Final Webinar Materials: From Plans to Practice – Building local heat resilience

Date: 18.02.2026
By: Ready4Heat
In its final webinar, Ready4Heat presented its results and provided an overview of its achievements, both overall and through concrete actions implemented at the pilot sites in Slovenia, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The event took place on 11 February 2026 at 2:00 PM and was held in collaboration with the sister project Cool Cities, which is further developing heat adaptation measures in Northern European cities. The webinar brought together over 80 local and interregional actors and municipalities from across Central and Northern Europe to share how they had been translating Heat and Health Action Plans into concrete local measures and addressing outdoor heat stress by designing and implementing short-term, mid-term, and long-term measures as part of their Heat Health Action Plans. It explored how collaborative approaches—ranging from improved communication channels and increased community awareness to investments in green cooling solutions that link health, social, and environmental services—are leading to actionable results in the pursuit of heat-resilient cities. Participants heard directly from local teams and partners about how local coordination, citizen involvement, small-scale green investments, and the creation of cool spots and routes had helped protect residents, particularly those most at risk.

Webinar Resources

▶ Click here to watch the webinar recording ⬇ Download the webinar presentation

Agenda

Welcome and Opening

Opening remarks of Ready4Heat: The growing urgency of local heat resilience Katja Karba, Project Coordinator, Development Agency Sinergija, Slovenia

Cooperation on climate resilience in Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE

Christophe Ebermann, Head of Project Unit – Operations, Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme – Joint Secretariat

Local Engagement for Adaptation Actions (Panel Discussion)

The panelists will share their experiences, discussing the biggest challenges in engaging citizens, the most effective outreach methods, and surprising lessons learned. Cities will highlight which local networks made the biggest difference and how cross-sector cooperation worked in practice. Each panelist will provide focused insights, with a cross-city discussion on replicability and best practices.

  • Maria Teleki, City of Hajdúböszörmény
  • Bea Lugosi, Reflex Association, HU
  • Gordana Kolesaric, City of Maribor, SLO
  • Dominik Puchner, City of Weiz
  • Friedrich Hofer and Jaume Vidal, Klimabündnis Styria, A
  • Markus Engelbrecht, City of Worms, DE

From Design to Implementation: Municipality actions

COOL CITIES: Creating Cool Networks to Reduce Urban Heat Stress

  • Thijn de Voogd, City of Arnhem, NL, EU Project Manager and Project Coordinator of Cool Cities

From Local Challenge to Local Action: Experience Pitches of Ready4Heat Municipalities

  • Maria Teleki / Bea Lugosi, City of Hajdúböszörmény / Reflex Association, HU
  • Gordana Kolesaric, City of Maribor, SLO
  • Dominik Puchner, City of Weiz, A
  • Markus Engelbrecht, City of Worms, DE

Investing in Green Solutions: Lessons from Municipalities (Panel Discussion)

The panelists will discuss their experiences with green islands, nature-based solutions in shading, and renewable energy-based cooling solutions in municipality buildings, sharing how these measures addressed urban heat challenges. They will explore the most effective cooling interventions, financing strategies, citizen involvement, and impacts on wellbeing and resilience. The cities will also discuss the challenges in turning pilots into permanent infrastructure, including key stakeholders to convince for long-term success.

  • Maria Teleki, City of Hajdúböszörmény and Bea Lugosi, Reflex Association, HU
  • Gordana Kolesaric, City of Maribor, SLO
  • Dominik Puchner, City of Weiz and Friedrich Hofer / Jaume Vidal, Klimabündnis Styria, A
  • Markus Engelbrecht, City of Worms, DE

Q&A and Closing Reflections

Further Reading

⬇ Download our brochure with key lessons learned on each pilot solution

  • This brochure explains a standalone pilot solution also presented at the webinar: context and challenge, solution overview, explanations covering the effectiveness of the solution and the steps municipalities take to decide, step‑by‑step implementation logic, and key messages for decision‑makers. Solutions in Ready4Heat include: renewable energy-powered cooling solutions for vulnerable buildings, a kindergarten pergola with nature-based cooling, nature-based shading in public spaces across the city, and an actor-centered heat protection network.
  • The brochure is intended for municipalities and cities, public authorities and planners, health and social care organisations, and practitioners responsible for buildings, public space, and services.