SCONE - second day of teacher training in Rostock

The second day of training focused on combining reflection with concrete planning of activities in the area of education for sustainable development (ESD).

The World Game became a starting point for a discussion about global interdependencies, responsibility, and the complexity of contemporary challenges. This experience opened up space for systemic thinking.

Participants looked at ESD as a holistic educational approach and the Whole School Approach concept, which assumes that change should encompass all areas of school functioning. The example of Öko-Haus served as inspiration. During the workshop “Creating an ESD-School from scratch,” visions of a school based on the principles of sustainable development were created, barriers were analyzed, and the first steps before implementing changes were planned. The concept of the “House of Change” helped to organize thinking about the transformation process and determine the stage at which individual schools are currently at.

It was a day of intensive conceptual and strategic work, showing that effective education for sustainable development requires both vision and well-planned actions.

SCONE – Drugi dzień szkolenia nauczycielskiego w Rostocku

Drugi dzień szkolenia koncentrował się na połączeniu refleksji z konkretnym planowaniem działań w obszarze edukacji na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju (ESD).

Gra Światowa stała się punktem wyjścia do dyskusji o globalnych współzależnościach, odpowiedzialności i złożoności współczesnych wyzwań. To doświadczenie otworzyło przestrzeń dla myślenia systemowego. Uczestnicy przyjrzeli się ESD jako holistycznemu podejściu edukacyjnemu oraz koncepcji Całościowego Podejścia Szkolnego, która zakłada, że ​​zmiana powinna obejmować wszystkie obszary funkcjonowania szkoły. Przykład Öko-Haus był inspiracją.

Podczas warsztatu „Tworzenie szkoły ESD od podstaw” stworzono wizje szkoły opartej na zasadach zrównoważonego rozwoju, przeanalizowano bariery i zaplanowano pierwsze kroki przed wdrożeniem zmian. Koncepcja „Domu Zmiany” pomogła uporządkować myślenie o procesie transformacji i określić etap, na jakim znajdują się obecnie poszczególne szkoły.

Był to dzień intensywnej pracy koncepcyjnej i strategicznej, pokazujący, że skuteczna edukacja na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju wymaga zarówno wizji, jak i dobrze zaplanowanych działań.

D-Effect - Round Table in Dzierzgoń

On February 20, 2026, in Dzierzgoń, representatives of young people and STG ERB took part in an event as part of the D-EFFECT project. The meeting was held at the Family Support Center and brought together young people, representatives of schools, and local institutions.

At the beginning of the meeting, the young people presented the results of surveys conducted in local schools. These surveys concerned mental health, sense of security, and ways of coping with stress. The presentations became a starting point for an open discussion about the real needs of the younger generation.

The next part of the meeting was a lecture entitled “Risky Behaviour vs Safe Fun,” devoted to safety, both in public spaces and online.

In the last part of the meeting, participants worked in groups on ideas for future festivals in Dzierzgoń, their format, location, safety rules, promotion of fun without stimulants, and building a good, inclusive atmosphere.

The meeting was an important step towards the real inclusion of young people in the decision-making process and the joint creation of events that respond to their needs.

SCONE - How to teach sustainable development in practice - workshops for teachers in Rostock

From February 24 to 26, teachers from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, and Poland are participating in workshops on implementing education for sustainable development in everyday school life. The event is taking place in Rostock, and the University of Rostock is responsible for the content.

We started the first day of the event by working on the European Sustainability Competence Framework, analyzing which competencies are key in education for sustainable development. We then focused on the values behind ESD and their practical dimension in everyday school life.

An important part of the program was a session on the psychology of climate anxiety and a discussion on how to work with students' fears and uncertainties in the context of the climate crisis. There was also time for a workshop to exchange experiences and work out solutions together.

It was an intense and substantive day that set the direction for our further work.

The EU is working on a strategy for removing unexploded ordnance from the seas

On February 12, 2026, a special expert session was held at the European Commission in Brussels on the development of an EU strategy for the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) under the European Ocean Pact.

Unexploded ordnance and sunken ammunition on the seabed are not only a safety issue—they also pose a serious environmental, infrastructural, and planning challenge.

During the meeting, Dr. Anita Künitzer from the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency (Baltwreck project partner) presented the results of the thematically similar MUNIMAP project on the legal aspects of marine ammunition management in the Baltic Sea region.

The process of developing a common EU strategy confirms that the issue of munitions and hazardous underwater objects is becoming one of the key elements of European maritime policy, also in the context of activities carried out in the Baltic Sea region.

The CONE project at the 11th European Congress of Local Authorities in March

The theme of the congress will be “Local government in times of uncertainty - local responses to global challenges.”

Date: March 2-3, 2026

Location: Mikołajki, Poland

As the official Institutional Partner of the Congress, APC ERB has incorporated the objectives of the CONE project into the national debate through a panel discussion entitled “Straight talk: hydrological risks,” dedicated to hydrological risks and nature-based solutions (NBS).

The meeting will be attended by experts from various fields who will discuss water-related hazards and ways in which nature can help mitigate them.

The panel will include, among others:

Tomasz Sielicki - Mayor of Braniewo and Vice-President of APC ERB; he will present the activities carried out in the Warmia region as part of the WaterMan project, with particular emphasis on practical solutions for water retention.

Marcin Ślęzak - Mayor of Gronowo Elbląskie; he will discuss the hydrological challenges specific to the Żuławy region and local adaptation strategies.

Prof. Magdalena Gajewska, representing Gdańsk University of Technology; she will present the scientific perspective of the CONE, CircularMuse, and WaterMan projects, highlighting how research supports the implementation of effective solutions.

Piotr Kryszewski - expert from Pomerania in the field of water retention strategies; will present his experience in planning and implementing green solutions for cities and regions.

Natalia Ferenc - representative of TUW PZUW; will discuss the links between climate adaptation strategies and risk management and insurance.

Marcin Żuchowski - Director of the APC ERB Secretariat; he will chair the meeting, coordinating the discussion and facilitating the exchange of experiences between participants.

Participation in the meeting is important for #CONEproject, as it enables networking and meetings between local government leaders from Poland and abroad.

The meeting provides an opportunity to present and exchange experiences in the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) in different regions.

Project activities engage decision-makers and citizens through the Nature-Based Innovation Arena platform.