In order to confront the challenge of climate change as an opportunity rather than a threat, the City of Rotterdam has set up the Rotterdam Climate Proof programme. Rotterdam Climate Proof will make Rotterdam climate change resilient by 2025. Permanent protection and accessibility of the Rotterdam region are key elements. The central focus of the programme is to create extra opportunities to make Rotterdam a more attractive city in which to live, work, relax – and invest.
Trendsetting research, innovative knowledge development and a dynamic and decisive implementation of the suggested measures will result in strong economic incentives. Collaborating with prominent partners, Rotterdam will become the most important innovative water knowledge city in the world, and an inspiring example to other delta cities.
Rotterdam Climate Proof participates in the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Thus, Rotterdam addresses the entire climate file, including the causes of climate change (mitigation) as well as the consequences (adaptation).

Attractive city and added economic value

Rotterdam Climate Proof will make Rotterdam fully climate proof by 2025. Responding to climate change will enable us to keep the city safe, accessible, and attractive, now as well as in the future. This will benefit both the people who live and work here, and the businesses and corporations established in the area. This substantial ambition will be realized on the basis of three guiding principles:

• Rotterdam will develop into and present itself on a national and international level as a leading centre for water knowledge and climate change expertise.
• Investments will enhance the attractiveness of the city and port for residents, companies, and knowledge institutes.
• Innovations and knowledge are developed, implemented, and marketed as an export product.

Innovative applications in the area of water management will make the city more attractive as well as provide additional economic incentives. Examples include the construction of water plazas and floating buildings. These are appealing projects that will serve to set an example for other delta cities, particularly in view of the fact that Rotterdam is the lowest-lying delta metropolis in Europe.
In this manner, Rotterdam Climate Proof contributes to the development of the knowledge economy in Rotterdam, capitalizing on opportunities in the global growth market of Climate and Water Management.
The emphasis is on projects that will strengthen Rotterdam’s position as a water city. Collaboration is key in this respect. Knowledge institutes and companies find a testing ground in Rotterdam for the challenging international climate change issues of our time. As the global demand for knowledge and solutions in the area of climate change adaptation is growing, Rotterdam has imperative reasons to highlight its qualities as a water knowledge city on an international level. Accordingly, the city will be represented at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai in the ‘Rotterdam Water City’ pavilion.

Prevention and adaptation

In addition to adapting to climate change, Rotterdam actively contributes to the prevention of climate change. This subject is addressed by the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI). In cooperation with the City of Rotterdam, the corporate sector and knowledge institutes, Rotterdam is realizing ambitions in the area of energy transition and sustainability. A pivotal objective in this respect is the 50% reduction of harmful CO₂ emissions by 2025.