T he city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands takes a holistic approach to climate change adaptation. Water management is an important design principle in urban planning. City planners involve water and adaptation experts early on to co-develop holistic solutions like stormwater storage solutions that also serve other functions during good weather, providing sports and recreational spaces for the community.

International experts exchanged knowledge on adaptation solutions through a series of roundtable discussions facilitated by the Global Center on Adaptation, as a knowledge broker for adaptation solutions. These knowledge exchanges between the city of Beijing and international experts helped inform and shape Beijing’s water restoration strategy.