Responsibilities
EU Green Capital Expert for Climate Change: Adaptation
EU Green Leaf Expert for Water
Urban and Adaptation Expert, Founder of ‘Strong Cities in a Changing Climate’
Birgit Georgi is a freelance expert in the areas of climate change adaptation, environment and integrated urban development. She has a deep and broad integrated understanding of the urban environment and sustainability due to her long-standing professional experience in these fields for more than 25 years.
From 2007-2017 she worked with the European Environment Agency, initially as Project Manager for urban issues, and, since 2011, on climate change adaptation relating to cities and transport. Among Birgit’s key contributions to the sector are the assessment reports; ‘Urban Adaptation to Climate Change in Europe’ (2012 and 2016), ’Adaptation of transport to climate change in Europe’ (2014), and ’Quality of life in Europe‘s Cities and towns’.
Birgit was responsible for developing the interactive map book on urban vulnerability, the Urban Adaptation Support Tool, and the numerous case studies related to cities of the European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-ADAPT. She supported the Commission in developing the Mayors Adapt initiative and its integration into the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Birgit also organised the annual networking and learning event: Open European Day Resilient Cities. She has worked as an adviser for several EU projects such as PLUREL, SUME, RESIN and is a frequent speaker and moderator at many events on her topics.
Birgit’s experience is complemented by her work at the German Federal Environment Agency from 1991-2007 where she developed action plans and supervised projects in the fields of sustainability planning, biodiversity, environmental management and sustainable transport. The scope ranged from local demonstration projects in Germany and other European countries to international activities, e.g. technical support in the framework of the UN Convention for Biological Diversity and as national contact point for the UNECE Programme, THE PEP.