Water crises—from drought and flooding to sea-level rise and pollution—are arguably the defining challenges of the coming decade. Too often, cities have approached these threats with a binary mindset: too much water, too little water, or both. To truly thrive, cities must stop fighting the tide and learn to live with it.
Addressing this reality demands more than just incremental changes; it requires a paradigm shift. To build lasting resilience, we must adopt innovative, multi-benefit solutions that address environmental volatility, resource scarcity, and population growth simultaneously.
But how can cities make this transition?
To find the answer, we convened Chief Resilience Officers from nine global cities alongside leading urban water experts in Rotterdam—the world’s masterclass in water management. The resulting “Rotterdam Exchange: Water Management & Multi-Benefit Solutions Handbook” is the culmination of that collaboration.
This handbook provides the essential tools and insights needed to navigate urban water challenges. Whether within or outside the 100RC Network, every city can now leverage this collective expertise to move from vulnerability to resilience.