Entering the Final Phase: IMPETUS Gathers in Berlin to Review Progress and Visit Local Demo Site

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Last week, IMPETUS partners convened at the AKD Tagungshaus in Berlin to review the project’s achievements at the close of its third year and to plan for the final phase. The 4th IMPETUS General Assembly (GA), hosted by KWB on October 9th, brought together over 30 project partners, marking a pivotal moment as the initiative enters its final year.

During the first two days, partners provided updates on various aspects of the project. These included progress on governance and stakeholder engagement for transformative adaptation in each demo site, refinement of digital resources to facilitate climate solutions, and planning for upcoming challenges and exploitation opportunities. The assembly also focused on adaptation pathways, which are crucial for long-term resilience strategies.

Among the key accomplishments celebrated were the launch of the IMPETUS MOOC – a course on transformative approaches to Climate Adaptation in Europe, the first iteration of the Solution Marketplace and AI assistant, and previews of the initial digital versions of the Resilience Knowledge Boosters. These milestones reflect the consortium’s commitment to fostering accessible, innovative solutions to climate adaptation.

A poster session allowed partners to present and assess the maturity of solutions being developed across the seven demo sites. This interactive exchange enabled partners to share insights, lessons learned, and explore new opportunities for synergy across the partnership. Specific advances at the demo sites, each targeting unique climate challenges, include:

  • Berlin-Brandenburg (Continental Bioclimatic Region): Partners here have been advancing hydrologic surface water and groundwater modeling tools and preparing a mock-up of a Decision Theatre for integrated water resource management.
  • Catalonia (Coastal Bioclimatic Region): Activities have focused on evaluating a multifunctional wetland as a nature-based solution for water treatment in flood-risk areas of the Ebro Delta. Additional efforts include sand dune restoration, sediment transport analysis, development of a satellite-based coastal monitoring system, and fostering climate-resilient tourism through behavioral change.
  • Attica (Mediterranean Bioclimatic Region): Partners are finalizing the construction of a sewer mining unit to reclaim wastewater for urban irrigation, while launching the first version of a Digital Twin of the Attica region.
  • Zeeland and Rijnmond (Atlantic Bioclimatic Region): The teams have completed real-time calculations of heat stress maps, implemented a flood risk management model (3D digital twin), and developed a tool to calculate decarbonization impacts for major industrial refineries in the Port of Rotterdam.
  • Troms and Finnmark (Arctic Bioclimatic Region): Local teams are working to climate-proof Tromsø city center, engaging authorities with VR technology that visualizes the effects of sea-level rise. They are also using snowpack simulations and weather data to improve early warning systems for rockfalls, landslides, and avalanches.
  • Zemgale (Boreal Bioclimatic Region): Partners in this region have completed testing a flood forecasting model to upgrade a flood early warning system from the city to the regional level. They are also analyzing best practices to inform a regional climate change adaptation plan.
  • Valle dei Laghi (Mountain Bioclimatic Region): This IMPETUS demosite team, in collaboration with local stakeholders, have developed a mock-up of a decision support system for water management and analyzed the local historic building stock to enhance protection measures for cultural heritage.

Throughout the third year, IMPETUS has also strengthened ties with sister projects and presented its activities and results at various events focused on climate adaptation such as EURESFO, EU Green Week, Mission Forum on Climate Adaptation, and Water Innovation Europe among others.

The meeting also facilitated an exchange of ideas on stakeholder engagement activities and strategies for supporting the exploitation of over 64 impactful results identified within the project. Partners brainstormed ways to develop guidelines for decision-makers in business and finance sectors and ensure that public and private decision-makers can effectively leverage these climate adaptation results.

A highlight of the Berlin meeting was a visit to the Tegel Waterworks, part of the Berlin Wasserbetriebe, the largest water supply and wastewater management company in Germany and partner in the project. The Tegel facility provides 25% of Berlin’s drinking water and plays a crucial role in managing the city’s water supply. Berlin, a city facing rising temperatures and recurring drought, has been transforming into a “sponge city” to tackle water shortages. The construction of massive underground wastewater storage facilities helps capture and store rainwater, which can later be pumped up to the surface and released as needed. These innovative measures are essential to securing the city’s water supply in the face of climate challenges.

As the IMPETUS project enters its final year, the partners remain committed to pushing forward climate adaptation solutions, leveraging the progress made so far, and preparing for the next steps.

High temperatures

Record-breaking summertime temperatures have been recorded in the Netherlands in recent years. With global temperatures rising, such extreme weather events will occur more often, and for longer periods. Prolonged high temperatures, with warm nights as well as hot days, can cause heat stress* and related health issues, particularly among city populations.

*Heat stress occurs when the human body cannot get rid of excess heat and can impact wellbeing through conditions such as heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps and rashes.

Map of Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands
Heat stress map of Zierikzee in Zeeland

"We want to enable municipality decision makers who are working on spatial developments to identify heat stress 'hot spots' and cool areas, analyse the future effects of climate change, and model the effect of different heat stress-reducing measures. The tool must provide them with an easy starting point to integrate heat stress risks in their projects."

Martine Rottink, Nelen & Schuurmans

Issue

Despite the cooling effect of the sea in the region of Zeeland, the growing risk of heat stress has become a concern.

Elderly and other vulnerable people are more impacted by the effects of prolonged heat, which can cause headaches, dizziness, insomnia and other health issues – even death. Excess temperatures also affect general comfort and liveability of cities. Water quality can be reduced, both for drinking and swimming, and infrastructure can be affected. Buildings and concrete surfaces trap heat, potentially leading to damage, and release it during the night, keeping temperatures warm.

During heat waves, it is important that everyone has access to a cool and comfortable place. Appropriate spatial planning can help to decrease and deal with heat stress. Environmental factors like water bodies, trees, and shade have a major impact on stress caused by high temperatures. Therefore, planting trees, removing concrete surfaces, creating green roofs and cool spaces can improve our comfort and health. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is developing a digital tool to support regional decision making for city planning to address these needs.

Flood risk
Energy and waste water

Flood risk

By 2050, sea-level within this region is predicted to rise by 15-40 cm, with more frequent extreme weather and more (severe) storms triggered by climate change. These changes will exacerbate the natural risk of flooding in the IMPETUS ‘Atlantic’ region, because it is surrounded by rivers and the sea, and is below sea level.

*Risk takes into account two aspects; the chance that an event will occur and the negative impact of such an event once it occurs. When there is a low chance that an event will occur, but its impacts are huge, the risk is still significant.

Elevation map of Rotterdam and Zeeland
Flood risk map of Rotterdam and Zeeland
Elevation map of part of the Netherlands

“In the Netherlands, an extensive system of dikes protects us against sea and river flooding. We have always put our faith in this defence and focused almost solely on flood prevention. However, pressure on our system will increase with climate change and rising sea levels. To adapt and maintain a safe living environment, we should develop other safety measures, like more robust spatial planning and contingency plans."

Martine Rottink, Nelen & Schuurmans

Issue

Rotterdam city, is located in Rijnmond – ‘mouth of the Rhine’. The Rhine river flows through this densely populated area and characterises the region. Protections such as sea dikes and storm surge barriers have been constructed to protect the region, but flooding still occurs.

People living in the city are accustomed to seeing smaller floods. The changing climate affects the interplay between rainfall, river levels and sea storms, increasing the flooding risk. Water levels could rise by a few metres, even in populated areas, with potentially massive impacts. 

Mitigation measures such as storm surge barriers reduce the chance that high water reaches the city, but to minimise the impact of floods when they do occur, adaptation strategies are also needed. A city that can adapt to be safe from floods must be carefully designed. How best to design such an adaptive city?

Critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and evacuation routes, must be accessible at all times. Planning how to best protect them, homes and lives is complex. Flood water behaves in a complex way and flood risks show strong spatial variations. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is developing a digital tool to support regional decision making for adaptive city planning. 

Energy and waste water
High temperatures

Energy and waste water

To become climate-neutral by 2050, climate mitigation* efforts are crucial in our strategy for how to deal with climate change. Reducing our energy consumption is a significant mitigation step. In the Netherlands, 15% of energy is consumed in the Rijnmond area around the port of Rotterdam, in large part by a major petrochemical industry cluster.

*Climate mitigation encompasses measures such as technologies, processes, or practices that reduce carbon emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.

Map of Zeeland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands

Issue

The Rotterdam port petrochemical industry cluster is Europe’s largest. It consumes 70% of the Rijnmond region’s energy. A large part of this energy is wasted (64%, 203 petajoules). More than half of that energy is lost with wastewater. In addition, most energy processes within these industries rely on fossil fuels, which has a significant impact on the climate.

Energy use must be minimised and fossil fuels should be replaced by renewable sources if climate change is to be mitigated. Electrification of processes opens up the possibility to use more renewable energy and can greatly impact decarbonisation. Recovering wasted heat would significantly reduce energy consumption and is a first step towards a more circular industry. 

Supporting industries in a transition towards climate-neutrality depends on identifying how best to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrificing production or performance. The IMPETUS Atlantic team is creating a digital tool that supports decision making about pathways towards an effective energy transition for EU industry.

High temperatures
Flood risk