It’s a wrap!
What an incredible four days of energy and inspiration at the Future Green City World Congress! Visitors from almost 60 countries from around the world shared their experiences, knowledge, and solutions for the future of green cities. From interactive workshops to urban trails and masterclasses – it was packed with highlights.
Were you there and want to relive the moments? Or curious about what you missed? Check out the best moments now!
Day 1 - Fantastic start of the Future Green City World Congress!
On the first day, participants of the Future Green City World Congress visited various Fieldtrips XL in the Netherlands. From the green Railwaypark Tilburg, the challenges of Gouda as a sinking city to the transformation of the Amstel III office area in Amsterdam! Experts took participants to interesting iniatives to see the theory of green and sustainable cities in practice!
Day 2 - Welcome to the Beatrix theater
Dafne Schippers, Susanne Schilderman, Gerdo van Grootheest, John Koomen, Marco Te Brömmelstroet and Anna Gimbrere warmly welcomed all thinkers and doers to the Future Green City World Congress. Together we are setting course towards green, sustainable cities with a future for everyone!
Day 2 was all about inspiring sessions, interactive workshops and innovative presentation that will show how we collectively contribute to a more sustainable world!
Day 3 - A programme packed with interesting workshops, master classes and sessions
Day 3 of the Future Green City World Congress started with a warm welcome from Sanne Hieltjes, Jayne Miller, Hans Oosters, Tim Briercliffe and Anna Gimbrère. They discussed the challenges central to this four-day experience. Jayne Miller was surprised with the WUP Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her efforts!
Day 4: Experiencing future green cities in practice!
Day 4 was a full day of excursions to various cities in our delta metropolis. Gaining knowledge and experience in the Port of Rotterdam, the military base in Ede, and much more.
Photobooth
Did you strike a pose at the photobooth? Check your photo here.
It worked! “We called it a conference, but it really was an experience.” So great to see that so many Future Green City builders from all over the world were part of it.
– Maarten Loeffen, CEO Royal Association Stadswerk the Netherlands
“It’s important to collectively deepen and broaden our knowledge. The Future Green City World Congress is a place to connect civil and cultural technology to build a sustainable public space for the future. Over four days, we bring together thinkers and doers from around the world. This way, a trip to Utrecht grants you access to a global network eager to engage with your knowledge and expertise. The Future Green City World Congress mutually beneficial exchange benefits us all.” – Maarten Loeffen, CEO Royal Association Stadswerk the Netherlands
Marc van Rosmalen, Director of the Royal VHG: “We are facing a significant greening challenge, everyone agrees on that. What should the healthy, livable, and climate-resistant city of the future look like, and how do we shape it? What does this mean concretely? Our green specialists play an essential role as creators in both knowledge and implementation. Future Green City 2024 highlights all aspects of the green city. Global challenges and opportunities of urban greening are thoroughly explored and deepened during this event. This is an event you can’t afford to miss!”
Councilor Linda Voortman (Green): ‘Utrecht wants to be a city in which health and quality of life come first. In addition to courage and ambition, this also requires cooperation. Because we make Utrecht together. That is precisely why the Future Green City World Congress is so special, because experts from all over the world share their passion and knowledge in Utrecht about the green, healthy city with a future.’
“The 2024 Future Green City Congress is a crucial platform for municipal engineers and public works professionals to collaborate on sustainable urban development strategies,” says Chris Champion, Secretary General of IFME. “As co-hosts, we are committed to advancing innovative green city solutions through this Congress that will shape more livable, resilient cities for all.”
“This event serves as a critical forum for sharing best practices, exploring new technologies, and fostering collaborations that advance the creation of sustainable and resilient urban environments.” Luis Romahn, CEO says, “The collaboration between World Urban Parks and the amazing group of organizers of the Future Green City event exemplifies the power of partnerships in the urban parks sector. Through our combined efforts, we leverage a wide array of expertise and resources, enhancing the impact of global initiatives. This synergy not only amplifies our individual goals but also drives significant progress in the global movement towards greener, healthier cities.”
“We are extremely proud to be hosting the 2024 AIPH World Green City Awards ceremony in Utrecht. The Future Green City World Congress is the perfect backdrop against which to showcase the most inspiring examples of green city transformations from all over the world. As a co-host of the Congress, AIPH is thrilled to contribute to bringing this global event to life. Together with our partners, we are united in our aim of shaping a greener, healthier, and more resilient future for nature, for people, and for the planet” – Mr. Tim Briercliffe, Secretary General, AIPH.
The following keynote speakers were part of the Future Green City World Congress 2024
From Asia Kongjian Yu (China) and Siew Leng Fun (Singapore) on ‘sponge cities’ and urban design. Lilli Licka (Vienna) and Tina Saaby (Copenhagen) highlighted urban development in their cities. Carine Saloff-Coste (Paris) and Anthony Paul Diaz (Seattle) spoke specifically on greening the city. Cycling professor Marco te Brömmelstroet and landscape architect Adriaan Geuze provided the Dutch contribution to the keynote programme. In various master classes hotshots such as Cecil Konijnendijk (of the ‘3-30-300 rule’ on urban green space) and Pier Paolo Mudu (World Health Organization, WHO) shared their knowledge.
Organisation
The Future Green City World Congress was an initiative of Royal Association Stadswerk the Netherlands and Royal Dutch Association of Landscapers and Gardeners (VHG) In Utrecht, they brought together the worlds of green and civil engineering, in cooperation with World Urban Parks (WUP) and the International Federation of Municipal Engineering (IFME). The congress connected construction, greenery, infra and water. By showing different solutions and by connecting networks in these domains, we are building a city with a future together.
Partners
Co-Partners
Knowledge partners
