This courtyard is a world

Strengthening the social dimension of climate change is one of itdUPM‘s objectives in supporting the City of Madrid in its mission to become carbon neutral. As part of this effort, itdUPM projects are being aligned to have greater impact. In this context, on 4 July we held the event “THIS COURTYARD IS A WORLD: Commitment to ClimateX-Navas de Tolosa”, where we celebrated the renaturalisation of the playground of the CEIP Navas de Tolosa in the San Cristóbal neighbourhood (Madrid).

Just over two years ago, through the collaborative work of many organisations, projects and individuals, we began to dream of how school playgrounds and school environments could be the starting point for the sustainable transformation of Madrid. Through the European project #LIFEPACT, we have been thinking about how schoolyards can open up to nature, creating new ways of interacting, relating and enjoying “climate oases” in urban environments.

This event is a turning point in the European project, confirming our commitment to collaborative design with, by and for citizens. The design of the event is inspired by the methodology of the ClimaX Guide, developed as part of a project funded by the Fair Urban Transitions programme of Porticus. This guide aims. This manual aims to facilitate the organisation of adapted versions of the Climate Commitment event, encouraging dialogue, the exchange of ideas and the launch of climate “micro-missions” proposed by the community.

The combination of these projects and the leadership of the Villaverde District Council and Madrid City Council, together with Basurama, Demsoc, San Cristobal Community Board, Villaverde Coexistence Plan, San Cristobal House of the Montemadrid Foundation and Zuloark, made it possible for this event to show how a schoolyard can influence the life of an entire neighbourhood.