Local European leaders explain how they are climate-proofing cities

As the planet warms, European cities face a dual challenge – driving down carbon emissions while also preparing for the worst natural hazards.

So how are mayors and regional leaders going green and building resilience? Euronews brought together leaders from around Europe for a panel debate at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan to find out how they’re managing this transition.

Our guests were Joško Klisović, the President of Zagreb City Assembly in Croatia, Niina Ratilainen, a Member of Turku City Council in Finland, and Andries Gryffroy, Member of Flemish Parliament in Belgium.

Flood prevention: More money or better planning?

This year’s climate summit is being dubbed the ‘finance COP’, and much of the discussion centred on the smartest way to spend taxpayers’ money.

Niina Ratilainen told Euronews that climate-proofing your city doesn’t require more money: “You just have to use the money wisely and you have to have green city planning.”

Andries Gryffroy said in Flanders the focus is on savings and investments that ordinary people can see and understand. He asks towns and cities to “at least save energy in your own real estate”, and “invest more, for example, in charging points. Invest more in trees. You know, that’s all the things that you can do which are very tangible.”

To engage voters on adaptation topics he says he avoids talking about global warming, but more concrete issues. “Don’t talk always about climate change,” he said. “I just talk about the floodings which are there and the heat which is there.”

Klisović said his spending priority is on adaptation, too, such as low-energy street lighting, solar power, and smart transportation. He told Euronews that every project for his city is checked against the climate-resilient roadmap.

Watch the full debate above. Our apologies for the sound issues whichFloo were beyond our control.