Cities2030 EU Project Supports Local Policy Initiatives in the South EastRegion in Urban Green Space Use: An Ongoing Pilot Study for Community Gardening Initiatives to Supplement Households and Communicate Proactive Environmental Behaviours.
Creators: name: O'Loughlin, Christina
name: Drohan, Aileen
name: Cleary, Frances
name: Peavoy, Hazel
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Cities2030
subject: Community Gardening
subject: Proactive Environmental Behaviours.
subject: Short Supply Food Chains
subject: Environmental sustainability

description: This poster was presented at The Irish Environmental Researcher's Colloquium (ENVIRON), 25 -27th March 2024 at South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland. The full Book of Abstracts is available at https://www.esaiweb.org/archives/environ-colloquium-proceedings/, but is not archived here.

The colloquium was first held in 1990 in Sligo Institute of Technology and has since been held in most of the Universities and Institutes of Technologies in Ireland (and Northern Ireland). Each year the colloquium has a different theme and focus, and of course the research presented is always changing. We have provided a list below of past Environs (and themes, key speakers) with a link to the Book of Abstracts and/or Proceedings where available.





34th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium “Harvest to Harbour: Research from Soil to Sea” South East Technological University, Waterford (SETU), March 25th – March 27th.  
description: Title: Cities2030 EU project Supports Local policy initiatives in the South East region in Urban Green Space Use: An ongoing pilot study for Community Gardening Initiatives to Supplement Households and Communicate Proactive Environmental Behaviours.

Authors: O’Loughlin, C., Drohan, A., Cleary, F., & Peavoy, H.

Abstract

Cities2030 an EU Horizons funded project (20 countries, ~40 cities) uses multi actors and territorial approach to generate sustainable Cities and Regional Food Systems (CRFS). It is committed to the transformation of our food systems. Creating an Observatory, open access platform that provides information about CRFS based on blockchain technology, fed by living laboratories, piloting regional specific projects with community-driven solutions. Walton Institute (SETU), the Irish partner identified a Green Party private party bill as a pilot initiative for Waterford City. The bill proposes use of public greenspaces for Community Gardens. Cities2030 is currently administering an anonymous household survey (N=500) in the South East on Food Choices, Sustainability, Climate Action, Community/home gardening and foraging using a trusted local supplier of fresh free-range eggs. Interim results from a sample of 61 households (expected ~150/500) show that 77% are over 50 years, 72% are female and 79% live with partner/family and/or children. 69% are currently employed/homemakers, 26% retired and 3% students. The top 3 food-use concerns are Health & Nutrition (57%), Cost & Affordability (49%) and Food Waste (34%), while the main reason for household food waste are expired/best-before dates (53%), busy lifestyle/change of plans (49%) and excess purchasing (26%). 79% believe that climate change is an urgent global threat and 38% say that they do not understand the science behind it. The main obstacles to making changes are affordability/cost (66%); Inconvenience to every-day life/habits (66%) and lack of knowledge (54%). 71% are motivated and engaged to make every-day changes, 44% feel some degree of powerlessness and 30% believe that individual actions will have little impact nationally or globally. 75% would consider community gardening and 43% food foraging to supplement their food usage. These preliminary findings suggest widespread support for Community Gardening initiatives which will positively inform the upcoming FSD event.