On 19 May 2026, the third and concluding workshop in a series dedicated to systems thinking and the use of Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) within the SMARTER project took place in Gdańsk. The workshop served as an opportunity to consolidate the knowledge and insights developed during the previous meetings and to apply them in a practical setting. As with previous workshops, this workshop was organized by our partner Gdańskie Wody, while GIG-PIB representatives co-facilitated the substantive sessions.
In addition to further work on system mapping and causal relationships, participants took part in a team-based simulation game specifically designed for the project. The game focused on the implementation of a blue-green infrastructure (BGI) investment project while incorporating public participation throughout the process. Participants were challenged not only to plan the investment itself but also to manage the overall process, stakeholder relationships, potential conflicts, financial constraints, and the development of public trust.
The simulation enabled participants to experience how individual decisions can influence the functioning of an entire system and how both immediate and delayed consequences emerge from complex interactions. Particular emphasis was placed on understanding blue-green infrastructure as a socio-ecological system in which residents and users of urban spaces are an integral part of decision-making and implementation processes.
The workshop demonstrated that effective planning and implementation of nature-based solutions require consideration of multiple interconnected factors and an awareness of the differences between short-term and long-term outcomes.
SMARTER project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101212794.
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