On November 27, 2024, an online workshop titled "How to Tackle Urban Heat?" was held, organized by the Vienna City International Office in Sofia in cooperation with the Sofia Development Association. The event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the challenges of climate change and innovative solutions for adapting urban environments.

Dr. Johannes Luther, Head of International Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Urban Innovation Vienna – the Climate and Innovation Agency of the Vienna City Administration, presented the city’s strategies for addressing the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. He highlighted that urban heat significantly impacts quality of life, public health, biodiversity, and tourism, while also increasing the demand for cooling.

According to the agency’s estimates, the cost of inaction in this area could reach:

          - Between €300 million and €1 billion annually by 2030;

          - Between €490 million and €2.7 billion annually by 2050.

Vienna is implementing an integrated strategy that includes:

          - Climate-sensitive neighborhood planning;

          - Heat-resistant (re)design of urban spaces for all residents;

          - Returning rainwater to the natural water cycle;

          - Developing tools to address the climate crisis.

Gottfried Strugl, Head of Operational Organization and Management at Vienna Parks and Gardens (Department MA 42), couldn’t join the event but shared presentation comprehensive insights with participants on the role of Vienna’s parks in combating urban heat. He emphasized the importance of green spaces for improving the microclimate and mitigating the effects of overheating in urban environments.

In the context of the Sofia Development Association and Sofia Municipality's work on the Be READY project, which aims to raise awareness and develop strategies for addressing urban heat effects, the discussions and shared experiences proved extremely valuable.

To stay informed, please visit the website and the social media accounts of the BeReady project: website (https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/be-ready ), Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bereadyprojecteu, LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/beready-project/.

Be Ready is an INTERREG Danube Region project co-financed by the European Union.