University of Pécs to Present the SpongeCity Project at the First European Water Resilience Forum

The first Water Resilience Forum, focusing on the key European challenges of water security and climate adaptation, will be held on 8 December 2025 in Brussels. The event is organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Among the high-level policymakers, industry leaders, scientists and civil society representatives, the University of Pécs (PTE) will also showcase its innovative SpongeCity project.

Following the adoption of the European Water Resilience Strategy, the forum aims to define joint pathways for achieving the EU’s 2050 water security goals. One of the highlighted themes of the event is urban water retention and urban adaptation to the impacts of climate change, to which the SpongeCity project led by the University of Pécs contributes with pioneering nature-based solutions.

SpongeCity is a nature-based urban development model that treats cities as “sponge environments”: its goal is to retain rainwater locally, reduce the urban heat-island effect, and strengthen resilience against extreme weather events. The participation of the Spongecity project marks an important milestone in the international visibility of Hungarian academic innovation, as the project is featured among the most advanced European developments.

The full-day forum programme covers a wide range of strategic topics—from financing water protection and strengthening industrial competitiveness to digital water management solutions—featuring key EU leaders throughout the event. An online livestream will also be available, making one of Europe’s most important water-related professional gatherings accessible to a wide audience.

Agenda and registration: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/events/water-resilience-forum-2025-12-08_en