Nearly PLN 300,000 earmarked for community environmental initiatives. GAZ SYSTEM has selected the winners of the 16th edition of the Natural Energy Fund grant programme

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Over the coming months, a number of communities will see the development of green areas, along with environmental workshops and educational campaigns engaging local residents in environmental protection initiatives. These projects will be implemented by the recipients of grants under 16th edition of the Natural Energy Fund. This year, GAZ-SYSTEM allocated funding to 20 local initiatives.

Interest in the Natural Energy Fund reached an all-time record this year. Submissions surged by over 40 percent compared to last year, reaching a total of 135 project proposals. Such a large number of projects confirms the growing interest in the programme and the increasing involvement of local communities in initiatives supporting environmental protection.
 

– The 16th edition of the Natural Energy Fund has demonstrated the vast potential and resourcefulness of local communities. The record number of applications and their exceptional quality confirms that local citizens are committed to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation efforts. We are confident that the funding will spark initiatives that inspire broad public participation and foster  responsible commitment to sustainable development, said Agnieszka Głośniewska, spokesperson and director of the Communications and Marketing Division at GAZ-SYSTEM.

 

The 16th edition overview 

The Natural Energy Fund framework was implemented across 12 provinces, encompassing 37 municipalities and 16 towns where GAZ-SYSTEM’s key investments and facilities are located. The highest number of applications was received from areas directly linked to the FSRU Programme as well as from the adjacent areas of the Wronów Rozwadów, Rozwadów Strachocina, and the Mory Reguły gas pipelines.

Project proposals were accepted across four distinct thematic categories. The most popular theme was ‘Garden of Dreams’ which focuses on developing sites dedicated to environmental education and wildlife watching. Support was also granted to projects in the categories ‘Educational Campaigns’, ‘Green Workshops’ and ‘Trees Close to Us’, which promote environmental awareness and expand urban greenery.
 

Projects that inspire

This year's winning initiatives include several projects designed to combine environmental conservation efforts with local public mobilization, such as the projects proposed by the Rural Women’s Clubs from Lubcza, Lasek Wielki and Grobla, bringing different generations together through community green activities. Meanwhile, the Volunteer Fire Brigade in Jerzmanowa intends to establish a ‘Young Climate Leaders’ group to run educational campaign in local schools.

The Fundacja Sensytywna from Gdańsk, a winner of two previous editions of the Natural Energy Fund, has also been recognised. The Foundation proposed a series of workshops on urban biodiversity and the impact of infrastructure on the natural environment. This matter is gaining urgency in the context of the challenges posed by climate change and the protection of ecosystems.

A complete list of winners is available on the GAZ-SYSTEM website under the tab: Natural Energy Fund.

For the past sixteen years, the Natural Energy Fund has been supporting community-led initiatives that demonstrate how synergy between residents, organisations and local authorities delivers tangible benefits for the environment, resulting in the development of social awareness and engagement.

This year's edition of the Programme has been granted the honorary patronage of the Ministry of Energy and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The Natural Energy Fund’s community partner is the ‘Za Górami za Lasami’ Foundation.