Last updated: October 2021
The Urban Ecology Agency of Oslo (Bymiljøetaten) installed two CityTrees in the city of Oslo to act as green lungs in the city and reduce air pollution. The two CityTrees were placed at the Solli plass by Sommerrogata and on Nordraaks plass, close to Slottsparken. The CityTree is an environmentally-friendly plant wall with benches. (Ref. 2) It is an invention of a German company, Green City Solutions, and acts both as an aesthetically attractive furniture for resting, while simultaneously combating air pollution in city centres. (Ref. 1)
CityTree Project
Monica Thorud Olsen, retrieved 08/24/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings
- Green walls or facades
- Other
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Noise reduction
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
This NBS aimed to achieve the following:
Reduce air pollution, air temperature and noise using mosses;
Self-sufficient energy and watering system;
Environmentally friendly construction;
Increase in biodiversity and green space in cities
(Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
-Mosses, suitable for the local climate, were planted on a vertical wall (Ref 2, 3).
-The construction contained sensors collecting environmental and climatic data, to regulate and control the unit and ensure that the plants survive. The CityTree combines mosses with IoT technology, enabling measuring, analysing and controlling the environmental benefits of the wall in real time. (Ref 2, 3).
-The plant wall also contained various plants that attract insects that contribute to the biological diversity in the city (Ref. 2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Local Government: Oslo Municipality (Bymiljøetaten) - Installment of City Trees (Ref. 5)
Private Sector: Green City Solutions - Provider of the product. (Ref. 1).
Citizens: The Urban Ecology Agency posted the news of their instalment of the two CityTrees on their Facebook page and
engaged with citizens commenting on the new features in Oslo's cityscape (Ref. 5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
(Unknown)
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate, energy and emissions
- Lowered local temperature
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Reduced noise exposure
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Green City Solutions (2017). Healthier living in cities. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
2. Blakstad, S. (2015). Trying out a green wall in the cityscape of Source link ut grønn vegg i bybildet i Oslo. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
3. Green City Solutions (n.d). Press portfolio. Berlin. [Document provided].
4. The City of Oslo (2017). Quiet Urban Areas. [Not available in 2020].
5. Bymiljøetaten i Oslo kommune (2015). CITY TREE - An environmentally friendly plant wall with benches. Facebook post, 28 September 2015. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
6. Green City Solutions (2017). About us - History. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
7. Green City Solutions (2017). Solutions. [Not available in 2020].
8. Splittgerber, V. & Saenger, P. (2015). The CityTree: a vertical plant wall. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment : Air Pollution XXIII. Source link. [Document provided].
2. Blakstad, S. (2015). Trying out a green wall in the cityscape of Source link ut grønn vegg i bybildet i Oslo. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
3. Green City Solutions (n.d). Press portfolio. Berlin. [Document provided].
4. The City of Oslo (2017). Quiet Urban Areas. [Not available in 2020].
5. Bymiljøetaten i Oslo kommune (2015). CITY TREE - An environmentally friendly plant wall with benches. Facebook post, 28 September 2015. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
6. Green City Solutions (2017). About us - History. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
7. Green City Solutions (2017). Solutions. [Not available in 2020].
8. Splittgerber, V. & Saenger, P. (2015). The CityTree: a vertical plant wall. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment : Air Pollution XXIII. Source link. [Document provided].
CityTree (2015)
Monica Thorud Olsen, retrieved 08/24/2018
CityTree (2015)
Monica Thorud Olsen, retrieved 08/24/2018
Source: Ref. 2, Svanhild Blakstad