Most cities and regions are not prepared for the extreme weather events we increasingly face: prolonged droughts, sudden storms, and intense heatwaves. Urban densification and the loss of natural areas intensify these impacts—cloudbursts, heat extremes, insufficient groundwater recharge, and water scarcity. Climate change is accelerating, and its consequences for cities, industries, and communities are becoming more critical every year.
On a human level, regenerative processes are declining. The lack of greenery and accessible public space in dense urban environments leads to rising stress, burnout, depression, and other health issues. Cities are built faster and denser, but they are losing their capacity to nurture well-being.
So, what tools can make our cities more resilient, livable, and regenerative? We already know many: green roofs, bioswales, retention parks, and a wide range of nature-based solutions. But we must go further – reimagining industrial zones, housing, mobility, and everyday living. Rooftops, parking lots, and public spaces must be transformed through green and water-sensitive design. These strategies not only build resilience against water crises but also create healthier environments for both people and ecosystems.
For more than four decades, Herbert Dreiseitl has pioneered the integration of water in urban design, developing stormwater systems and climate-resilient landscapes worldwide. His keynote will present examples such as Scharnhauser Park in Stuttgart, Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, SolarCity in Linz, Copenhagen’s Cloudburst Resilience Strategy, and Singapore’s Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.
The message is clear: better solutions are available, and we cannot afford to wait to long for new regulations. Blue-Green Infrastructure must be implemented earlier, at larger scales, and in more integrated ways. Public awareness, political support, and circular investment models are essential. Cities are built for people, so added values – beauty, biophilic benefits, and mental well-being – must be recognized and communicated.
To win the competition for urban space and give Blue-Green Infrastructure the priority it deserves, we must act faster and invest more boldly. Only then can we create truly resilient Sponge Cities and Regions that balance climate, ecology, economy, and human well-being.