All these objectives still support the need of adaptation to climate change, although that was not a real issue at that time. By means of disconnection projects on a large scale Nijmegen wants to deal with heavy rains in the future. Therefore the water storage capacity in the ponds will be enlarged in Nijmegen West. Visible water in the city makes it easier to talk to citizens and other stakeholders about water (problems). These activities were integrated in the InterregIIIB-Urban Water project.
Now Nijmegen tries to do the same with green issues. In 2006 the municipality made a green vision called Green Transformation City Centre. The city will have more green on roofs, walls and squares. These adaptive measures will be combined with disconnection and energy measures. So the idea about the new European project Future Cities was born.
The main objective of the Future Cities project is that anticipatory strategies are needed for adapting the urban structures in a way that the impacts of a changing climate will not endanger the urban living environment, in this case in Nijmegen. The Future Cities-Partnership develops concepts and implementation strategies which are innovative, proactive and provide for synergy effects and cost-effectiveness by applying combined measures.
Adequate action plans will be developed in the city region around Nijmegen and priority measures will be implemented in small-scale investments. Focus is laid on existing urban structures. All aims will be realised in Nijmegen the next 10-20 years.
