Post-Conference Reflection on the International Conference on Urban Climate (ICUC12), Advancing Knowledge and Collaboration

Heritage as urban climate challenge: Evidence, policy, design & agency

The International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS) have warmly invited the global urban climate community to join the 12th International Conference on Urban Climate (ICUC12). From 7 to 11 July, the ITC-led 4TU-HERITAGE Consortium convened this International Conference in the World Trade Centre in Rotterdam; a week-long full-day programme designed to facilitate critical discourse, interdisciplinary exchange, and the presentation of novel insights. As the local organiser of this world-leading and largest event on urban climate, we are deeply appreciative of the collaborative effort that enabled a seamless experience, both logistically and content-related and are proud to have been able to bring this prestigious event to the Netherlands.

Key elements of the event included:

• Over 50 thematic academic sessions (each including oral and poster presentations) addressing a multitude of facets of the urban climate.
• Keynote lectures from featuring distinguished national speakers and experts such as Delta Programme Commissioner, Co Verdaas, Programme leader Green Climate solutions at WUR, Tim van Hattum and Consultant Neonatologist at Erasmus MC, Jasper Been, as well as internationally renowned experts such as Elie Bou Zeid from Princeton University, Carola Hein from TU Delft and Edward Ng from Chinese University of Hong Kong.
• More than 10 topical workshops and special events addressing practical aspects in the urban climate context.
• Attendance by more than 900 participants representing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from all over the globe.
• Discussions that transcended formal presentations, fostered genuine knowledge exchange and future research directions.

Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the globe gathered to explore the dynamic interplay between urban environments and climate challenges. This scientific conference offered a unique platform to share knowledge, innovative solutions, and fostered collaborations aimed at addressing the pressing issues faced by cities worldwide, advancing the forefronts in the field of urban climate in its broadest definition.

As urban areas continue to grow and evolve, the protection, preservation and sustainable transformation of our cultural and architectural heritage becomes increasingly vital–especially in the context of climate change. This year’s theme, "Heritage as an Urban Climate Challenge," originating from the 4TU-HERITAGE program, invited participants to examine how climatic factors impact urban environments and how these sites, in turn, influence urban climate resilience. We defined heritage in the broadest sense; not only historical and/or listed buildings and sites, but the total of the existing built environment we inherited as a society.

Our primary objective and theme of the conference was to explore the multifaceted relationship between urban climate resilience and our built environment heritage. Preliminary feedback and engagement indicate this aim was well received.