U_CAN at the World Planning Schools Congress 2026 in Finland

From 29 June to 3 July 2026, the World Planning Schools Congress (WPSC) took place across Helsinki, Espoo, and Tampere, Finland, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and educators from around the world under the theme "Peripheral Visions - Rethinking Planning." The U_CAN partnership actively contributed to the congress, sharing research and practical experience on how cities can become more resilient, sustainable, and climate-neutral.

A particular highlight was the Special Session on Ukraine, chaired by Dr Katarzyna Piskorek from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST) and developed by U_CAN partners. The session brought together perspectives from WUST, TU Dresden (TUD), Aarhus University (AU), and University of L’Aquila (ULA) on how urban planning can support Ukraine's sustainable and climate-resilient recovery. Topics covered included sustainable urban mobility, the barriers and opportunities facing Ukrainian cities, and how European and Ukrainian partners can co-produce pathways for climate recovery.

The Aarhus University team - Dr Anders Branth Pedersen, Katinka Bundgård Fals, and Helle Ørsted Nielsen - presented findings on the regulatory context, key sectors, and implementation barriers and enablers for climate-neutral urban development in Ukraine. Following the session, AU's representative also joined the SUN4Ukraine roundtable, reinforcing the connections between U_CAN and its wider network of sister projects working on Ukraine's green recovery.

Beyond the Special Session on Ukraine, researchers from TUD and WUST presented U_CAN's work on collaborative planning methodologies, cross-border and city-to-city cooperation, and the evolving role of energy transition in urban regeneration, demonstrating how innovative governance and international partnerships can support more resilient and sustainable cities.

The WPSC 2026 provided a valuable platform for the U_CAN consortium to share its research and practical findings with the global planning community. The project gained strong visibility at the congress, attracting significant interest from researchers and practitioners in the field of urban planning and climate resilience. The participation helped strengthen existing collaborations and forge new connections around the shared goal of climate-resilient urban futures.

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