The municipality of Middelburg is one of our Green Team Lighthouses (as you can read in the article Meet the Partner). Middelburg is also a pilot case in the Cool Neighbourhoods project, where local teams are testing practical ways to involve residents and organisations in climate adaptation interventions (particularly heat stress reduction). Here you can read how they tackle one of the most crucial and complex aspects of climate adaptation: citizen engagement.
Written by Tiny Maenhout
As climate risks such as urban heat, flooding and biodiversity loss continue to rise across Europe, technical solutions alone are not enough. People living in neighbourhoods must be part of the solution. But involving citizens meaningfully, especially in historic, vulnerable, or underserved areas, requires time, trust, and creativity.
- Start where people are
Begin with everyday concerns: comfort at home, energy bills, access to green space before introducing into climate data. Framing matters.
- Use the power of local anchors
Work with schools, community centres, and trusted local organisations in climate adaptation interventions.
- Make it visual and tangible
Use maps, temperature sensors, and even model simulations to show local impacts. Citizens respond better when they can see and feel the issue.
- Be honest about trade-offs
Green infrastructure may mean fewer parking spaces. Transparent communication builds credibility and helps prevent resistance.
- Celebrate small wins together
Whether it’s planting a tree, installing a shaded bench, or running a citizen science activity, visible actions create shared pride and momentum.
Image reference: 2023 Bloomberg Cities network
There is a big difference between informing citizens and co-creating solutions with them. True resilience develops when residents feel ownership of the changes in their streets and neighbourhoods. Moving from a transactional to a transformative approach is key.
The lessons from Middelburg and other Cool Neighbourhoods pilots are now being compiled into training tools, case studies and engagement blueprints for cities and towns across the region. The results might be very useful for you, so we invite you to check out the project website and stay in touch for the latest news and upcoming outputs.