The City of Amsterdam hosted the first International Water Week in the Netherlands (IWW). The IWW highlights integrated solutions covering the entire water cycle. One of the conferences that was organised during the week of the event is the conference Water Cities in Transition, Inspiring solutions in integrating urban design and water challenges: Cities dominate the world: politically, economically and ecologically.

The conference served as a platform for urban planners and water managers to focus on the latest developments in water city transitions: coping with climate change-related challenges, linking them with socio-economic issues and inspiring integrated

solutions in urban design and practice.

Cities cope with a broad spectrum of challenges to maintain a good quality of life for residents, be an appealing and economically healthy place and deal with demographic changes. Cities are also where a wide range of water challenges converge: flood defences, management of stormwater and groundwater, aging infrastructure and ecological stress. On a local scale and in the context of the city, we can share, compare and learn from each other about strategies and solutions to take an integrated approach to these challenges.

The conference organisers invited parties from around the world to share their secrets for success in linking water challenges to sustainable urban development, smart financial concepts and/or local governance solutions. ICLEI was represented by water expert Barbara Anton on the programme committee.