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Cities

Empirical research in IMBRACE will focus on 6 cities in Europe: Antwerp, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Dublin and Marseilles. These are all big cities with large communities of immigrants that have in the last decades come to Europe from different parts of the majority world. These cities, during the last 10-15 years, have been facing the impacts of climate change through extreme and prolonged heat periods, severe rainfall and flooding episodes, and the spread of diseases that these phenomena propagate, such as waterborne and vector-borne disease.

We choose to look at heat and related health impacts in Athens, Berlin and Barcelona, extreme rain and flooding related impacts in Dublin, Antwerp and Marseilles, with water- and vector-borne disease being a cross-cutting theme which will be examined in all locations.

Barcelona, Spain

Heat

Marseilles, France

Flooding

Antwerp, Belgium

Flooding

Dublin, Ireland

Flooding

Berlin, Germany

Heat

Athens, Greece

Heat

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Antwerp

A historically diverse city with migrant communities from former colonies, it is faced with increasingly intense rainfall and flooding events, threatening both its infrastructure and vulnerable populations.

Athens

A historic yet densely urbanized city, has long been shaped by waves of migration that enrich its cultural fabric. Today, it faces mounting challenges in adapting to intensifying heatwaves, exacerbated by limited green spaces and urban heat island effects.

Barcelona

With its rich migration history, Barcelona faces increasing heatwaves due to climate change. A network of climate shelters to protect vulnerable populations and adapt to rising temperatures has been established and is expanding.

Berlin

A city shaped by a rich migration history and progressive urban planning, Berlin is now facing rising heatwaves. The city's infrastructure and many residents are unfamiliar with sustained high temperatures, exacerbating the impact of extreme heat events.

Dublin

Familiar with long periods of rainfall, Dublin now faces impacts of extreme flooding. The city's evolving infrastructure is not called to balance growth with climate adaptation to ensure protection from climate risks for its increasingly diverse population.

Marseilles

A cosmopolitan port and a hub for migration, Marseilles is particularly affected by intense rainfall and the spread of vector-borne diseases, requiring innovative solutions for climate resilience and public health.