EFB at the World Congress of Building Greening 2026 in Berlin
On 9–10 June 2026, the European Federation of Green Roof and Living Wall Associations (EFB) proudly participated in the World Congress of Building Greening 2026 in Berlin, organised by the German Association Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. (BuGG).
As the largest international event of the EFB network to date, the congress brought together hundreds of professionals from across the globe, including policymakers, researchers, architects, engineers, city representatives, industry leaders and practitioners. Over two intensive days, participants exchanged knowledge, explored innovative technologies and discussed practical solutions for creating greener, healthier and more climate-resilient cities.
The programme featured keynote speeches, parallel technical sessions, panel discussions, networking events, an international exhibition and numerous opportunities for collaboration, covering topics such as green roofs, living walls, biodiversity, water management, circular construction, climate adaptation, urban resilience, financing, digitalisation and European policy.
EFB Members and Partners Contribution
EFB was particularly proud to see so many of its Members, Partners and collaborators actively contributing to the congress programme.
🇵🇹 Paulo Palha – Water Management for Nature-Based Solutions
EFB President Paulo Palha delivered a presentation on “The water cycle and NBS’s irrigation needs – what are we missing in the southern countries?”
🤖 Dusty Gedge (United Kingdom) – AI for Urban Green Infrastructure
Dusty Gedge presented “Mapping Urban Green Infrastructure using Remote Sensing and AI.” His presentation demonstrated how artificial intelligence and modern remote sensing technologies can improve monitoring, planning and management of urban green infrastructure, supporting evidence-based decision-making for greener cities.
🌱 Vera Enzi-Zechner – A Roadmap for Europe’s Nature-Positive Building Sector
Representing EFB and the Horizon Europe GoNaturePositive! project, Vera Enzi-Zechner presented the Industry Vision and Nature Positive Building Sector Roadmap 2050: Scaling Green Infrastructure through Holistic Action Plans.
Vera also moderated the evening Industry Roundtable: “From Policy to Practice – Building Green Infrastructure Together”, bringing together companies and stakeholders to discuss how European policies can be translated into practical implementation, stronger cooperation and greater market impact.
🇮🇹 Maurizio Crasso – The Italian Green Roof Market
Maurizio Crasso provided valuable insights into the current state of the Italian green roof market. His presentation reviewed existing standards and regulations, highlighted recent market developments and discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the sector as green infrastructure becomes increasingly important within Italy’s sustainability agenda.
🏙️ Chris Bridgman – Retrofitting Existing Buildings
Chris Bridgman focused on one of the most important challenges facing European cities: retrofitting existing buildings with green roofs. His presentation demonstrated how existing building stock can be transformed into climate-resilient assets while delivering environmental, social and economic benefits.
♻️ Katharina Mauss – Innovative Green Roof Substrates
Katharina Mauss presented research on the use of biochar produced from sewage sludge as an additive for green roof substrates. The study explored its potential to improve green roof performance while simultaneously contributing to carbon sequestration and supporting circular economy principles.
💰 Susanne Formanek – New Financing Models
Susanne Formanek explored new financing mechanisms for green roofs, demonstrating how innovative financial models can help overcome investment barriers and accelerate the implementation of green infrastructure projects across Europe.
🌍 Ana Mesquita – Nature-Based Solutions and Carbon Neutrality
Ana Mesquita showcased the Falcão Primary School as an inspiring example of how Nature-Based Solutions contribute to carbon neutrality. Her presentation illustrated how green infrastructure can simultaneously improve environmental performance, educational environments and community well-being.
🌾 Kolcsár Zoltán Zsolt – Climate-Resilient Green Roofs
Kolcsár Zoltán Zsolt presented innovative drought-tolerant green roof systems developed in Romania. His work demonstrated techniques to improve water retention and thermal stability under increasingly harsh climatic conditions, helping cities adapt to climate change.
🏗️ Tanja Herr – Twenty Years of Experience from Croatia
Drawing on two decades of professional experience, Tanja Herr reflected on the development of green roof architecture in Croatia, sharing practical lessons learned, successful projects and the evolution of the national market.
🇪🇺 Luigi Petito – Strengthening European Policy
Representing EFB’s EU Policy activities, Luigi Petito presented “A Robust European Policy and Regulatory Framework to Accelerate the Deployment of Green Roofs and Walls Across Cities.” His presentation highlighted how coherent European legislation, effective implementation and stronger policy coordination are essential to unlock the full potential of building greening in achieving climate, biodiversity and urban resilience objectives.
📢 Egbert Roozen – Green Advocacy in Brussels
Egbert Roozen addressed the role of advocacy in shaping European legislation through his presentation “Green Lobbying at European Institutions: Is Brussels Far Away?”
EFB at the Exhibition
Throughout the congress, EFB welcomed numerous visitors to its exhibition stand. The Federation showcased its current activities, European projects, publications, partnership opportunities and ongoing policy work.
Particular interest was generated by the Nature Positive Building Sector Roadmap 2050, with many visitors providing valuable feedback that will contribute to the further development of this strategic initiative.
The exhibition also offered an excellent opportunity to connect with existing members, establish new partnerships and exchange ideas with professionals from across Europe and beyond.
EFB would like to express its sincere appreciation to Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. (BuGG) and the entire organising team for delivering such an outstanding international event.
The World Congress of Building Greening 2026 demonstrated the growing momentum behind green infrastructure worldwide and provided an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration and innovation. We are proud to have been part of this remarkable event and look forward to continuing our work together to make Europe’s buildings and cities greener, healthier and more resilient.