Urban nature has the potential to provide many benefits for society and the environment. As an example, urban green and blue can reduce the negative impacts of heat waves and heavy rainfall events. This makes the creation and protection of urban spaces for nature indispensable in the context of the climate and biodiversity crises.

Underutilised spaces such as brownfields, abandoned industrial areas, oversized roads and parking lots as well as roofs and facades of buildings offer a unique opportunity to increase the share of urban nature. However, such transformations are often associated with  challenges. The City of Chemnitz, upcoming cultural capital of Europe, in cooperation with Climate Alliance and Ecologic Institute invites you to a two-day conference on how to achieve such a green transition in cities. Topics include: enabling policy and governance frameworks, identification of key actors within city administrations, how to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and citizen participation, financing options, managing conflicts of interest and potential trade-offs between green and grey options for different stakeholders. The conference targets municipal actors and practitioners interested in tapping into the potential of underutilised areas to expand urban nature.

• DAY 1 (Thursday, 11 May 2023): Join us and other municipal representatives at the Pentagon in Chemnitz for a full day of keynote presentations, panel discussion, pitch sessions and interactive workshops. Keynotes include a contribution by Dusty Gedge, President of the European Federation of Green Roof Associations.
• DAY 2 (Friday, 12 May 2023): Come along to our field trips showcasing different green transformation initiatives under development by the city of Chemnitz, and join in our pilot scavenger hunt addressing the challenges of climate-adapted urban planning.

We look forward to welcoming you in Chemnitz!

The conference is free of charge. Participation is possible on-site only. English / German / Spanish interpretation is available.