Urban Future in Rotterdam Celebrates Ten Years of Inspiring Sustainable Urban Enthusiasts

Rotterdam, June 5, 2024 - Urban Future, the pioneering platform for urban sustainability and yearly meeting of the so called “CityChangers”, kicked off its tenth anniversary edition in Rotterdam with a day brimming with inspiration and honest stories of “making change happen”.

Around 2,000 attendees from over 50 countries and more than 300 cities — along with 77 mayors and deputy mayors as well as 275 speakers — are diving into 70 sessions on the first two days of the event.

International city leaders learn from Rotterdam

Rotterdam's Vice Mayor, Chantal Zeegers, took center stage to share the city's journey towards sustainability. Emphasizing Rotterdam's enthusiasm to host Urban Future, Zeegers outlined the city's ambitious sustainability goals while acknowledging the challenges inherent in such a transition. "Adapting a city to the changing climate is not easy. We have to engage, to empower people. We have to stimulate, help and inspire Rotterdammers to become the leaders of their own change," remarked Zeegers, encapsulating the city's resilience in the face of environmental and social challenges. The city is a frontrunner in the topic of innovative ways of water retention. A fact it showed off in a dedicated Field Trips for mayors and high level city representatives.

The role of cities in climate adaptation

CEO and Co-Founder Gerald Babel-Sutter provided a reflection on the evolution of urban sustainability over the past decade. Asserting that cities are pivotal in shaping climate decisions, especially as national governments step back, Babel-Sutter underscored the crucial role of cities in addressing climate-related issues like droughts or – as currently happening in Germany – devastating floodings. "Cities are much closer to their people and closer to problems that arise because of climate change," stated Babel-Sutter.

Making change happen

In a testament to the power of “making it happen” – as Rotterdam’s favourite slogan states – “The CityChangers Cookbook” was launched in preparation for Urban Future 2024. This is a collaboration between Pop-Up Cities and Urban Future, compiling 20 powerful and remarkably simple recipes for better cities.
"These recipes are so easy, every passionate person can start making change happen in their communities," says Jeroen Beekmans, Managing Partner of Pop-Up Cities. The cookbook is made to inspire and educate any of the UF24 attendees on how to make a difference in their own neighbourhoods.

Getting young voices on board

The welcome ceremony was moderated by Elina Rotaru, a Climate Pact Ambassador, who underscored the significance of engaging young voices in the CityChangers movement. Through her project focusing on sustainability education for children, Rotaru showcased the transformative impact of grassroots initiatives in nurturing the next generation of urban leaders.

The third edition of the Young Leaders Programme marks another powerful moment during Urban Future 2024. Every year, the programme connects around 60 enthusiastic urban changemakers under the age of 30 with some of the world’s most renowned urbanists. One mentor in this year’s intimate setting includes Maria Vassilakou, former Vice mayor of Vienna.

The third and final day of #UF24 is dedicated to Field Trips. Thousands of attendees will discover Rotterdam’s specific sustainability stories in more than 30 extremely diverse journeys.