The Copenhagen Way: Building Europe’s future with resilient cities

Europe stands at a crossroads. From climate disruption to demographic shifts, migration, and growing inequality, the continent faces interconnected challenges that no nation can solve alone. Yet history reminds us that progress often emerges from disruption. The question is not whether Europe can adapt, but how.

At Ramboll we believe the answer lies in Europe’s cities. Urban areas are more than collections of buildings, infrastructure, and services. They are living systems that generate over 70 per cent of Europe’s GDP and house more than three-quarters of its people. They are where vulnerability and opportunity converge, where innovation takes root, and where change can be scaled fastest. We believe that Europe’s future will be decided in its cities, and we also believe that we can imagine and create a better life for those living there.

It is this belief that led Ramboll to join forces with BLOXHUB and Urban Partners to contribute to The Copenhagen Way. The report aims to inspire other cities to follow Copenhagen’s example and lead Europe to a more resilient future.

Why cities matter

Cities are on the front line of Europe’s resilience challenge. When systems fail, cities are first to feel the impact, whether it is flooded streets and overheated homes or social inequality and economic disruption. However, the complexity that makes them vulnerable also makes them powerful. When one system is strengthened, it can create ripple effects in others. Better housing can improve health, accessible transport can boost inclusion, and green infrastructure can enhance biodiversity while cooling urban areas.

But cities cannot be treated as isolated units. Housing, health, energy, mobility, education, and digital networks are deeply interconnected. Building resilience means designing and governing cities as holistic systems, where investment in one area generates value across many. This systemic approach is the foundation of urban resilience, and one that Europe must now embrace.

Lessons from Copenhagen

Much can be learned through using Copenhagen as an example. Just three decades ago, the Danish capital was on the verge of bankruptcy. Today, it is consistently ranked among the world’s most liveable and sustainable cities. Its transformation was not achieved through quick fixes or isolated flagship projects, but through long-term, cross-sector collaboration that treated the city as an integrated system.

Strategic planning, adaptive governance, and alliance-driven practice have been central to this success. Public institutions, private investors, and civic organisations worked together to regenerate the harbour, create green mobility networks, and embed climate adaptation into urban design. Pension funds helped finance infrastructure that benefits both citizens and the national economy. Utilities co-funded projects that deliver wider social value. In every case, collaboration was the catalyst for progress.

Copenhagen’s journey proves that urban transformation can happen within a generation, and that it can create value across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. The city’s approach has made resilience tangible, measurable, and scalable. However, Copenhagen itself must continue to adapt. Housing affordability, climate pressures, and social cohesion remain pressing challenges. The city’s success is not a blueprint, but a living model that must evolve as conditions change.