How do we create livable cities in times of climate change? And how can we make urban infrastructure resilient to climatic challenges? In a panel discussion, experts and policymakers from Switzerland and North America explore the challenges and opportunities of urban climate adaptation – from sustainable urban planning to civic participation.

In line with the other case studies conducted in this research project investigating Toronto, Chicago and Zurich, this presentation aims to investigate more closely how climate adaptation and mitigation efforts are articulated in the case of Geneva. We focus specifically on two policy issues and their corresponding policy strategies: a) heat policy and b) water policy.

Comparing these two policy domains is relevant in the case of Geneva because of their contrasting temporalities. As in most Western European cities benefitting from a continental climate, urban heat is a relatively new policy issue in Geneva. In contrast, Geneva is located at the very end of the largest Western European lake and crossed by two rivers, one of them coming directly from the Alpine mountains without any dam or retention basin to mitigate its flow. Therefore, Geneva has a long tradition of water and flooding management policies.