence Center. Additionally, the Institute of Fuel and Energy Technology carried out training campaigns and monitored environmental hot-spots.

A globally unique initiative, "Energy Efficiency Monitoring," jointly implemented with the Silesian University of Technology, covered 27 buildings across the region. Five of these buildings will undergo comprehensive upgrades to improve their energy efficiency. Another key achievement was the identification of four areas for greening projects in cooperation with the Silesian Botanical Garden. The selected locations include Bielsko-Biała, Wodzisław Śląski, Ruda Śląska, and Krzepice, with landscaping concepts currently under development.

Efforts to reduce transport emissions included a series of online workshops led by the Silesian University of Technology. Additionally, the educational and informational campaign "We Take Air Under Our Wing" yielded tangible results, visible in urban spaces across the region.

The meeting also featured the workshop "EkoPop: Popular Culture in Service of the Environment," where participants explored how well-known series and animated films can address environmental issues. They learned how to inspire eco-consciousness through popular culture. Characters like Cruella de Mon from 101 Dalmatians served as examples, illustrating the environmental themes often associated with villains.

For the second consecutive year, project partners took part in a Christmas-themed quiz, testing their knowledge of Christmas traditions, rituals, and popular films, including the iconic Home Alone.

The meeting was a great opportunity to review the project's achievements, exchange experiences, and strengthen collaboration among all parties involved in actions to improve air quality in the Silesian Voivodeship.