Zwolle Municipality
Gemeente Zwolle (ZWOL)
Why is Zwolle participating in CATCH?
The city of Zwolle is situated in a delta and its city centre is situated outside the dikes. This makes the city vulnerable for climate change and experienced in the fight against flooding.
In its pilot project, Zwolle chose to investigate how to motivate and activate inhabitants for climate adaptation, in order for them to adapt their own homes, neighborhoods and their lives to the changing climate, for example by taking measures to become resilient against extreme rainfall, heat and drought. In actual terms, the CATCH pilot project in Zwolle is focusing on the question of how to use community building, a serious game and a city debate to accelerate the movement in the city. The results of the Zwolle CATCH pilot are input for the completion and successful implementation of the Zwolle Adaptation Strategy. These results also help to motivate city residents to contribute to a green, water and climate resistant city.
What is your main role in the project?
The focus of the city of Zwolle within CATCH is on community building as an important step to formulate a long term climate adaptation strategy. This perspective is highly relevant in all (midsize) cities and is part of all pilots in the CATCH project. The innovative measures that Zwolle has tested within CATCH will be a valuable contribution to the CATCH dashboard and will be an inspiring example for the other partners in the project.
What experience do you have with regards to climate adaptation?
The city is very active in developing new concepts like 3D water management, set up a Water Agenda and set up a network of 42 Dutch partners to work on climate adaptation strategies under the title ‘Climate Active City’.
What is the organisation’s experience in participating EU co-financed projects or other international projects?
On the subject of (ground) water issues, the city of Zwolle participated in the INTERREG 4B NWE project WAVE and JPI Urban Europe project “Green Blue Cities”. Furthermore the city gained international experience with a cooperation project on water governance with South Africa and ground water management with Canada.