For over 10 years, the Province of Liège has been supporting communes in implementing their Climate Plan. On October 12th, a second meeting was held at Val Benoit, bringing together eighty local elected officials and communal representatives. This day was dedicated to the concrete adaptation of territories to the effects of climate change.
The central question was: how to concretely anticipate and adapt territories to the effects of climate change? Discussions focused on three major challenges: heat, drought, and floods. Several avenues were explored to strengthen territorial resilience, including greening, creating cool islands, restoring wetlands, water management, forest fire prevention, de-sealing surfaces, and re-meandering rivers.
Experts shared their insights: Yasmina LOOZEN (ISSeP), Adèle HANIN (Amblève River Contract), Joël PRIVOT (ULiège-LEMA), Sébastien DOUTRELOUP (ULiège), and Grégory MAHY (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech-ULiège). The objective was to move from observation to action, fostering concrete projects and future collaboration between communes, with the Province's support.
Working groups identified priority vulnerabilities and outlined collective solutions. Regenerative hydrology, applied at watershed scale, emerged as a priority action for flood prevention. This approach aims to slow runoff, promote water infiltration into soils, and retain water upstream rather than letting it flow rapidly downstream. It helps limit flood risks, preserve water reserves during droughts, and protect natural ecosystems.
“"The Province intends to continue its role as a partner to the communes by fostering cooperation, sharing expertise, and promoting the emergence of concrete projects to better face climate challenges."
