Today King Willem-Alexander smashed a bottle of champagne on the Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR), located in the Rijnhaven. He thereby opened the headquarters of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), which, as well as a variety of other functions, is located in the brand new floating office located in the Rijnhaven, which is the largest of its kind in the world.

Accelerating global climate adaptation

Host Mayor Aboutaleb and King's Commissioner Jaap Smit welcomed Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the GCA, and Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with 25 ministers from as many countries who are members of the GCA Board.

“The recent climate challenges and conclusions drawn from the IPCC report highlight the importance of accelerating global climate adaptation. Rotterdam also faces numerous major challenges, such as rising sea levels. We’re happy to share our innovations and experiences with the rest of the world. The location of this Climate Office will play a crucial role in this. We are therefore very honoured to be the GCA’s host city," according to Mayor Aboutaleb.

Example building for sustainability, climate adaptation and circularity

The GCA has very deliberately been housed in a floating office. The Floating Office is an example building for the sustainability, climate adaptation and circularity mission; all concepts which both the GCA and the city of Rotterdam embrace. The office has a green sedum roof, a water retention system and is completely climate neutral. The solar panels generate sufficient energy to make the building self-sufficient and the water from the Rijnhaven is used for cooling. The building is climate-proof and moves with the tide in the Rijnhaven and the rising sea level. Floating constructions are therefore seen as one of the possible answers to climate change. This seamlessly fits in with the GCA’s ambitions: to globally help countries and cities to become climate-proof.

Rijnhaven

The FOR is located in the middle of the Rijnhaven. A new part of the city centre is being realised in, on and along the Rijnhaven with its historic quays, industrial monuments and beautiful views. A total of 2,500 homes are being built in the Rijnhaven area development and another 6,000 homes will be added with Katendrecht being in the immediate vicinity. Floating parks and jetties are being constructed too. The first floating part of the park next to the FOR will be opened up to the public this autumn.