- +2 degrees celsius
average urban heat island effect, up to +9oC
- 150m
maximum walking distance of every residence from cool spots. Each cool spot has 200m² of unpaved and greened area.
- 2019-ongoing
implementation timeline
Replicability
How cross-sector partnerships, citizen co-design and smart monitoring can scale up cooling solutions.
Best suited for
Antwerp’s approach is highly replicable because it combines clear spatial standards, simple nature-based interventions and a strong governance framework that can be adapted to different urban contexts without requiring complex technological systems. It is particularly well suited to densely built European cities experiencing increasing heat stress, with limited availability of green spaces and growing public health concerns linked to extreme temperatures.
Stakeholders' role
Replication relies on a multi-stakeholder governance model led by municipalities, supported by coordination across urban planning, environment and public health departments. Citizens contribute through co-design and local ownership, knowledge partners provide data and impact assessments, and private stakeholders support implementation and maintenance, making the model collaborative and scalable.
Built-in scalable tools
Scaling up is enabled through practical tools such as heat and climate dashboards for identifying priority areas, standardised design criteria that can be reused across sites, and participatory platforms that structure citizen engagement. These elements allow cities to replicate the model incrementally, starting with pilot areas and expanding based on performance and demand.
Funding pathways
The financing structure supports transferability by combining municipal investment with EU and regional funding, complemented by public–private partnerships and, in some cases, participatory funding mechanisms. This blended approach makes the model feasible across cities with different administrative and financial capacities.
