Industrial and commercial parks are highly impermeable and particularly vulnerable to overheating. Occupying a decisive part of the urbanized area of north-western Europe, they play a crucial role in increasing urban heat islands in this region. The IB-Green Interreg project, which runs from 2023 to 2027, aims to make existing industrial and business parks more climate resilient by implementing climate adaptation measures.

Lille Metropole is one of the 11 project partners coming from 6 North West European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands).

By mitigating heat stress and improving air quality in urban areas, the partnership is looking to bring about healthier living and working conditions for businesses and municipalities. The focus of IB Green is on old business parks, created in the last century, which are losing their appeal. In these areas, the need for change is great but complex. However, it is possible to modernize these older business parks, while this in turn reduces the pressure to acquire new land.

Seven industrial parks located in five countries within the North-West Europe area serve as pilot sites. The adaptation measures that will be implemented meet three main strategic thrusts:

- increase the number of green and blue infrastructures in the public spaces of industrial and commercial business parks, while developing better collaboration between the public and private sectors;

- encourage private business owners to implement climate change adaptation measures;

- encourage local authorities to implement more green and blue infrastructure.

The mid term conference of the 13th November is aimed in particular at companies and will focus on the financial benefits for companies if they adapt to climate change and how companies can best cooperate with public authorities to reach climate adaptation goals.
 

On the agenda: an opening session explaining why it is necessary to adapt on climate change followed by a global presentation of the IB green project.

The day will continue with:

- two round tables, a first one on “climate change - challenges and solutions and a second on “climate change - the role of public authorities”

- a workshop during which companies will have the chance to actively engage in a case study on how to best adapt businesses.

You can find more information about the IB Green project on the project’s website, and more information about Lille Metropole’s involvement within it on our website.

The conference and registration page can be found here.