EU-backed EUROASIS project targets heat resilience in European cities

The EUROASIS project, coordinated by Wageningen University & Research and led by Dragan Milošević, will run for four years with a consortium of 29 organisations from across Europe. Funded with €10 million from the EU Horizon Europe programme, the initiative will develop and test 24 innovative solutions to make urban areas cooler, healthier and more resilient to extreme heat.

Pilot cities include Amsterdam (Netherlands), Athens (Greece), Zaragoza (Spain) and Reggio Emilia (Italy). Seven additional replication areas – Mechelen (Belgium), the Douro region (Portugal), Podgorica (Montenegro), Crete (Greece), Champs‑sur‑Marne (France), Izmir (Turkey) and the Rivne region (Ukraine) – will adapt the knowledge and innovations to local contexts.

Researchers stress that extreme heat is an invisible but growing health threat, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and outdoor workers. The project aims to provide practical tools and strategies for city planners and policymakers to protect public health and ensure safe, livable urban environments amid rising temperatures.