A European milestone in neighbourhood climate resilience
The official conference highlights film of the Cool Neighbourhoods Mid-Term Conference 2026 captures a defining moment for neighbourhood-scale climate adaptation in Europe.
Image: Cool Neighbourhoods & Cool Cities Partners in Attendance.
Held in Middelburg, the Netherlands, the joint mid-term conference of Cool Neighbourhoods (Interreg North-West Europe) and Cool Cities (Interreg North Sea Region) welcomed more than 130 participants from across Europe. Municipal leaders, researchers, policymakers and climate practitioners gathered to review progress, exchange expertise and strengthen cooperation.
This event was not simply a conference — it was a demonstration of how European collaboration translates into real neighbourhood transformation.
From Strategy to Implementation
The conference combined strategic discussions with practical site visits, allowing participants to see implemented measures first-hand.
Delegates explored:
- Molenwater Park, transformed into a climate-adaptive green oasis
- Dauwendale, where heat stress mitigation measures are reshaping an existing residential neighbourhood
- Public space redesigns integrating greening and water retention
- Energy efficiency improvements, including insulation upgrades to hundreds of homes
- Renewable energy integration within historic urban environments
These visits highlighted an essential message: climate adaptation becomes meaningful when it is visible, measurable and rooted in neighbourhood life.
Image: Selection of pictures from the excursions – including sustainable transport to the pilot sites!!
Citizen Engagement as a Structural Principle
A defining strength of Middelburg’s approach — and of the Cool Neighbourhoods project more broadly — is active citizen involvement.
Climate interventions were developed in dialogue with residents, ensuring that solutions respond to lived realities. The conference highlighted how co-creation strengthens both environmental outcomes and community ownership.
Image: Active Co-Creation with Citizens.
By embedding participation into planning, implementation and maintenance, the project demonstrates that climate resilience and social cohesion go hand in hand.
For many visiting municipalities, this participatory governance model was one of the most valuable lessons shared.
Capacity Building Across Europe
The mid-term conference served as a platform for European capacity building.
Through structured exchanges, technical discussions and peer learning, participating cities were able to:
- Share tested methodologies
- Discuss implementation challenges
- Identify transferable solutions
- Strengthen administrative and policy capacity
- Accelerate their own local climate adaptation strategies
Middelburg’s role as host city illustrated how practical experience can support other municipalities in moving from ambition to delivery.
Image: The Vice Mayor Middelburg: Jeroen Louws (Environment and Sustainability) opening the mid-term conference – demonstrating the political support of the project and its objectives.
European Added Value in Action
Cool Neighbourhoods is funded through Interreg North-West Europe, enabling cities to experiment, implement and learn together.
The conference reinforced several key principles:
- Climate challenges are shared across European regions
- Neighbourhood-level solutions can be replicated and adapted
- Collaboration reduces risk and increases innovation
- Knowledge exchange accelerates implementation
The event film reflects this spirit of cross-border cooperation — a network of cities working collectively to reduce urban heat stress and improve liveability.
Moving Forward
The Mid-Term Conference marked an important milestone in the project lifecycle. With concrete results now visible across pilot areas, the focus shifts towards further implementation, monitoring and capitalisation.
The message from Middelburg is clear:
Neighbourhood climate adaptation is
achievable.
Citizen engagement strengthens impact.
European cooperation delivers tangible results.
We invite you to watch the conference highlights film and explore how Cool Neighbourhoods is shaping cooler, greener and more liveable neighbourhoods across Europe.
Images Below: Selection of small
workshops held during the combined mid-term conference.
