Reunited under the canopy

In order to improve the quality of life of the population, to increase biodiversity and to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands, OneAction is developing public-private partnerships in Geneva and the Lake Geneva region to increase the vegetation cover in urban areas.

Location

Topics

Reunis sous la canopee 2023 SDG - OneAction

Beneficiaries

Direct
2,000 people living near the planted plots

Indirect
The population of partner municipalities

Impact

10+ public-private partnerships created in 3 years

15+ new plots planted each year

8 °C potential cooling in the vegetated areas

25 kg CO2 sequestration potential per tree per year

Context

Many cities are becoming aware of the importance of planting trees in urban areas in order to increase biodiversity, reduce heat islands and provide more green spaces for the population.

In Geneva, the report “Nos Arbres“, elaborated by four institutions (HEPIA, UNIGE, City of Geneva, Republic and Canton of Geneva) and more than 80 participants from academia, private institutions and civil society, has issued recommendations to increase the amount of trees.

Our partners

Reunis sous la canopee 2017 Contexte 1 scaled - OneAction

Aware of the many constraints to planting trees in urban areas, including lack of space and the presence of cabling and pipes, OneAction offers municipalities the opportunity to mobilise the private sector in order to maximise the planting potential. To do this, OneAction collaborates with various landowners, including real estate agencies, pension funds, companies and private individuals, and creates synergies with other actors involved in the field, such as academic institutes, landscape companies and architectural studies.

A first pilot project was launched in collaboration with the Service des Espaces Verts of the City of Geneva, which mandated OneAction to help it involve private actors in its tree planting efforts. Within the framework of this partnership, we have been able to count on the participation of the Fondation CAP Prévoyance; of the real estate agencies Baezner, Bory, Naef and Rosset; and of the company Pottu & Seitz for the planting work. Since then, OneAction has been working on replicating this initiative with other public entities in the Lake Geneva region.

The project

OneAction proposes to act as a lever to raise awareness, mobilise and bring together different sectors of activity around urban greening and tree planting. It promotes the implementation of long-term synergies by facilitating collaboration between public and private actors and by raising awareness. Depending on the specific needs of each municipality, OneAction offers various services in the form of a mandate. These include

  • searching for private partners
  • identifying plots of land and analysing the planting potential
  • liaising with landowners and real estate agents
  • creating a framework for partnerships
  • sharing information, coordinating and mediating between the various partners
  • designing a planting project
  • selecting appropriate species
  • raising funds.

OneAction thus brings its know-how in environmental project management, as well as its federating and mediating strengths for various public, private and academic actors. OneAction always ensures that everyone’s needs and wishes are taken into account and that the result can achieve the greatest common good.

In order to spur the greatest participation from the private sector, OneAction encourages municipalities to contribute by sharing part of the planting costs or participating in the project design. To further support this approach, OneAction has also set up a planting fund, which is funded by companies or individuals who wish to contribute to local planting efforts, and which allows for mixed financing of certain projects.

Planted areas

The project in figures

+4.4°C

Increase in summer temperatures by 2060 without climate protection measures (source: MétéoSuisse)

+9.6km2

Canton of Geneva’s tree coverage target on its territory by 2050

10+

Public-private partnerships created in 3 years

8°C

Potential cooling of planted areas

25kg

CO2 sequestration potential per tree per year (source: EcoTree)

15+

New plots planted each year


Expected outcomes

  • A growing number of key private sector actors are engaged in tree and vegetation planting in Geneva and the Lake Geneva region
  • Public-private partnerships are established and joint environmental projects are set up
  • The living conditions of inhabitants are improved thanks to the benefits of trees and green spaces (reduction of heat islands, soil restoration, biodiversity preservation, increase in carbon sequestration rates, purification of micro-particles, improvement of aesthetics and promotion of social connections)
  • Actors from the private sector are aware of the benefits of greening and are participating in the preservation of nature and the improvement of the population’s well-being

Sustainability

  • The synergies created between the private and public sectors are sustainable and lead to the implementation of new projects over the long term.
  • The green spaces have been designed with ongoing climate change in mind so as to generate benefits for biodiversity and for the inhabitants in the long term.

"We believe it is essential to work collaboratively and to integrate the needs, skills and knowledge of different actors in order to successfully create the conditions for climate resilience, increased biodiversity and improved well-being of the urban population."

— Saskia Petit, Projects Director at OneAction

Saskia Petit

Our projects

Together with its partners, OneAction develops initiatives to protect nature and empower communities. These initiatives are designed to be holistic, sustainable and locally owned. In most cases, self-financing mechanisms are included in order to create models that can be replicated in different contexts.

Our projects

Together with its partners, OneAction develops initiatives to protect nature and empower communities. These initiatives are designed to be holistic, sustainable and locally owned. In most cases, self-financing mechanisms are included in order to create models that can be replicated in different contexts.

Past projects

Here are some of OneAction’s past projects.

Past projects

Here are some of OneAction’s past projects.