The SOS Climate Waterfront Concludes in Lisbon

Sea level rise, high tides, storms and floods enhance the vulnerability of urban waterfront territories. S.O.S. – Sustainable Open Solutions for European urban waterfronts is a project that brings together not only professionals, but also municipalities, stakeholders and citizens in pursuit of adaptation and contribution in combating climate change. The main purpose of this research project is the use of common knowledge to build a sustainable environment for all who care about the waterfront urbanism and the future of the whole planet. The project took place in the cities of Lisbon, Gdansk, Stockholm, Thessaloniki and Rome. During ten events international experts met in groups and engaged in conversations with local leaders and experts to share their insights and develop case studies to provide examples on how to address the challenges.
In the five cities they envisioned opportunities to enlarge green infrastructure to cope better with future problems of climate change mentioned above. Finally, the results of this research project were translated and designed into masterplans urban design, landscape, and architecture for each selected location

The SOS Climate Waterfront Project concluded in Lisbon on 2 June 2023 with the presentation of case solutions for urban waterfronts in Rome, Thessaloniki, Stockholm, Lisbon, Gdańsk.  These were shown by international and interdisciplinary teams consisting of Project Partners representatives: coordinatorLusófona University of Humanities and Technologies and ; Rome Sapienza, Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm, TOBB University of Economics and Technology Ankara, The City of Gdansk,, Intercult Stockholm, Gdansk University of Technology, CPONH Nederlands, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The project was funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Horizon 2020.

Each case is a singular case. Together they present a body of knowledge that sets the goals for further dialogue, future research and guidance for municipalities, stakeholders and the communities.

River//Cities Platform Foundation role in the project was to help to communicate it to non-expert, non-academic audiences in Europe. Thus R//C co-operated closely especially with the Intercult . The Foundation’s representative, Magdalena Zakrzewska-Duda supported on-site the final preparations such as design a poster for a printed exhibition and description of the project. Another task was to help create a digital exhibition in JPG format with a brief description of the project. Both exhibitions are intended for non-professional viewers, so they should be presented in an understandable manner.
The partnership needs to work on this output further. The River//Cities wili provide updated information with links to the project’s outcomes and materials.