The 9th edition of the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) took place on 14 and 15 September 2022 in Athens, Greece. Once again, the Forum, organised by 20 partners, provided an exceptional platform for 70+ speakers and 300+ participants from across Europe and abroad to come together in 17 sessions and take stock and address challenges that cities are facing and outline opportunities for action. You can now read the full report on the 2-day event.
In 2022, the City of Athens and its surroundings had severely suffered from the effects of climate change, especially from extreme heat and drought, but also intense flooding incidents over the winter period. As such, the choice of the Greek capital to host the Forum served to raise awareness and inform participants about the challenges that must be addressed to build resilient communities.
To do this, EURESFO 2022, with its “PowerPoint free” promise, kept its informative, open and interactive character. Through different formats of sessions and workshops – on topics ranging from nature-based solutions, data availability, to digital twinning – participants had the opportunity to exchange on a number of challenges faced by European cities and regions as well as the measures being implemented to address them.
Participants were also able to attend an interactive marketplace, where they had the opportunity to hear short project pitches, get their hands on climate resilience assessments, and try decision support tools from different exhibitors. By visiting the 14 stands, both participants and exhibitors had a chance to network and kick-start key collaborations. Additionally, two local study trips were organised (to the Lycabettus Hill and the National Garden) so that participants could delve firsthand into real case studies that are being carried out in Athens. You can watch all the best moments of the Forum in the EURESFO 2022 recap video or scroll through the event photo album.
As building networks for resilience and climate change adaptation are key to withstanding the effects of climate change and conflict, ICLEI Europe and the European Environment Agency will continue to spearhead the Forum, gathering experts in the field to exchange knowledge and build vital collaborations. The upcoming edition of the European Urban Resilience Forum will celebrate its 10th jubilee, with the 2023 host city being released very soon. Stay tuned for the announcement!