Planned activities

All planned activities are assigned to the following four pillars:

• support for the implementation of remedial measures under the Air Protection Program for the Silesian Voivodeship
• development of know-how, tools, methods and demonstration activities
• support for local authorities
• increasing environmental awareness.

The scope of the project was defined in an optimal way, including all activities necessary to achieve the main goal of the Air Protection Program, which is the improvement of air quality in the Silesian Voivodeship.

Characteristics of key activities:

Advisory support system (Eco-managers)

As part of the project, a group of 80 municipal representatives will be created and trained, the so-called eco-managers who (in line with Air Protection Program provisions) will operate locally in one commune, providing advisory services to residents and initiating and coordinating local activities to improve air quality. In municipalities that do not participate in the project, this activity will be carried out by sub-regional eco-managers (8 people), employed in the Sub-regions (which are partners in the project). The project partner is also the Inter-Communal Association for Ecology in Żywiec, under which one eco-manager will operate in the area of ​​11 communes of this area. The project takes into account both the cost of training and increasing the competences of eco-managers (postgraduate studies), as well as their remuneration over a period of 3 years. The costs related to the preparation of informational and educational materials that can be used by eco-managers in their advisory activities were also been taken into account. The action will be implemented by: the Silesian Voivodeship, 80 communal self-governments of the Sielsian Voivodeship, 4 sub-regional associations of the Sielsian Voivodeship, the Inter-Commune Union for Ecology in Żywiec, the Silesian University of Technology and the Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal.

Support for the implementation of the anti-smog resolution and the Air Protection Program for the Silesian Voivodeship - emission monitoring and sample testing

As part of this measure, two sub-measures were taken into account, such as:

1. Monitoring of PM10 dust pollution with the use of drones in the areas of the so-called "hot spots" related to "low emission"

As part of the task, measurement campaigns will be carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) equipped with air pollution sensors in order to locate the so-called "hot spots". The pilotage will be carried out in selected municipalities with the highest levels of pollution concentrations. The pilotage project will include the baseline assessment and, in the following years, the assessment of air quality improvement, according to the reduction factors assumed in the Air Protection Program for the studied area. Developed guidelines for defining the so-called "hot spots" will be able to be used by communes and voivodships throughout the country and abroad.

2. Raising qualifications of inspection services and increasing the effectiveness of the inspections carried out

As part of the task, a model campaign for the control of solid fuel furnaces will be carried out, aimed at identifying the incineration of waste or other illegal substances. This campaign will have an educational and training character, and its aim will be to reach communes with the lowest number of inspections. The scope of the task will include:

• training of employees of municipal offices and city guards responsible for inspections (including eco-managers),
• control of furnaces in strict compliance with the sampling protocol,
• analysis of the furnace samples collected during the campaign.

It is a direct implementation of Air Protection Program provisions and will be implemented by the Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal.

Development of models for reducing the environmental impact in public utility buildings

The objective of the demonstration activity is to develop models, that is optimal organizational, legal and investment solutions for improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of public utility facilities (sustainable buildings model). The task relates to the implementation of the provisions of the Air Protection Program regarding the improvement of the energy efficiency of public buildings. Sustainable Buildings Models will enable the identification of key activities and tools that can be implemented in various buildings (administration, education and culture). In addition to the development of theoretical models, they will also be implemented (i.e. organizational-technological-investment solutions), testing, evaluation and presentation of results in at least five buildings in the Silesian Voivodeship. The demonstration will also try to translate the results into other regions, especially the Czech Republic and Slovakia (TRITIA region), and disseminate the results through sector-specific guidelines and web applications. The action will be implemented by the Silesian Voivodeship, the Silesian University of Technology and TRITIA.

Concepts for increasing green areas

The project provides for the implementation of four demonstration case studies aimed at increasing the ​​green areas in the Silesian Voivodeship. By fulfilling the direct provisions of Air Protection Program, measures will be implemented to adapt to the advancing climate change and to develop biodiversity. The development of post-mining and post-industrial areas (green recycling of degraded areas) will be taken into account. This activity will include: developing guidelines for drawing up an inventory of potential green areas, creating a typology of areas to be used in GI development, defining the types of GI to be developed, and developing methods for assessing the effectiveness of GI. Thanks to demonstration implementations, a set of comprehensive guidelines for the accomplishing of GI in difficult areas will also be developed, including identification, selection of activities and design, implementation, as well as monitoring and maintenance of results. The action will be fulfilled by the Sielsian Voivodeship and the Silesian Botanical Garden, Union of Associations.

Reduction of transport emissions

As part of the action, the promotion of good practices and study visits in the field of optimization of city transport systems, as well as training - webinars for a group of local government officials conducted by the project partner, the Silesian University of Technology, were included. This task is a direct implementation of the Air Protection Program provisions and will be an important element of the exchange of good practices on a cross-border basis, as it will be coordinated and carried out by the international partner - TRITIA.

Establishment of a regional eco-information system for the inhabitants

The measure provides for the creation of a comprehensive eco-information system for the resident, which can be integrated with the websites of individual communes. In this way, information and advice for residents will be provided directly through individual municipal websites, which - in conjunction with the network of local eco-managers - will significantly increase the effectiveness of the message and contribute to the creation of a resident-friendly, locally implemented information and advisory support system.

The measure will allow residents to very effectively use the available opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, while creating a local eco-information system for the residents, adapted to operate both in the direct (off-line) and remote (on-line) contact formula, which is very important in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Raising public awareness and disseminating the results

The project includes the implementation of a comprehensive information and education campaign. The goals and main assumptions of the campaign were defined as follows:

• an information campaign on practical issues, such as optimization of heating systems, the use of renewable energy technologies, thermal modernization or selection of a financing source, the recipients of which will be primarily adult residents of the Silesian Voivodeship;
• awareness and activation campaign aimed at children and youth;
• a campaign promoting the activities carried out under the project and the results achieved.

In order to ensure the optimal effectiveness of all communication, education, information and dissemination activities carried out under the project, the campaign will differ in form and communication channels (Internet / direct actions, workshops, elements of on-line / off-line information campaign).

The described key activities, supplemented with those planned in the project “Śląskie. Blue sky” supporting measures create a comprehensive set of interventions which - in combination with the funds planned to be spent at the national and regional level in the coming years - give a real chance to improve air quality in the Silesian Voivodeship.