This report presents the approach, progress, and initial insights of the City of Eindhoven within the ClimaGen project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on climate-resilient urban regeneration through nature-based solutions, co-creation, and integrated governance. As a replication city, Eindhoven applies the ClimaGen framework to the neighbourhood of Limbeek-Noord, a dense and socio-economically vulnerable urban area undergoing significant spatial transformation.
The project operates in a context of strong urban growth and densification, where limited space, environmental pressures, and social challenges intersect. Limbeek-Noord reflects these dynamics, with high levels of impervious surfaces, relatively low-quality green space, climate stress (heat and water), and considerable health inequalities among residents. While proximity to green space is relatively high, its functional, ecological, and social value remains limited, highlighting the need for targeted improvements in (re)greening and biodiversity in public green spaces.
ClimaGen in Eindhoven focuses on developing an integrated, area-based approach that connects climate mitigation and the ambition of climate-neutrality with climate adaptation and resilience. This is combined with urban greening, health, and social inclusion objectives. Central to this is the development of a local Living Lab (ClimaLabs), where the municipality collaborates with a diverse network of stakeholders, including knowledge institutions, housing corporations, well-being organisations, and local community actors.
This approach aligns with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, emphasizing co-creation, spatial quality, and improving quality of life in vulnerable neighbourhoods. It builds on existing structures, such as the Limbeek Coalition, and focuses on strengthening ongoing initiatives rather than introducing parallel processes.
The project is currently in an early phase, aimed at building a shared understanding of the area, mapping ongoing initiatives, and establishing collaborations. Through internal and external alignment, a first overview of potential interventions and opportunities has been developed. These include improvements to green infrastructure, water management (climate adaptation), energy and emission reduction (climate mitigation), and enhancing biodiversity and public space usability.
At the same time, monitoring and assessment activities have established a baseline for environmental, spatial, and social indicators, supported by tools such as the municipal Health Map and partner-led research.
Several governance and implementation challenges have been identified, including fragmented coordination within the municipal organisation, competing spatial and policy priorities, and the need for more effective and meaningful community engagement. In addition, working in a vulnerable neighbourhood context requires careful consideration of participation fatigue and highlights the importance of long-term trust-building through co-creation with local stakeholders.
Looking ahead, the focus will shift towards translating joint insights into concrete interventions, strengthening monitoring and impact evaluation, and exploring pathways for scaling and long-term embedding. While it is still too early to fully institutionalise the outcomes, initial links are being made with policy frameworks addressing healthy living environments, climate adaptation and resilience, climate mitigation and climate-neutrality, and green-deficient neighbourhoods.
Overall, ClimaGen Eindhoven demonstrates the added value of an integrated and collaborative approach to urban regeneration. By connecting climate, spatial, ecological, and social objectives—while incorporating co-creation and quality of life principles inspired by the New European Bauhaus—the project lays the groundwork for more resilient, inclusive, and future-proof neighbourhoods.
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