Resilience by design? Future-proofing urban environments through green roofs

Resilience by design? Future-proofing urban environments through green roofs

We are happy to present the WGIN European Chapter latest White Paper, which explores the numerous benefits of green roofs as part of sustainable urban green infrastructure.

This document provides an in-depth overview of the benefits of green infrastructure solutions, featuring real case studies that highlight their positive environmental, social and economic impacts. It also outlines the crucial role the European Union has been playing and can continue to play in supporting the widespread adoption of these solutions through effective policies and robust regulatory frameworks.

Luigi Petito, Head of Secretariat of WGIN European Chapter:

“We are pleased to have access to a powerful new paper highlighting the broad benefits of urban green infrastructure. This will be especially valuable for our ongoing work on the follow-up to the European Water Resilience Strategy and the forthcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan”.

Explore the full White Paper here.

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Choosing green and blue over grey to improve cities’ climate resilience

Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe, increasing the vulnerability of Europe’s cities . Heatwaves, flooding, droughts and water scarcity are already affecting citizens, infrastructure, and economic activity, and continued urbanisation further intensifies these challenges. As the European Chapter of the World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN), we publish today a new position paper ahead of the upcoming publication of the European Climate Resilience Framework, planned for release during Q4 2026. We call the Commission to ensure that the t Climate Resilience Framework: Embed a mandatory “resilience-by-design” principle across EU planning, public spending, and sectoral policies. Establish a clear EU definition of a climate-resilient city, adaptable to national and regional contexts. Require climate risk assessments for urban areas, including pathways to scale up blue-green infrastructure solutions. Prioritise urban areas, buildings, and critical infrastructure, ensuring renovation policies deliver future-proof, climate-resilient buildings. Strengthening climate resilience in Europe must start with cities and the built environment. Read our full set of recommendations here.

Policy Guidance: Making European Cities healthier, more resilient and beautiful

  WGIN’s European Chapter and EFB have released a new set of implementation guidelines to support the national adoption of European legislation. The document provides practical guidance on how to implement legal provisions that can accelerate the deployment of green roofs and green walls, generating multiple benefits for people, cities, and the environment, including climate resilience, increased biodiversity and enhanced urban wellbeing. They offer direction on implementing key EU legislative instruments: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) With scientific evidence and a set of practical steps, the document shows how effective implementation of green roofs and walls can support meeting EU obligations and climate goals. Download the full paper here.

New Award Program for Landscape Architecture

The International Federation of Landscape Architects, one of WGIN’s organizational collaboration partners, is presently launching a new award program. Nominations will be accepted until June 1st. Winners will be announced in Hong Kong at the IFLA World Congress in the last week of October, 2026. The IFLA GLA Awards celebrate the projects, policies, and people shaping a resilient future. Entry submissions here. Awards GuidelinesThe IFLA Global Landscape Architecture Awards are designed to recognize the diverse, impactful work of landscape architects worldwide. From Indigenous stewardship to high-tech climate resilience, we are elevating the voices that matter. Key Information Eligibility: Open to landscape architecture practices, individuals, and multi-disciplinary teams as well as students worldwide. Projects must be completed (or published) between Jan 2021 and June 2026. Deadlines– Early Bird: 15 April 202– Standard: 15 May 2026– Final: 1 June 2026 Fees: A Tiered Fee Structure based on the World Bank Income Groups will be used to ensure fair access for professionals in all regions. Award Categories The IFLA Awards program has significant overlap with WGIN’s World Green Infrastructure Awards, and is structured into 18 diverse categories: Climate & Environment: Climate Action, Desertification, Nature Conservation, Water Security, Energy-Efficient Design. Community & Justice: Ethics & Equity, Indigenous Knowledge, Migration & Inclusive Communities, Children & Youth, Age-Friendly Communities. Planning & Culture: Landscapes for Cities, Heritage, Food Systems, International Landscape Convention. Practice & Future: Technology & Innovation, Urban Health, Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction, Young Landscape Architects. Those who submit nominations for the WGIN Awards are encouraged to consider also participating in the IFLA Awards program. For information or suggestions about organizational collaboration between IFLA and WGIN please contact WGIN Advisory Board Member David Brasfield.