Water-sensitive cities are resilient, livable, and future-ready. By strategically combining blue (water), green (vegetation), and grey (technical) infrastructure, we create synergies that improve the urban climate and make public spaces attractive throughout the year. Early and integrated planning not only enables affordable housing but also provides cool, green parks, shaded areas for relaxation, and smart mobility solutions. This leads to multifunctional spaces that actively support the transformation toward water-sensitive urban environments.
The goal is to make the positive effects of water-oriented urban design visible and tangible, such as:
- Securing water supply for residents and businesses,
- Reducing urban heat islands,
- Experiencing water and nature in the city,
- Promoting biodiversity,
- Creating cooling microclimates through sustainable rainwater management.
The consistent use of rainwater as a resource—through infiltration, storage, and reuse—is a key lever in this transformation. Numerous national and international examples already demonstrate that investing in water-sensitive urban development pays off—ecologically, socially, and economically.
However, to implement these approaches on a broad scale, one thing is clear: “We don’t have a knowledge deficit, but a severe implementation gap.” The challenge lies less in expertise and more in practical realization and coordination among key stakeholders.
This session will showcase inspiring examples from Germany and around the world, illustrating what is possible when municipalities, urban planners, policymakers, and civil society work together and are empowered to drive the water-sensitive transformation of our cities. Short impulse presentations with vivid imagery will demonstrate how urban spaces can be reclaimed for people and nature.
After the presentations, we invite participants to engage in dialogue: Together, we will discuss the necessary conditions and political mandates required to accelerate implementation and make water-sensitve urban development the new standard.
