The Metropolitan Region of Coimbra announced today that it will lead a new European network dedicated to sustainable water management and to adapting territories to climate change.
The Water Sensitive Territories project “was one of 25 networks approved from 90 applications and brings together seven European partners to transform water-related challenges into local solutions for climate change adaptation,” the region explained in a press release.
The objective is “to support local authorities in moving from water management strategies to concrete actions tailored to the characteristics of each territory, promoting a more preventive, integrated and resilient approach.”
As the lead entity, the Coimbra Metropolitan Region will coordinate a partnership consisting of seven European territories, namely the Coimbra Region (Portugal), Elche (Spain), Shijak (Albania), Lille (France), Enschede (the Netherlands), Kalocsa (Hungary) and Akamas (Cyprus).
“The diversity of the involved territories will allow addressing different challenges associated with water and climate change, from water scarcity and drought to floods, urban heat, and the growing pressure on natural resources.”
The partners will work through transnational cooperation, the sharing of good practices, and peer learning, without leaving out local entities and communities.
Water Sensitive Territories will run from this month through April 2029, within the URBACT IV programme.
According to the Coimbra Metropolitan Region, “the identification of solutions, the implementation of pilot interventions, and the development of integrated action plans to respond to water-related challenges are planned.”
Water integration into urban and territorial planning, green and blue infrastructures, nature-based solutions, efficient use of water resources, and community participation in decision-making are among the priority areas.
The Coimbra Metropolitan Region noted that the approval of this network represents the continuity of work it has been carrying out within the Water Sensitive Cities thematic partnership, integrated into the Urban Agenda for the European Union and also coordinated by the Region.
“The new network will allow deepening, at local and intermunicipal scales, the knowledge and recommendations developed in that context, strengthening the link between water resource management, territorial planning, and adaptation to climate change.”
Given that it is a territory made up of 19 municipalities, with different realities and climatic and hydrological vulnerabilities, this project will be an opportunity to strengthen intermunicipal cooperation and develop increasingly coordinated responses to extreme events and to the challenges related to water availability and management.
By leading this new network, the Coimbra Metropolitan Region also reinforces its participation in European networks for territorial cooperation, contributing to placing water at the center of planning and climate adaptation policies and to developing solutions capable of promoting safer, more sustainable and resilient territories.
