Session

This session presents the GREENGAGE Observatories, a prototype approach to participatory urban planning developed over the past three years within the EU-funded GREENGAGE Project. Implemented in five diverse contexts—Bristol (UK), North Brabant (NL), Copenhagen (DK), Turano Valley (IT), and Gerace (IT)—the initiative explores how Citizen Observatories can act as ecosystems of collaboration to address urban challenges and strengthen community engagement. 

At the heart of GREENGAGE is the use of accessible, low-tech wearable technologies—from mobile phones to environmental sensors—to generate real-world datasets that capture people’s experiences, sentiments, and mobility patterns. These insights provide local authorities and civic innovators with valuable perspectives for climate adaptation, while also stimulating public debate and co-creation through participatory storytelling, visualization, and collaborative practices. 

The session will be organized as an interactive workshop in two parts. First, participants will be introduced to the GREENGAGE approach through a hands-on demonstration of the GREENGAGE App, data validation, and visualization platforms. Second, participants will join a World Café-style working session, where they will act as “critical friends,” reflecting on the White Book—a collection of lessons learned, recommendations, and creative tools for establishing Citizen Observatories. 

This is a unique opportunity for practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and community actors to engage with GREENGAGE tools and methods, exchange perspectives, and explore how the approach can be adapted to their own contexts. Together, we aim to advance participatory planning and more inclusive, place-based climate solutions.