ICLEI member city Rotterdam (Netherlands) is developing innovative water management strategies to make the city resilient to the impacts of climate change. Water management is a significant issue for the city, as it is facing increasingly frequent small-scale flooding. The measures include storage systems for rainwater and the building of several facilities to absorb water and improve the city’s drainage system, as well as rooftop gardens to absorb rain and CO2 and reduce the urban heat island temperature effect.

Rotterdam is especially affected by the water-related consequences of climate change as it is surrounded by water on all sides. Around 90 percent of the city is below sea level with some areas five – six metres below. A parking garage built last year incorporates a 10,000 cubic metres underground rainwater store, and other devised measures include playgrounds to hold water during heavy rain, releasing it slowly to the drainage system, as well as an Olympic rowing course that doubles as a water store. Premium-priced floating communities on waterside sites are moved nearer the coast.

Rotterdam is one of the world’s busiest ports and a key transportation gateway for Europe. The climate-proofing effort takes place within the Rotterdam Water City 2035, a long-term plan to tackle the water problem of the city and region. The city participates in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, and Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam, Alexandra van Huffelen, is the Resilient cities portfolio holder within ICLEI's European Regional Executive Committee. ICLEI is heavily involved in helping European cities to become resilient to climate change through the EU Cities Adapt project.

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