Floods, heatwaves, and widening social divides have made one thing clear: urban resilience in Europe is no longer an optional, theoretical debate - it's urgent. At this year’s European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) in Rotterdam, city leaders and changemakers gathered to tackle the pressing question: can Europe build resilience fast enough? “It’s about more than surviving shocks - it’s about thriving through them” said Vasileios Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI Europe, as he set the tone for the 12th edition of the conference on future-proofing cities through innovation, inclusion, and bold local action.
From devastating floods to rising social inequities, the need to future-proof our cities is no longer a theoretical debate. “Urban resilience is not just about withstanding shocks and stresses, but about thriving in the face of multi-crises and overlapping challenges. Europe's cities and regions must become adaptable, sustainable, and inclusive, becoming spaces where innovation meets collaboration to create solutions that benefit everyone and leave no one behind,” says Vasileios Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI Europe, setting the tone for this year’s European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) which shone a spotlight on how local leadership is working towards a climate-ready Europe.
Rotterdam set the stage for bold conversations on Europe’s resilience future
As one of Europe’s most climate-forward cities, Rotterdam provided the ideal setting for this year’s EURESFO, co-organised by ICLEI Europe, the European Environment Agency (EEA), and the City of Rotterdam. The forum attended by more than 370 participants, highlighted practical solutions for strengthening cities' ability to withstand shocks - from climate disruption to geopolitical instability. For three days, Rotterdam connected experts, city representatives, and other resilience experts with ideas and initiatives already taking shape throughout the city.
In the words of Chantal Zeegers, Deputy Mayor of Rotterdam and member of the Regional Executive Committee of ICLEI Europe: “Cities are the beating heart of global solutions. From Rotterdam - a city shaped by water, history and international cooperation - we are building a just and decisive future together."
During workshops and panels, participants envisioned a path forward for urban resilience, with a plan that is “credible, integrated, and more target-oriented.” This sentiment echoed throughout EURESFO sessions, which spanned from Nature-based Solutions to emerging opportunities for investment in climate adaptation.
Local governments are stepping up - but need system-wide support
Many cities see the need to embed resilience into governance structures, to work with trusted community members, and connect with other sectors like healthcare that can support different facets of resilience. In ICLEI Member Dortmund, for example, the city’s Heat Action Plan is being developed as part of a broader Integrated Climate Action Plan, according to Sophie Arens, Coordinator for Municipal Climate Adaptation, takes into account that: “Connecting with doctors and pharmacies is key — they help us reach people and spread measures to cope with heatwaves.” This need for cross-cutting partnerships was repeatedly raised as a way to embed resilience into all parts of a community.
Resilience is about people - not just plans
The human dimension of resilience in an era of polycrisis served as central themes of this year’s conference. From participating cities like Rivne and Poltava (Ukraine) and Ramallah (Palestine) facing ongoing war, to Barcelona’s focus on heat and droughts, urban areas often contend with multiple hazards or crises at once:
“Cities are always in a polycrisis. No city is risk-free. Barcelona is trying to learn from the action happening in the city to address hazards such as heat and droughts. Mapping the vulnerable communities is a priority for the city. We need to learn from the past and plan for the future as this can increase the impact of climate action. We need to take action to prevent future risks in a collaborative manner.” -Eduard Carrasco (City of Barcelona)
The Local Sustainability Award celebrated cities walking the talk
The inaugural Local Sustainability Award 2025 was held on the first day of the conference, recognising cities and regions driving sustainable change through local leadership and citizen engagement. Supported by ICLEI, the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Investment Bank, and the City of Aalborg, the award received nearly 60 applications, with three finalists were chosen: Grenoble, Vilnius, and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area.
The winner was announced during the ceremony as the City of Grenoble for its visionary “Breath of Schools” project, which brought together elements of air quality, mobility justice, safety, and social cohesion together in one powerful, replicable model of place-based sustainability. “We are giving the streets back to the children: Safe, clean, and quiet. Where they can just play and grow in their neighborhood.” - Gilles NAMUR, Deputy Mayor of Grenoble in charge of "Public spaces
Alongside Grenoble, runners-up: Barcelona Metropolitan Area was selected for its binding Sustainability Protocol, which embeds environmental criteria into public construction and planning, and the City of Vilnius for its long-term strategy to decarbonise and future-proof its existing residential housing stock. These projects represent different paths but a shared commitment to sustainability that is institutional, inclusive, and impactful.
Find out more about the award finalists and learn how your city can apply next year: award.iclei-europe.org.
Become the next host of EURESFO in 2026
EURESFO25 demonstrated that resilience is already being built across Europe — now it's time to scale it up. For local and regional governments, resilience isn't an abstract concept; it's a lived, daily practice shaped by real people in real places. The insights shared in Rotterdam will continue to inform and strengthen ICLEI Europe’s ongoing support for cities across the continent.
Looking ahead to next year, cities and regions across Europe are invited to showcase their leadership and commitment to climate resilience by hosting the next edition of EURESFO. For more information on becoming the city in 2026 to convene changemakers, drive solutions, and lead Europe’s resilience agenda, click here.