UrbanAIR Project Contributes to Climate Justice Discourse at 10th EMES International Conference

The UrbanAIR project was recently represented at the prestigious 10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise, where our project partner, Aulia Sukma from TU Delft, shared key insights into behavioural modelling for climate adaptation. The conference, known for convening experts focused on social enterprise and sustainability, provided an excellent platform to disseminate UrbanAir's innovative approaches.

Presenting Cutting-Edge Research on Urban Heat Stress

The partner, accompanied by her colleague Amineh Ghorbani, presented their ongoing PhD research under the title: "Community-Based Adaptation for Climate Justice: Addressing Urban Heat Stress through Greening in Antwerp.”

The presentation highlighted the critical need for behavioural modelling to enable collective heat action within urban communities. This work directly supports the UrbanAir project’s goal of addressing heat hazards in urban areas by exploring effective community responses to extreme heat events.

The Role of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)

A central theme of the research is the strategic deployment of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). The presented strategies aim to combat urban heat through green and collective action, specifically focusing on increasing the capacity for implementing NbS at the household level.

The study is an integral part of the UrbanAir Project, with a specific focus on several neighbourhoods in Antwerp. This localised research involves close collaboration with VITO, one of UrbanAir’s core consortium partners, ensuring the findings are grounded in practical, real-world applications.

The presenter noted: " Ιt was an incredible experience to share ideas and learn from experts committed to building resilient and sustainable cities." The exchange of knowledge further strengthens the project's foundation as it strives to create climate-adapted, just, and sustainable urban environments.

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