Phoenix Project: Establish a Citizen Assembly in Szeged

The Hungarian city of Szeged faces various challenges stemming from its geographical features, notably being intersected by two rivers. The impact of climate change, characterised by increased droughts and water scarcity, has further intensified urban heat island issues, particularly in the city center and publicly used green urban areas. Projections indicate that Szeged and its surrounding Hungarian region will remain particularly vulnerable to drought, desertification, low rainfall, and rising temperatures, especially during the summer months.
Complicating matters, the vulnerability of water resources in the region is heightened due to the interconnectedness with the Tisza River, which depends on the cooperation of neighbouring countries. The protection of urban green areas is crucial for combating climate change. Although the city of Szeged is relatively compact, the outskirts, mainly garden city-like annexed settlements, expand the city’s territory.
These agriculture-based local communities lack a connection to the city’s central heating system, which is fueled by geothermal energy, and have limited access to the gas pipe system. Consequently, fossil fuels and, in some cases, waste are burned to heat households, resulting in air pollution and the degradation of air quality for the city. Given these challenges, the primary objective of this project is to stimulate public discourse on the associated risks, facilitating a transparent discussion of the issues.
The overarching goal of the Szeged pilot project is the establishment of a Citizen Assembly, enabling ordinary citizens to collaboratively determine the most suitable courses of action and work collectively to formulate recommendations in three areas: transportation, urban green areas and urban heat islands, and the relationship between energy and waste. The pilot project aims to establish a public campaign process based on the ideas provided by the participants of the Citizen Assembly.