CoP 14 Consolidates Roadmap and Starts Implementation Activities

Following the progress made in its previous exchanges, the IURC Climate Adaptation Community of Practice 14 (CoP 14) has taken a decisive step forward in consolidating its Urban Cooperation Action Plan (UCAP) and initiating implementation activities. The CoP involves Valencia Region (coordinator), Bologna, Sofia, Hamburg, Pimpri Chinchwad (PCMC), Kyoto, Kawasaki, and Christchurch. Tampere will soon be joining. During its third multilateral meeting, partners built on the alignment achieved across four key thematic pillars:

• Nature-based solutions for water-related risks,
• Heat resilience and health,
• Climate data platforms, and
• Citizen engagement.

The session focused on consolidating inputs into the UCAP and translating shared priorities into concrete actions. The UCAP is now in its final stages, incorporating contributions from the participating cities, including Hamburg and Christchurch, which recently joined the CoP. Members agreed on a timeline for final review and submission, marking an important milestone in moving from strategic planning to operational delivery.

From Strategy to Action

A central outcome of the meeting was the agreement to launch a monthly webinar series starting in April, designed to deepen technical exchange and broaden engagement with local stakeholders and experts. Each session will be led by a partner city/region and focus on one of the COP’s thematic priorities, fostering practical discussions on solutions such as climate data systems, flood resilience measures, heat adaptation strategies, and participatory approaches.

Strengthening Peer Learning through Study Visits

Partners also advanced preparations for study visits, which will play a key role in facilitating hands-on learning. Planned visits to Valencia and Bologna in September, followed by Kyoto and Kawasaki in November, will showcase concrete initiatives including floodable parks, cooling strategies, climate data platforms, and citizen-led adaptation practices.

In parallel, additional exchange formats are being explored, including bilateral collaboration opportunities, reflecting the growing dynamism of the Community of Practice.

Towards Collaborative Implementation

The meeting further highlighted opportunities for joint project development, including potential collaboration under Horizon Europe. Cities expressed interest in contributing to a joint proposal aligned with the COP’s priorities, reinforcing the collaborative dimension of the initiative.

Pilot actions under discussion include climate monitoring systems, digital tools such as urban digital twins, and community-based adaptation approaches, supporting the transition towards implementation on the ground.

Looking Ahead

With the UCAP nearing completion, CoP 14 is entering the implementation phase focused on delivering tangible outcomes through coordinated activities. The upcoming months will see the launch of webinars, detailed planning of study visits, and the development of joint initiatives.

This next phase reflects the evolution of CoP 14 into a platform not only for knowledge exchange, but for joint action towards climate-resilient and citizen-centred urban development.