Be Ready: How to Cool Down Historic City Centres?

As part of the Be Ready project (Interreg Danube Region Programme), a multiplier event was held on 21 May 2026 in Kranj, focusing on the adaptation of historic city centres to rising temperatures. The event was organised by the Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (UIRS) and the City of Kranj. The event brought together experts in spatial planning, cultural heritage protection and local governance, and opened a discussion on the key challenges of climate- resilient development in historic city centres.

The discussion highlighted:

• the need for a more systematic use of existing measures,
• the importance of integrated solutions (greenery, water, materials),
• the gap between planning and implementation, and
• the necessity to strengthen institutional and governance capacities.

Participants emphasised that pilot activities and strengthened inter-institutional cooperation are essential for effective climate adaptation of urban areas. In this context, synergies with the CICADA4CE project (Interreg Central Europe Programme) were also highlighted, as it develops participatory approaches to urban climate adaptation based on ecosystem- and community-based solutions (ECbA).