Local Action to Address Extreme Heat - CitiesHitRefresh
25. June 15:00 - 16:45
Europe is warming at twice the global average, placing increasing pressure on cities and local governments to adapt to rising temperatures. The growing frequency and intensity of extreme heat events are not only reshaping urban development but also challenging public health systems, economic stability, and social resilience. In this context, the role of local governments is critical - but their efforts must be reinforced through strong national support and effective multilevel governance.
This session provides a platform for peer exchange among cities at the forefront of tackling extreme heat, offering insights from both European and international experiences. Through case studies and collaborative discussions, participants will explore key challenges and best practices, with a particular focus on:
- Stakeholder engagement and securing high level support.
- Accelerating action at the local level for long term resilience.
- Strategies to protect and support at-risk populations, including older residents, low-income communities, and outdoor workers.
By reflecting on these pressing challenges and the increasing risks associated with extreme heat, the session will generate actionable policy recommendations aimed at enhancing European governance frameworks. The discussion will integrate national perspectives, leveraging expertise at different governance level to ensure that responses to extreme heat are both locally driven and nationally supported.
This session ultimately seeks to strengthen collaboration between different levels of government, ensuring that cities and municipalities are equipped with the resources, policies, and partnerships needed to build heat-resilient communities across Europe. The session is also about encouraging and enabling peer exchange.
Speakers
Project Manager, Reggio Emilia Municipality/E35 Foundation
Andrea Porcelluzzi, Project Manager, Reggio Emilia Municipality/E35 Foundation
Project manager with an extensive background supporting public and private entities in the design and management of EU-funded projects.
His main focus is fostering cooperation between local authorities and the research, innovation and creative sectors to accelerate the climate transition and drive social innovation.
He currently works at the E35 Foundation in Reggio Emilia, where he supports the city and local institutions in shaping more sustainable and inclusive urban ecosystems. In this context, he is mainly involved in climate transition governance, food system transformation, nature-based solutions and urban resilience.
City of Rotterdam
ESther Wienese, City of Rotterdam
Enora Bruley holds degrees in Ecology and Environmental Political Science, and earned a PhD in Environment from Grenoble-Alpes University, France. Her research focuses on the adaptation of social-ecological systems (SES) to climate change, with particular attention to citizen and stakeholder engagement processes aimed at supporting inclusive governance for transformative adaptation. Her methodological approach is place-based and transdisciplinary, grounded in the co-production of knowledge with local stakeholders. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva within the EU-funded projects Adaptation AGORA, where she investigates the enablers and barriers to the co-production of innovative solutions for climate resilience in Europe.
City of Rotterdam
Josine van den Bogaard, City of Rotterdam
Josine van den Bogaard (MSc) is senior policy advisor at the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond). She has expertise in the effects of the environment on health and health-related behaviors. At the moment, she is active in various ways in the prevention and mitigation of the negative impacts of extreme heat on the health of communities and municipalities. Van den Bogaard served on some national committees, such as the committee of the NWA Climate Adaptation and Health program, the national Bathing Water committee, the Health Council of the Netherlands, and she chaired the collaboration of GGD medical environmentalists in the Netherlands. She initiated the GGD working group on Climate and Health. She advises on and wrote various policy documents and articles on improving the environment to promote health. She is closely involved with the implementation of the new Dutch "Environmental Act" at the municipal level.
Expert - Climate Risks and Adaptation, European Environment Agency
Julie Berckmans, Expert - Climate Risks and Adaptation, European Environment Agency
Julie Berckmans is a climate scientist that works on assessing climate risks for Europe and coordinated the development of the first European Climate Risk Assessment. Julie has a background in weather and climate science and has 10+ years of experience in the fields of climate modelling, climate services and climate adaptation with a particular interest in urban areas, human health and transport infrastructure.
Adaptation Project Manager, City of Paris
Marie Rouaux, Adaptation Project Manager, City of Paris
Marie is a project manager for adaptation to climate change at the city of Paris, in the Climate Change and Ecological Transition Department. Her main task is to develop and evaluate innovative projects to adapt Paris infrastructures to extreme heat. She is focusing on the shading plan of Paris, on the network of drinking fountains and foggers and on simple solutions for public building such as cool roofing, reinforcement of the use of shutters and the installation of ceiling fans.
Previously, Marie worked for consultancy firms specialising in public action on climate change. She has helped a number of French local authorities to draw up and evaluate their climate policies. Marie holds a master's degree in Urban Policy from Sciences Po and the London School of Economics, as well as a dual bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and Natural Sciences from Sciences Po and the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France.
Chief of Section, Department for Civil Protection Affairs, City Administration of City of Kraljevo (Republic of Serbia)
Zdravko Maksimovic, Chief of Section, Department for Civil Protection Affairs, City Administration of City of Kraljevo
Graduated from the Faculty of Mining and Geology in Belgrade, and is currently studying for a doctorate at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad. In 2013, he took over the Department for Civil Protection , where he still works today. He has a license in the field of disaster risk reduction and post-disaster reconstruction (license for preparation of Disaster Risk Assessment and Protection and Damage Plans, license for PDNA, license for lecturers within the National Academy for Public Administration, etc.). He is a participant and creator of several projects: ADAPT, EVERGREEN, SEEURBAN, EU ZA TEBE, etc. (http://civilnazastitakraljevo.rs/PDF/ADAPT_Legacy.pdf, riskzm.rs, civilnazastitakraljevo.rs/svecano-otvaranje-osmatracnice-vizitorskog-centra-u-sklopu-evergreen-projekta/, seeurban.net, www.euzatebe.rs/rs/projekti/eu-za-srbiju-otpornu-na-katastrofe). Author of numerous manuals and materials in the field of civil protection and climate change.
Patrizia Bianconi, Senior Expert in Ecological Transition and Climate Change, President's Cabinet, Emilia-Romagna region
Delegate for the Emilia-Romagna region for ecological transition and integrated climate change policies, she is a senior expert with extensive experience in managing projects and programs focused on sustainable development and climate change at international, national, and regional levels. With over 30 years of professional experience, she has actively promoted local economies and facilitated territorial cooperation while implementing and coordinating research activities related to climate change. She has supported numerous public institutions beyond the Emilia-Romagna region, including the Italian Ministry of Environment, the Italian Ministry of University and Research, the National Research Centre, and various private companies. Additionally, she collaborates as a lecturer in several specialized courses and master’s programs organized by universities and environmental agencies.
Moderator
Expert, Resilience and Climate Adaptation, ICLEI Europe
LUCA ARBAU, Expert, RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION, ICLEI EUROPE
Luca Arbau is an architect and a sustainable urban development practitioner. He is ICLEI Europe's representative in Brussels from the resilience and climate adaptation team. He is involved in the implementation of the EU Mission on Adaptation and the Covenant of Mayors - Europe's pillar on adaptation. He is a key organiser of the annual European Urban Resilience Forum. He holds a master's degree in international cooperation and emergency architecture from the International University of Catalonia (Spain) and a master's degree in architecture from the University of Ferrara (Italy).
Adaptation Manager, Climate Alliance
Alison De Luise, Adaptation Manager, Climate Alliance
Alison is an urban climate change adaptation specialist, applying policy, partnership & program management experience towards support city resiliency. As Manager, Adaptation to Climate Change at Climate Alliance, Alison contributes to the Covenant of Mayors for Europe's adaptation and energy poverty work, building adaptation capacity across European cities. She also manages the EEA European Topic Center on Climate Change Just Resilience Task. Prior to this, Alison led strategic initiatives aimed at supporting case-making for Green Infrastructure across US cities. As Senior Advisor at the Water Center at Penn, she co-developed integrated solutions to complex urban water resource challenges. As head of Strategic Partnerships at Bioversity International, she focused her partnership development efforts on achieving development impact and securing funding. This work built on her years working for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in food security and in rural development policy. The foundation of all this experience was her three years establishing social enterprise initiatives in Swaziland.
Associate Programme Management Officer, UNDRR
Yigyeong Oh, Associate Programme Management Officer, UNDRR
Yigyeong Oh is the regional focal point for the Making Cities Resilient 2030 Initiative at UNDRR ROECA, based in Brussels, Belgium. Since joining UNDRR in 2023, she has monitored UNDRR’s engagement with UN Country Teams in the region, coordinated collaboration within the Issue-based Coalition on Environment and Climate Change, and supported office communication efforts. She also contributes to the production of reports and knowledge products related to disaster risk reduction and urban resilience.