From 5th to 7th February 2025, partners from across North-West Europe gathered in Utrecht, Netherlands for the latest Cool Neighbourhoods Partner Meeting. This pivotal three-day event provided an opportunity for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and strategic planning as we continue working towards greener, more climate-resilient urban spaces.
Workshops and Key Discussions
The meeting featured a series of interactive workshops focusing on the core themes of the Cool Neighbourhoods project:
🔹 Neighbourhood Typologies: Partners explored solutions tailored to Inner City, Deprived Areas, and Green Hub typologies, ensuring that each pilot site receives a context-specific approach.
🔹 Livability Index Development: The University of Antwerp provided insights into the baseline reports, allowing partners to better understand how to measure and track improvements in urban livability.
🔹 Cost-Benefit Model for Heat Stress Interventions: The team from Province of Antwerp led discussions on how municipalities can justify and implement green interventions effectively.
🔹 Empowerment Strategies: Best practices were shared by Saint Omer, Middelburg, and Differdange, highlighting successful community-driven initiatives that foster resilience and engagement.
🔹 Communication and Project Management: Strengthening outreach was a key focus, with discussions on increasing social media engagement, improving municipal website visibility, and ensuring structured content dissemination across all partners.
Implementation of Pilot Projects
With key discussions now wrapped up, partners are set to move from planning to action. The next phase will focus on the implementation of pilot projects, ensuring that the strategies developed in Utrecht are effectively translated into tangible urban improvements.
Looking Ahead
As the Cool Neighbourhoods project progresses, collaboration remains at the heart of our efforts. The insights gained from this meeting will drive forward real change, making our cities and neighbourhoods more liveable, climate-adaptive, and community-oriented.
Thank you to all the partners for their contributions – let’s turn these plans into reality! 🌍💚
