Five Critical Questions a Flood-Resilient Future
This publication distils key insights from the Holcim Foundation Forum, convened in Venice in November 2025 to examine one of the defining climate challenges of our time: how to build and support flood-resilient cities and communities. Drawing from interdisciplinary discussions between architects, engineers, urban planners, climate scientists, and policymakers, the Digest captures practical lessons, shared patterns of thinking, and emerging priorities for long-term resilience planning.
The publication is structured around five critical questions that emerged through the Forum’s discussions: How long do we have to transform our cities for flood resilience? What are the social implications of managed retreat? What is the role of nature in flood defence? Is resilience planning becoming a luxury only wealthy nations can afford? Who pays for resilience?
