ReGreenX Project kicked off in Szeged with hands-on climate festival
A mini-festival launching Szeged’s multi-year ReGreenX initiative brought researchers, environmental advocates, and residents together Saturday to explore climate adaptation strategies in one of Hungary’s most rapidly warming regions.
Held in the city's central Széchenyi Square, the ReGreenX Festival marked the opening of a European Union–funded urban greening program that aims to mitigate the effects of climate change through public education and landscape transformation.
A symbolic component of the project – the striking dead tree installation on Klauzál Square – was introduced earlier this month to illustrate the impact of drought on urban greenery.
Speakers at the event emphasized that climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a pressing local reality. “We are not at the beginning – we are in the middle of the process,” said Dr. Tamás Gál, a climatologist from the University of Szeged. He cited data showing average summer temperatures in the region now exceed historical norms by several degrees, while extreme weather events – such as erratic frost and heatwaves – are becoming more common.
Throughout the day, researchers and climate experts discussed how built-up urban environments, like downtown Szeged, contribute to rising temperatures. According to Dr. Ágnes Gulyás, a climate researcher, inner-city temperatures can be up to 7°C (13°F) higher than in surrounding areas. She emphasized the need to reduce impervious surfaces and switch to more permeable materials that retain moisture.
In the afternoon, the festival offered a range of interactive and educational sessions designed to connect residents with climate-resilient solutions.
Dr. Kriszta Szabó delivered a presentation titled "The Solution Takes Root: The Secret Life of Climate Trees," shedding light on how urban tree species respond to increasing heat and drought, and why careful species selection is vital for long-term urban resilience.
Later, popular gardening blogger and horticultural engineer Szabolcs Megyeri hosted a workshop exploring the question: "Is There a Miracle Plant Against Climate Change?" Participants learned practical tips for choosing and caring for drought-tolerant plants and were offered free saplings to take home and plant using the advice provided.
The day concluded with a roundtable discussion, "Can Szeged Stay Green?", focused on the constant environmental challenges facing cities in a rapidly changing climate. The panel included Ferenc Bojtos, office manager of CSEMETE Association of Nature and Environmental Protection; László Makrai, an ecologist and director of the city’s environmental management company; Szabolcs Megyeri; and Edvin Mihálik, city commissioner for the Green City program. The experts emphasized that sustainable urban design requires new thinking – from residents and policymakers alike – and that even long-standing urban planning norms must be reexamined.
Deputy Mayor Sándor Nagy, who opened the event, noted that Szeged has increased its green spaces over the past decades not only through planting trees but also by creating new forests. “It’s not enough to act on public land,” he said. “Private gardens, business properties, and residential courtyards must also play a role.”
The ReGreenX program will run through mid-2028 and includes educational outreach, model gardens, and public resources to help residents select and care for plants suited to Szeged’s changing climate.
At the exhibitors’ booths, visitors had the chance to learn about the work of various associations, companies, and institutions involved in the ReGreenX project. Attendees received a stamp card they could use to explore the different stands, taking on interactive challenges offered at each one. Those who completed the activities and collected all the stamps were entered into a prize drawing, where organizers raffled off valuable, climate-resilient plants.
Photos: Szilvia Molnar / Szegedify
