In April and May, training seminars entitled Sustainability and construction project management in local government were held in Gulbene, Līgatne and Salacgrīva in the Vidzeme Planning Region, at which local government and regional specialists learned how to apply sustainability principles in practice in construction projects.
The seminars paid particular attention to sustainability and climate aspects and to their practical integration into construction projects, including the identification of risks, impacts and opportunities, as well as the well-founded inclusion of sustainability requirements in projects and public procurement.
Sustainability was treated as a balance between environmental, social and governance aspects, with emphasis on the fact that decisions affect not only a particular project but also wider society and the environment. Participants were introduced to the ESG approach (environmental, social and governance aspects), which helps to assess these aspects and their impact on a project in a structured way. The double materiality principle was also explained, that is, an approach that makes it possible to assess both a project's impact on the environment and society and the risks and opportunities for the local government or organisation itself.
The seminars also explained why sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important in the work of local government. Discussion covered climate change, the decline in biological diversity and the availability of natural resources, as well as the social changes associated with them, such as inequality, migration and challenges to social cohesion. These processes already affect the work of local government today, from the growing risks caused by floods and storms to the strain on infrastructure and its costs, and so assessing them is increasingly becoming part of the planning of development projects.
For example, when planning the construction of a new building, it is important to assess not only the construction costs but also energy consumption, long-term maintenance costs and the impact on the environment. At the same time, the risks to the local government must also be taken into account, such as rising energy prices or the need to adapt the building to climate change in the future.
A significant part of the training was devoted to the life cycle of a construction project, from the idea through to operation. It was emphasised that the most important decisions, and also the mistakes, often arise in the early stages, namely during the idea, planning and design phases, while it is at the construction stage that these consequences become most visible. Participants analysed the most typical risks, such as incomplete design, a focus on the lowest price in procurement, or insufficient attention to operating costs.
The practical examples also looked at sustainable solutions in local government, including energy efficiency measures in buildings, the circular economy approach in the development of public infrastructure, and forms of public involvement such as climate assemblies, in which residents work together with experts to draw up proposals on issues of importance to society.
In the context of the circular economy, emphasis was placed on the approach of reusing resources, reducing the volume of waste and seeking solutions that allow materials and infrastructure to be used for longer and more efficiently. These examples helped to connect the theoretical insights with the real experience of local government.
The training was led by sustainability expert Dace Helmane and construction engineer Jānis Šiliņš. The learning process was organised using an interactive approach, combining discussions, group work and the exchange of experience, which allowed participants to analyse their own projects and apply their newly acquired knowledge in practice.
The seminars were attended by local government specialists in development planning, project management, construction and facilities management from various municipalities in Vidzeme, as well as by representatives of the Vidzeme Planning Region. Among the participants were project managers, construction engineers, architects, development planning and procurement specialists, and other local government specialists who work with development projects on a daily basis.
During the training, particular attention was paid to assessing projects over the long term, taking into account not only the initial costs but also operating costs, the impact on the environment and the ability to adapt to climate change. Equally, stakeholder involvement and cooperation between different fields were emphasised as an important precondition for making high-quality and sustainable decisions.
The training seminars were organised within the framework of measure 6.1.1.8 of specific support objective 6.1.1 Mitigating the economic, social and environmental consequences of the transition to climate neutrality in the most affected regions of the European Union cohesion policy programme for 2021-2027, project No. 6.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 Improving the skills of local government and planning region specialists in matters of a climate-neutral economy and the mitigation of the socio-economic consequences associated with climate change.
The aim of the project is to improve the skills of local government and regional specialists in order to ensure progress towards a climate-neutral economy and to reduce risks associated with climate change in the most affected regions, thereby helping to mitigate socio-economic consequences. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development in cooperation with the Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale planning regions.