14 May 2024 - Valencia, Spain

The 2024 edition of the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) will take place from 26 - 28 June within the framework of the Valencia Cities Climate Week, hosted by the city as part of its EU Green Capital 2024 celebrations. This collaboration will bring together high-level representatives of cities and regions from across Europe to discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen resilience in the context of sustainable urban development.

Over three days during the Valencia Cities Climate Week, EURESFO24 will offer 20+ sessions and interactive workshops built around 3 key thematic streams with more than 100 speakers and moderators from European cities and regions, including ICLEI members Burgas (Bulgaria), Paris (France), Dresden (Germany), Athens, Thessaloniki (Greece), Rotterdam, the Green Metropolitan Region of Arnhem Nijmegen (Netherlands), Rome (Italy), Valongo (Portugal), Barcelona, Valencia (Spain), Malmö (Sweden), Izmir (Türkiye), and Mykolaiv and Ostroh (Ukraine), among others.

Each of the three key thematic streams, and a fourth special stream, will address crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery. The first stream focuses on multilevel governance, cooperation, and the need for a just transition. The second stream delves into water resilience and the promotion of the Blue Economy within and beyond the Mediterranean region. The third stream aims to enable transformation towards resilient, adaptive, and climate-neutral cities and regions. The fourth special stream focuses on building resilience in fragile settings and bridging the gap between humanitarian responses to post-conflict resilience and the recovery process.  

The fourth stream also underscores the ICLEI Ukraine Roadmap, which is based on consultations with 19 Ukrainian cities to help achieve their sustainability, resilience and recovery targets. The Roadmap supports the shift from siloed investments in emergency response to integrated strategic financing for long-term recovery in alignment with the cities’ Local Green Deals.

Elina Bardram, Mission Manager, Director for Adaptation & Resilience, Communication, and Civil Society Relations, DG CLIMA, European Commission, highlights:

"In the face of climate change, collaboration is not merely an option but a necessity. Inclusive and participatory processes are also key for pursuing the priorities of the European Union. As we convene at the 11th EURESFO in Valencia, let us recognise the urgency of working together across all levels of governance and sectors. Our mission, as outlined by the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, extends beyond dialogue; it demands concerted action. EURESFO is a great opportunity to leverage collective wisdom and drive impactful change towards resilient, sustainable futures for all."

Harriët Tiemens, Director of the Green Metropolitan Region of Arnhem-Nijmegen (Netherlands) adds:

"Water resilience and a meaningful integration of the Blue Economy is key to a more resilient future. It is important to use the specific soil and water conditions as guiding principles for rural and urban development. This should be included as a guiding principle in European policy and as a condition for funding programmes."

Register here until 14 June. In addition to taking place during the Valencia Cities Climate Week, the 11th edition of EURESFO will appear alongside the Cities Mission Conference and the Energy Cities' Annual Forum in Valencia.

The full programme is published here.

About EURESFO: Since 2013, EURESFO has been a unique exchange platform for city representatives, experts and stakeholders from local and regional institutions to discuss strategies, initiatives and actions for adapting to climate change, managing disasters, and building urban resilience. The European Urban Resilience Forum is a European initiative driven by ICLEI Europe and the European Environment Agency, and co-organised with the City of Valencia for the 2024 edition. Previous partners such as Resilient Cities Network, UNDRR, European Investment Bank, European Committee of the Regions, Covenant of Mayors - Europe, Nordic Urban Resilience Institute, and Google.org are back to support the programme development.

About ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125 countries, we influence sustainability policy and drive local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI Europe provides members in Europe, the Middle East and West Asia with a voice on European and international stages, a platform to connect with peers, and tools to drive positive environmental, economic and social change. ICLEI Europe works closely with an extended network of local and regional governments and partners on a broad range of topics.