The REACHOUT series of interviews aim at collecting more personal views from colleagues developing and applying climate services for urban adaptation and resilient development, get more insight on the state of knowledge, the main ongoing discourse, and get a more concrete view of what their work encompasses. A sneak peek, so to say, behind the jargon and throbbing sentences used in policy documents and research proposals. Throughout the project, team members will complete a round of interviews. One colleague will interview another, and the interviewed colleague then conducts the following interview of the next team member and so on. As each member interviews and gets interviewed in this manner, all topics will be covered over the duration of this project. Read our latest interview with Gaby Langendijk, Climate Scientist at Deltares and member of the REACHOUT Coordination Team interviewing Leon Kapetas, our REACHOUT partner from Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities).

‘A unique highlight for me is reading the released Climate Stories of the cities.’

You have been working with cities in many projects and activities, what makes the REACHOUT project unique from your perspective? Compared to other projects, REACHOUT takes a different path in the way it collaborates with cities. It offers matured solutions that prioritize meaningful engagement with city stakeholders, ensuring that the technology is not just implemented but fully integrated into the decision-making processes of the cities involved.

The REACHOUT project stands out because it shifts the focus from climate technologies to climate services and interaction with the cities as end-users and beneficiaries. This service-oriented approach ensures that the cities can make informed decisions that are tailored to their specific needs and challenges, rather than trying to fit their problems into a predefined technological framework.

This emphasis on interaction rather than solely on the tool itself creates significant value for the cities. By fostering close collaboration with city officials and its stakeholders, REACHOUT helps them to understand, adapt, and effectively use the findings in their unique contexts.

How do you believe that the REACHOUT project can add value to cities in Europe? REACHOUT focuses on improving the adoption of climate services – this means we need to deeply understand which solutions help cities the most. By analysing hazards, formulating ambitions, and identifying adaptation actions, cities can make informed decisions and prioritise investments effectively. Ultimately, this will contribute to the resilience of European (and global) cities and communities to climate change.

What would you like to see for the last phase of the project? I would like to see cities transition from planning to implementation. Up until now, we have gone deep in analysing their risk of floods and heatwaves, and cities have set clear ambitions and actions with multiple stakeholders. In this last phase of the project, I look forward to seeing cities executing key actions to enhance their climate resilience.

I would also like to see how cities mainstream the climate services so we can ensure that the solutions are sustainable and deeply rooted in the local context. I hope this will foster stronger, more resilient communities actively involved in their own climate adaptation processes. I believe this holistic approach will ultimately lead to more meaningful and lasting impacts on urban climate resilience.

What was the most enjoyable moment for you during the REACHOUT project? It’s tough to pinpoint a specific moment, but the most enjoyable experiences during the REACHOUT project have been the times when we all gather in person, like in the project meetings or the European Urban Resilience Forum events. These live interactions, where we discuss how to advance our work or disseminate it are incredibly enriching. It’s during these sessions that our theoretical frameworks and strategies are put to the test in real-world scenarios, creating a sense of collaboration and shared purpose. I equally value the fun moments we spend with our colleagues; getting to know who you work with makes the project better! Additionally, a unique highlight for me is reading the released Climate Stories of the cities. These narratives creatively consolidate our results and communicate them in an engaging manner, making the impact of our work tangible and relatable. Both the in-person interactions and the Climate Stories highlight the dynamic and collaborative spirit of the REACHOUT project, making them the most memorable moments for me.

Photo 1 & 2: Panel discussion on REACHOUT solutions for heatwaves in Milan, Athens, Paris and London.

Photo 3: Moments of fun with the R-Cities team during the site visits of the European Urban Resilience Forum, Valencia, 2024.