Our 12th Futureproofed Talk burst with thought-provoking keynotes, hands-on workshops, and lively discussions as city leaders and climate practitioners came together to turn ambitious climate goals into tangible progress. Held at the Brussels headquarters of our partner Sweco Belgium, this year's event offered attendees a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with both our SaaS experts and on-the-ground engineers.
This year's Futureproofed Talk centered on bridging the gap between climate goals and tangible action, with a deep dive into climate financing solutions. Through keynotes and a panel discussion, the event explored diverse pathways for local governments to secure funding for impactful climate initiatives.
During the panel on financing climate initiatives, our experts offered insights from three distinct perspectives, highlighting diverse pathways for public authorities to secure climate funding.
These insights highlighted that innovative climate financing can take many forms, from local collaboration to structured funding organizations.
To end the panel, we asked each panelist for their top piece of advice on climate financing:
During the Futureproofed Talk keynote, Bas Aumer and Lout Kuiper revealed how geodata is revolutionizing urban planning for more sustainable, nature-friendly cities. By harnessing the power of geospatial data, cities can:
This geodata-driven approach empowers cities to create thriving urban ecosystems that benefit both people and nature. Integrating these powerful insights unlocks a future-proof path to greener, more biodiverse communities.
Alongside inspiring words from Serge de Gheldere, a user-focused feedback round with product designer Rafaël Martins, keynotes from Piet Colruyt, Bas Aumer and Lout Kuiper and the engaging panel discussion, Futureproofed Talk once again brought attendees directly into the action with interactive workshops. Each session encouraged participants to dive into practical challenges, collaborate on solutions, and exchange insights.
These hands-on sessions were designed not just to spark new ideas, but to equip attendees with the tools and know-how needed to drive impactful climate initiatives in their communities. By working through real-world scenarios, participants left the event armed with the insights and resources to turn climate plans into tangible progress.
Municipalities have access to a wide array of tools and data to support climate adaptation, though navigating these resources can be complex and time-intensive. The Climate Adaptation Scan, developed by the Flemish Environmental Agency, is specifically designed to simplify this process for smaller cities and communities that may lack specialized expertise. This tool helps local governments anticipate future climate impacts, plan for potential changes, and guide adaptation strategies.
Within the Climate Adaptation Scan, the Plan tool offers seven scenarios with recommended measures, while the Project tool allows users to visualize critical elements—such as trees, buildings, and traffic—on a map. The focus remains on adaptation: adjusting to the impacts of climate change.
With city-specific indicators, the goal is to significantly reduce the projected climate impact by 2050, supporting municipalities in developing effective, targeted adaptation plans. The Climate Adaptation Scan tool helps visualize the actions needed to enhance climate resilience.
A best practice for local governments is to actively involve neighborhoods in co-creating climate-adaptive designs. This can be done using visual elements, such as the example shown below, featuring 3D-printed models of buildings and cards that represent climate adaptation measures like wadis, de-paving, underground infiltration, infiltration basins, weirs, green roofs, and natural heat shields.
At this workshop, experts emphasized the critical role of local governments in addressing climate change through targeted renovation strategies for private housing. Buildings are responsible for approximately 36% of the EU's energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and consume about 40% of its energy. Achieving the EU's climate-neutrality goal by 2050 necessitates substantial reductions in these emissions.
However, municipalities often face challenges due to a lack of structured tools and strategies to effectively tackle this issue. This gap underscores the urgent need for a Local Long-Term Renovation Strategy (LLTRS), providing municipalities with a structured, actionable pathway toward sustainable housing.
The workshop outlined a five-step roadmap to guide municipalities in creating a long-term renovation strategy that aligns with both EU and local goals:
Participants also discussed innovative approaches, like “Design-Build-Finance-Maintain” models, to overcome financial hurdles and enhance energy efficiency in multi-residential buildings.
This workshop highlighted that while regional and national policies are crucial, local governments are uniquely positioned to understand and act on community needs. A well-developed LLTRS enables cities and municipalities to drive renovations effectively, supporting homeowners through tailored policies that make sustainable living more accessible and impactful.
As climate officers and municipal partners look to advance these strategies, they’re not just contributing to emissions reductions—they’re building more resilient, livable communities in the process.
In this workshop, participants explored the potential of blue-green corridors as an integrated approach to managing water, mitigating heat, and supporting biodiversity in urban areas. Amid growing water stress and shifting rainfall patterns due to climate change, blue-green corridors present nature-based solutions to urban challenges. These corridors integrate water management with green infrastructure to address flood risks, improve urban cooling, and create ecological networks that support local biodiversity.
Participants reviewed 10 guiding principles for designing effective blue-green corridors. These included making water visible, restoring lost habitats, and using historical and climate projections to guide planning. Project examples, like the redevelopment of Hoboken’s industrial site and Turnhout’s blue-green urban plan, highlighted real-world applications and the importance of collaboration, long-term vision, and flexible design.
During a practical exercise, participants applied the principles to two sites—Walhain, focusing on flood mitigation, and Vilvoorde, addressing heat stress and water retention. Using maps to identify flood-prone areas, urban heat islands, and fragmented habitats, participants designed strategies incorporating rain gardens, green corridors, and tree planting to reduce runoff and enhance urban cooling.
This workshop emphasized that blue-green corridors require a multidisciplinary approach and long-term planning to effectively adapt urban spaces to climate challenges, fostering healthier, more resilient communities.
This workshop examined how industrial parks and economic districts can be transformed to support sustainable development. Participants, including urban planners, climate officers, and architects, explored practical approaches to creating greener, more resilient business spaces through a phased transition strategy.
The workshop underscored that transitioning industrial zones is a complex, long-term process, requiring coordinated effort, strong governance, and early-stage engagement with both local government and industry stakeholders. Participants agreed that dismantling the traditional “silos” within planning and encouraging cross-sector collaboration are essential for achieving resilient, future-proofed industrial zones.
The "Sustainable Mobility Innovation Sprint" workshop focused on actionable steps that municipalities can take to build climate-resilient transportation systems, using the Futureproofed platform for guidance. Participants explored practical approaches like water canals to reduce road traffic, cycling highways, and mobility hubs while navigating challenges of local vs. regional implementation.
The workshop underscored that while sustainable mobility requires coordinated action, local governments are key to shaping solutions that resonate with community-specific needs.
As we close another successful edition of Futureproofed Talk, the energy and enthusiasm from this year's event continue to fuel our commitment to practical, scalable climate solutions. We hope the insights, workshops, and networking moments have empowered participants to turn today’s ideas into tomorrow’s actions.
From financing climate initiatives and developing adaptive infrastructure to fostering sustainable mobility and transforming industrial zones, it’s clear that innovative, collaborative approaches are key to tackling the climate crisis. Thank you to everyone who joined us in driving forward the mission of building a resilient, sustainable future. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Futureproofed Talk for more impactful discussions, insights, and action plans!
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