ENVE works in fields related to the European Green Deal, which include the environment biodiversity, circular economy, zero pollution, climate change, energy, and space policies.
GAIA (Green Areas Inner-city Agreement) protocol is a stable instrument of the municipality, and is based on a public-private partnership model to finance tree planting.
The GAIA mechanism is based on the idea to use financial compensation for the carbon footprint of businesses to purchase plants and maintain trees throughout the city. Participation of the town council and local businesses in the GAIA initiative is on a voluntary basis.
A business that is interested in participating can request an easy-to-use tool from the project website, which calculates the quantity of carbon dioxide involved in their processes and services, this means the carbon footprint they can then neutralise by selecting the type of partnerships they would like to purchase. The number of trees required to compensate the company's carbon footprint is indicatively calculated according to the amount of carbon dioxide which will be absorbed.
The city of Bologna also developed clear guidelines that detail the different steps that need to be taken in the process and the parties that are responsible. The city identifies the cost components, approves the Protocol of Agreement, takes the initiative to start the planting works and pays the tree suppliers.
GAIA project contributes to the climate adaptation objectives of the Bologna Adaptation Plan to increase the number of green spaces in urban areas and promote urban safety in the face of extreme weather events.
