Flooding – not only a matter of experts – Opinion Article

In Europe, we are facing increasing flood risks under the influence of climate change. During the summer of 2021, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium experienced severe flood events due to heavy rainfall, resulting in significant damage and even casualties in Germany and Belgium. Due to climate change, such events are more likely to occur in the future.

Traditionally, in the Netherlands, mainly experts are involved in managing flood risks. This includes hydrologists and modelers accustomed to working with complex modelling software, calculating various flood scenarios, and visualizing them in a way that aligns with their knowledge and expertise. The emphasis here is on scientific accuracy rather than the visual aspects of flood information. For a long time, making flood risks and information understandable beyond a small group of experts has not been a focus point in the Netherlands.

Changing audience

However, this has changed over the last decade. Climate change and its associated risks should not only concern experts; everyone should be involved. This is especially true for flood risks, which can affect many people in the Netherlands, as almost 27% of its surface is located below sea level. Over the last decade, we have seen that improving the accessibility of flood information has different benefits.

First of all, it is important to prepare people for a potential flood event and make sure that they know what to do should such an event occur. In this way, the damage and especially the amount of casualties in case of a flood event will decrease. Furthermore, under the pressure of climate change, we need to take measures to protect our living environment. These measures can, in some cases, have a significant impact on the immediate surroundings. This includes, for example, inconvenience due to construction work, as well as the demolition of buildings to make room for improved flood defenses and dikes. To create support for these measures, it is important to involve people and inform them about the risks.   

In the Netherlands, there has been much more attention on this in recent years. An example is the website overstroomik.nl, where everyone can enter their address and see how high the water can rise, what that means in terms of accessibility to water, energy, and internet, and how they should prepare for it. While these websites are a very positive development, they are mainly focused on actionable perspectives rather than understanding the risks. Many of these initiatives do not provide or offer limited insight into the causes of a flood and the extent to which, for example, severity may vary and change in the future due to climate change. Furthermore, flood maps are generally projected in 2D and offer little insight in terms of what a flooding actually means and looks like on the ground.

Ambitions within the IMPETUS-project

Within the IMPETUS project, we believe that besides focusing on actionable perspectives, it is important to improve the accessibility of information on the causes of flooding as well. We want to make flood risks tangible and understandable for everyone. Therefore, within this project, we focus on visualizing floods in 3D. The final goal of the project is to unlock different flood scenarios, calculated with high-level expert hydrodynamic software, in a Google Street view-like environment where you can see the water rise against the buildings. Such a Google Street view-like environment is often referred to as a digital twin and is currently being developed in an increasing number of locations. In this way we can make the high-level model simulations that are normally only used by experts accessible to everyone. This could include architects, municipal policymakers in spatial planning, or simply residents of a particular area.

Technical challenges

As one can imagine, there are different (technical) challenges involved in realizing this ambition. These challenges can be summarized in two categories. The first challenge is the need to be able to simulate different types of flooding and convert the modelling results into a format that can be ‘translated’ to a 3D visualization. Secondly, an online 3D environment is needed representing the physical environment including terrain, buildings and other objects like bridges and trees.

Flood modelling

Depending on the location to which this innovation is applied, the possible causes of a flood event can be very different. For example, in the areas of the Netherlands that are located below sea level, there is always a risk that a sea dike breaches and cause the hinterland to flood. However, flooding can also be caused by high river levels (that overtop the river dikes) or by heavy precipitation. Often, flooding occurs due to a combination of these causes. In order to capture all these causes, you need a modelling software package that incorporates all the relevant processes.

For the digital modeling of floods within the IMPETUS project, we use the 3Di software. This hydrodynamic software is based on the latest mathematical insights and can simulate the motion of water in processes such as dike breaches, rainfall run-off, infiltration, overland flow, sewerage flow, river flow, and around obstacles such as bridges, buildings, and culverts, ultimately to simulate floods. More information on the 3Di software can be found here.

In addition to this simulation software, within the IMPETUS project we developed a new result format for the model simulation results. This new format is called ‘3D-tiles’, and enables you to visualize the simulation results in 3D. The 3D-tiles are developed according to the OGC-standards. These standards are the basis for many digital geospatial developments, including different digital 3D environments. Since the 3D-tiles are developed based on these standards, it is possible to visualize the simulation results in different 3D environments.

Digital modeling of the physical environment

For the modeling of the physical environment, data of all obstacles is required, including photorealistic textures of the buildings. This data is required to create the online, Google Street View-like environment, to which the flood scenarios can later be added. Within the IMPETUS-project, we work together with different organizations that already work with such an online environment and try to link to these.

In the end, within the IMPETUS project we hope to realize an online, 3D-environment in which flood simulations can be easily visualized. Such an online environment should be easy-to-use and easy-to-understand, such that important information of flood risks is accessible to everyone!

You can download the article by clicking here.

High-level event of the Mission for Adaptation Climate Change for Greek Cities and Regions

The event is organized by the Administrative Council of the European Mission for Climate Change Adaptation – EU Mission Adaptation, and the International Network of Cities ICLEI Governments for Sustainability, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and other stakeholders. It is the first major event for informing, supporting, and mobilizing municipalities and regions of the Greek territory organized by the European Mission for Climate Change Adaptation and extreme weather events.

PROGRAMME

9:15 Opening and Welcome

  • Elina Bardram, Director, Adaptation, Resilience, Communication and Civil Society Relations, DG CLIMA, European Commission (online)
  • Lenio Myrivili, Board Member of the EU Climate Change Adaptation Mission, and Global Chief Heat Officer at the United Nations and the Atlantic Council
  • Vasileios Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation, ICLEI Europe 


9:30 Greetings

  • Akis Skertsos, Minister, Internal State Affairs
  • Alexandra Sdoukou, State Secretary for Environment and Energy
  • Petros Varelidis, Secretary General for Natural Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Konstantinos Magoulas, Secretary General for Infrastructure, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Fofo Kalyva, Secretary General for Public Health, Ministry of Health


10:00 Panel #1: The National Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change

Speakers:

  • Petros Varelidis, Secretary General for Natural Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • Dora Antonakaki, Director, Climate Change and Sustainability Centre, Bank of Greece
  • Argyro Paraskevopoulou, Climattica Network of Municipalities and Regions on Climate Change, Climate Change Director, Region of Attica

Moderator: Maria Logotheti, Expert Ambassador Counsellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President of the Climate Change Hub (CCHUB)


10:30 Interactive Session: What are the most important challenges and needs of cities and regions in Greece regarding Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events?

Introduction and Commentary by Grigoris Konstantellos, Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni, Vice President of Hellenic Association of Municipalities

Moderator: Elena Petsani, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability/Pathways2Resilience


10:45 -11.15 Coffee break


11:15 Panel #2: What is the Climate Change Adaptation Mission and how does it support cities and regions in Greece?

Speakers:

  • Vasileios Latinos, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability/REGILIENCE
  • Leon Kapetas, Resilient Cities Network/REGILIENCE
  • Christina Papadaskalopoulou, MIP4Adapt

Four-minute speeches by representatives of local governments:

  • Stella Psarropoulou, Municipality of Thessaloniki,
  • Dimitris Tzempelikos, Municipality of Egaleo
  • Christos Polyzos, Municipality of Thermi

Moderator: Konstantina Siountri, Consultant of the General Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources


12.30 Panel #3: Data and Financing related to adaptation to climate change and extreme events.

Introduction and commentary by Efthimios Bakoyannis, Secretary General of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

Speakers:

  • Terry Karabini, European Environment Agency
  • Iphigenia Keramitsoglou, Athens National Observatory
  • Eleni Gioti, European Investment Bank
  • Yannis Androulakis, Greek Green Fund/Prasino Tameio

Moderator: Vasileios Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability/REGILIENCE

13:30 Conclusions and commentary

Speakers:

Maria Vasilakou, EU Mission Cities Board

Lenio Myrivili, EU Mission Adaptation Board

14:00 – 15:30 Networking Lunch

Multi-level Governance: Fourth REGILIENCE Open Training Session

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On March 11, 2024, REGILIENCE hosted its fourth online Open Training Session, part of our ongoing series of capacity-building events dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of regional actors involved in climate adaptation. This session served as a comprehensive guide, equipping participants with insights into multi-level governance to help for regional and national adaptation efforts. Participants were provided with effective strategies for reinforcing climate resilience. From examining national adaptation actions to navigating funding mechanisms and governance frameworks, the session offered actionable insights to drive impactful climate adaptation initiatives.

The session started with welcoming words from moderators Indriany Lionggo (IEECP) and Matthias Watzak-Helmer (FEDARENE), setting the stage for showing indispensable role of multi-level governance in forging a sustainable path forward. 

The event comprised five presentations, shedding light on both general and specific multi-level governance strategies for regional and national adaptation. A virtual roundtable session allowed participants to engage directly with speakers, posing questions and offering comments. The session, spanning approximately 2 hours, attracted a diverse audience of over 60 participants. 

Key Highlights of the Session 

  • Funding climate resilience in national and regional adaptation plans: Giulia Viero, Energy and climate expert at the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP) shared valuable insights into funding climate resilience within national and regional adaptation plans. She discussed promising practices identified in Member States’ climate adaptation funding, highlighting the importance of policy coherence and international collaboration.

  • TransformAr Governance Framework Tool and Report : Jan Cools, Research Coordinator Environment, Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development Coordinator of TransformAr, elaborated on the governance framework tools developed within the TransformAr project, offering guidance on adaptation policy, funding schemes, and governance arrangements.
    He emphasised the need for tailored approaches to adaptation and showcased transformational adaptation pathways developed in six demonstrator regions.

  • Multi-level governance stakeholder group in practice: Isabella Katsimenis, Senior Project Manager at North Sweden Regional Energy Agency in Norrbotten Region, focused on Swedish governance stakeholder groups in practice, showcasing the NEVER-MORE project’s efforts to engage local actors in climate adaptation initiatives. She underlined the importance of creating platforms for local councils to brainstorm, co-create, and share experiences.
  • Multi-level governance dialogues for climate and energy policy: Tomislav Novosel, Expert Advisor at North West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency (REGEA), highlighted governance dialogues for climate and energy policies in Croatia, as much as the importance of stakeholder engagement and continuous communication. He also outlined key steps for impactful Climate and Energy Dialogues (CEDs) as a good practice from NECPlatform, reaffirming the need for ownership, relevant topics, and collaboration among stakeholders. 

This powerful Open Training Session proved again that fostering communication and dialogue not only cultivates trust among stakeholders, but also serves as an effective strategy to bolster collaboration and involve them in informed decision-making processes. 

If you have missed the session, you can access the slides as well as the recordings. You can learn more about the previous sessions and have a say on the agenda for the upcoming sessions by sharing your thoughts on the dedicated REGILIENCE page here.  

HAVE A SAY ON THE AGENDA!

The sessions are conceived including a lot of interactions with the audience. In addition to the many opportunities you will have to give your opinion and feedback, you will also be able to vote on the topics to be tackled during the second cycle.  

On this page, you can see the Open Training Sessions (OTS) available for all interested parties, that will take place between March 2023 and 2025. The sessions are organised in a series of ten online events divided into two cycles.

Women’s Day: Jen Heemann Interview

Jen Heemann_visual

March: Celebrating Women’s Achievements! 

As part of our collaborative initiative with sister projects ARSINOE, IMPETUS,  TransformArPathways2Resilience, and REACHOUT, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing Ms. Jen Heemann. She serves as an Expert in local action for energy and climate at IEECP and is the Project Coordinator of the REGILIENCE Project.

Learn more about her journey!

Q.: Ms. Heemann, what pivotal moments have led you to work on fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration for sustainable practices, fueling your passion for creating a harmonious balance between human activities and the environment?

Ms Jen Heemann: Growing up, I wasn’t the most confident kid. I faced bullying at school and had few friends. Luckily, my family’s apartment building in Porto Alegre, Brazil, had a small garden where I spent hours by myself, surrounded by trees, birds, and bugs. It was my safe haven, where I could be myself. I was not conscious of how that tiny garden influenced me back then, but I am today. I believe these and other moments in nature were crucial for my wellbeing (and still are!), making me respect and appreciate nature so much. Many scientific studies explore and explain how nature is good for our mental and physical health, but this is not something I learned from science. Since very young I knew I wanted to work to rethink and improve our relationship with the environment and climate… and gladly, I do.

Now, collaboration has been a guiding principle for me, both personally and professionally. One memorable instance occurred during a conversation with a person living on the streets of São Paulo ten years ago. While working on transforming public spaces, we held a jazz concert in a square that attracted many people from all walks of life, and this person approached me to share his ideas for the square. He shared simple yet impactful ideas, like installing drinking fountains to cope with the city’s hot summers. This measure seems obvious today, it’s mentioned in many guidelines on climate adaptation for coping with heat waves in cities, but it wasn’t the case ten years ago (at least not in Brazil and not that I know of). It was a moving experience that taught me that good ideas come from anyone, anywhere, but we must create the right conditions for them to emerge. People need to feel invited and safe to share their concerns and ideas, they need to feel and know that their views will not be ignored and be given a serious hearing. Open conversations like these are essential for the societal and systemic transformations we need.

Q.: Your work involves developing capacity-building activities for local and regional public authorities in climate action planning. How do you see the unique role of women in local governance driving climate-resilient pathways, and what challenges and successes have you witnessed in this regard?

Ms Jen Heemann: Women bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and leadership styles that are crucial for fostering inclusive and effective climate action.
For example, they are able to amplify community voices and priorities, particularly those of marginalised groups. Women often have a very good understanding of
the community’s needs and vulnerabilities, which is so essential to advocate for policies and initiatives that address climate change impacts in a holistic and equitable manner. Also, their participation in decision-making processes enhances the likelihood of integrating gender-sensitive approaches into climate action plans, considering how policies and programmes can impact women differently.

There is also a relevant role for women in capacity-building activities focused on systemic transformation, as women are often successful in creating spaces that make people comfortable to share their doubts, concerns, and needs. Sometimes they dare to show emotions, creating the conditions for people to connect at a deeper level, which can be helpful in achieving the full potential of learning processes in groups. Also, women tend to be empathetic and can spot when participants are not comfortable with a certain process or discussion or don’t feel encouraged to participate actively because of the group dynamics. This helps them know what needs to be addressed to improve the exchanges.

A big challenge for women’s involvement in policy-making and capacity-building processes is, of course, gender biases and stereotypes that may hinder women’s participation and leadership. For example, traditional gender roles that don’t see women as a relevant actor in such processes, and. governance structures that are dominated by men and can perpetuate the perception that women are less capable or suited for certain roles, especially leadership ones. Even the qualities I mentioned before, such as showing emotions and being empathic and compassionate, are often seen as
weaknesses which can undermine women’s credibility. However, we should be celebrating and making the best use of these qualities!

Q.: As the Project Coordinator of the REGILIENCE project, could you shed light on the project’s goals and impact through a women-centric lens? How does REGILIENCE contribute to shaping resilience strategies for regions, and what specific challenges and successes have you encountered as a woman leading this initiative?

Ms Jen Heemann: In REGILIENCE, we have a Gender Group which focuses on recognising the diverse contribution of gender to climate change adaptation and resilience, and aims to promote gender equality perspectives, inclusivity, and  effective strategies throughout the project. We do so by making sure we have a good gender balance in project activities and by contributing to the understanding of climate impacts and vulnerabilities that can increase gender disparities. The gender work is in constant development and the gender group’s scope may cover various aspects. One example is the gender statement and disclaimer we have in every project deliverable, contributing to raising awareness on gender in resilience. Also, this campaign for the Women’s Day and interview are another good example.

I honestly feel very lucky to coordinate a project like REGILIENCE as I have never experienced any kind of discrimination for being a woman or Brazilian. In fact, since the beginning of the project, I have used all the qualities mentioned above (showing emotions, being empathic and compassionate) when applying regenerative leadership principles and techniques. Although this is not a common practice in project coordination, and I was a bit anxious to try this out, the response from the partners was very positive and encouraged me to continue.
For example, we start all monthly project meetings with a round of good news. One by one, we mention something good that happened to us, professionally or personally. Not only do the partners like to share their news (and most of us choose to share personal stories), but many are facilitating “good news rounds” in their Work Packages and Task meetings too! So now we have this special way of starting meetings in REGILIENCE, where we first connect with each other as human beings, making us feel comfortable to show vulnerability, exchange, and collaborate at a deeper level. The result is a more personal and caring environment, in which we help each other when needed and everyone is involved in project planning, decision-making, and implementation.

Q.: You are a mother of two daughters. How has this responsibility
influenced or leveraged your work, and what lessons have you learned
that are particularly relevant for Women’s Day?

Ms Jen Heemann: In climate resilience, we mention that resilient systems are adaptable and flexible in the face of unexpected events. Well, maternity showed me what a resilient system I am (lol)! Almost every week there is an unexpected event preventing me from following the perfect routine I have planned for myself, forcing me to quickly adapt and improvise. Knowing how to do that and stay calm is an art, and very useful at work… To be honest, I’m still working on the “stay calm” part. But what is truly amazing about maternity is that I discovered a new level of empathy, which gives me the energy and courage I need to do whatever is needed for my daughters’ wellbeing. Many times their wellbeing comes before my own, but I learned quickly I should find a balance and put my wellbeing first sometimes, as a healthy mind and body are essential for being able to take care of them as I want to.I learned to approach work the same way. If my body sends me signs that my workload might be too much for me at that moment, for example, if I notice I am breathing faster and have an accelerated heartbeat, these are signs I must slow down. If I don’t, I know I won’t be able to perform as I like, and it can have terrible effects on my health. So I do slow down, even if it means saying “no” to amazing projects and opportunities.
This also influenced my empathy for my colleagues and how I care for them. They will need to slow down sometimes and, just like me, they will need the support and understanding of others to be able to do so. Maybe the most important lesson I learned is how a supportive and collaborative work environment is crucial for healthy teams and colleagues. When I returned from maternity leave, it took me a few months to get “back on track”, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of a few amazing colleagues who covered me when I needed and were patient enough to explain and update me again and again on some aspects of our work. I wish all women had the same support.

Q.: Teaching master’s students about climate change in cities is a crucial part of your work. What key messages or skills do you aim to instill in the next generation of female urban leaders, and how do you see their role in addressing climate challenges, particularly from a women’s empowerment standpoint?

Ms Jen Heemann: Women, the world needs you just as you are! Your emotions, empathy, and compassion are not weaknesses but powerful tools for driving systemic transformations. Often overlooked in discussions of systemic change is the importance of caring for others and all living beings. As Laura Storm and Gilles Hutchings highlight in their book “Regenerative Leadership”, we require not only systemic thinking (a mindset shift, perceiving the inter-relation of the parts within the whole and understanding that systems are nested in other systems) but also systemic awareness (a shift at the heart and body level, in which we fully sense into the system dynamics and flows of knowledge, changing how we listen and attend to others), and ecosystemic awareness (a shift at the psychologic and spiritual level, when we sense the interconnectedness of all life, becoming attuned with nature, not separate from it).
Christiana Figueres, in her discussion on the On Being podcast, emphasises that “systemic transformation is deeply personal”. She underscores the notion that meaningful change begins with personal transformation—it’s a journey that starts within each of us.

Let’s embrace our innate qualities and recognise that nurturing empathy and compassion is integral to fostering the systemic changes our world urgently needs.

Q.: What makes you most hopeful for the future?

Ms Jen Heeman: The rise of complexity and regenerative thinking, which signals a shift towards a mindset and approach that seeks to not only sustain but also restore, renew, and enhance natural and social systems. Unlike mechanistic thinking, which views the world as separate parts with linear cause-and-effect relationships, regenerative thinking embraces a holistic perspective. It acknowledges the interconnectedness of all living systems, embraces non-linear dynamics, and values collaboration and co-creation to foster resilience and sustainability.
This approach prioritises long-term goals, aiming to create conditions for thriving and flourishing for future generations. Instead of exploiting natural and social systems for short-term gains, regenerative thinking focuses on nurturing them for the benefit of all

More Women in STEM interviews:

See the inspiring interviews of our sister projects:

TransformAr:

IMPETUS:

ARSINOE:

PATHWAYS2RESILIENCE:

REACHOUT:

The alignment of National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRP) with the National Adaptation Strategies and Plans (NAS/NAP) among the Member States

In September 2023, the REGILIENCE project issued a report shedding light on areas where improvements can be made in the funding and prioritisation of climate resilience efforts within National Recovery Resilience Plan (NRRP). The report, titled Lessons learnt and insights for the funding of climate resilience in national and regional adaptation plans from the European budget, explores EU Member State’s (MS) policy coherence regarding climate adaptation with specific focus on actions and priorities included in NRRP, assessing if and by how much these diverge from those outlined in the previously drafted National Adaptation Strategies and Plans (NAS/NAP).

The report describes interesting findings: some EU MS fully integrate adaptation measures as part of their national mitigation packages and leverage synergies into their strategies. The above report brings the example of the Ecological map of the City of Zagreb (Ekokarta Zagreba), as both a spatial-temporal database and an operational tool providing city offices with insights on environmental factors to functionally manage the citizens’ health and working environment. However, in some others, there is room for further alignment and coordination in funding disbursement from national to regional levels. Based on the REGILIENCE report findings, this is the case for adaptation measures in Central Macedonia, where regional funds actively support the adoption of Nature-based solutions in urban buildings, where measures are not financed by the NRRP funds.

Additionally, the report shows that progress is being made with 15 out of 27 MS having met their drafted milestones and targets for implementing adaptation measures and investments. This is also confirmed by the Recovery and Resilience Fund annual report published in July 2023.

The ongoing process of drafting adaptation measures presents an opportunity for strengthening policy coherence within Member States, and across.

The European Energy Agency (EEA) underscores in its Assessing the costs and benefits of climate change adaptation briefing that an assessment of the costs of adaptive measures as well as current and planned adaptation spending at the national level, is exceptionally rare. After the recent global pandemic, integrating adaptation measures into corresponding ministry budgets has become more and more relevant. However, previous NAS/NAP reporting sessions have highlighted areas where NAS and/or NAP in most MS lack specified financing sources or dedicated budgets for implementation. Going into more detail, several countries describe challenges with the under-developed monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) mechanisms for tracking implementation, particularly funding. 

Similar efforts to track adaptation

Nevertheless, monitoring and evaluation frameworks for tracking adaptation progress are either being developed or recently implemented across most MS.
This is exemplified in some cases, which are reported here:

  • The Portuguese Climate Law: amended in 2021, it now includes provisions for adaptation, a climate action portal, municipal and regional plans, sectoral adaptation plans, a stronger monitoring mechanism, legislative impact assessment, climate risk integration, and an obligation to review the NAS every ten years.
  • The Austrian KLAR! (Climate Change Adaptation Model Regions for Austria) Programme: funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund and offers a process-oriented approach for municipalities to raise awareness for climate change adaptation and implement concrete actions on regional level.

A variety of approaches to reporting adaptation spending per sector per country is available under the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (1999/2018). The Regulation sets the common rules for planning, reporting and monitoring. It also contains information on national adaptation budgets, EU programmes, investments , while mandating MS to comply with reporting obligations on National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), covering ten-year periods.

Call for long-term approaches

The REGILIENCE report claims that there has been significant progress in reporting adaptation measures and objectives, there is room for improvement in aligning policy coherence and clarity of objectives with Energy Union targets. This is confirmed by a recent report published by the EU scientific advisory board on Climate Change, which suggests the importance of aligning EU policies with the phase-out of fossil fuels and furthering EU climate ambitions.

This suggests the need for more inclusive approaches and adjustments to the overall climate action framework, as well as a more comprehensive and integrated approach to policy formulation, where MS can adhere to a standardised set of criteria and guidelines, fostering improved progress for all stakeholders involved.

Once again, this highlights a crucial aspect within the current regulatory landscape, where Member States are challenged by the imperative to synchronise their adaptation measures with broader EU climate ambitions, revealing areas where policy objectives and stakeholder involvement at the regional level need to be improved. But all this also offers a chance to strengthen cooperation and alignment.

There is a momentum to advancing climate resilience efforts and continued collaboration as well as shared learning among EU nations. To address the above challenges, the Integrated reporting on national adaptation actions, financial and technology support on GovReg Article 19 (Annex VIII) offers valuable insights and lessons learnt providing an opportunity for enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing among DG CLIMA, the EEA, and all EU MS and EEA member countries. The exchange of experiences particularly with regards to the first reporting on Article 17 can significantly contribute to the effective implementation of adaptation actions throughout Europe and foster a deeper understanding of the importance of adaptation reporting. Furthermore, there is a need to regularly update each country’s NAS/NAP information on climate hazards to ensure alignment with current hazards, risks, and losses.

Harnessing the momentum

In this regard, recent discussions on the benefits of Multi-level Governance (MLG) within the LIFE NECPlatform project highlight the importance of dialogue as an integral part of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), as mandated in Article 11 of the Regulation. With progress being made on multi-level dialogues and with several NAS/NAP undergoing revision or renewal, it is crucial to seize the opportunity to improve MRE mechanisms and engage more local and regional stakeholders. Their involvement can significantly contribute to enhancing policy coherence in the development and implementation of adaptation measures across Europe.

An overview of the objectives and main findings of the REGILIENCE report at the core of this article can be found at this link.

You can download the opinion article here.

Save the date for the EURESFO 2024

We are excited to announce that on 26-28 June 2024, the 11th edition of European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) is set to be co-organized and hosted by the City of Valencia, distinguished as the European Green Capital for 2024.

EURESFO has served as a pivotal European initiative since 2013. Organised by ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and the European Environment Agency (EEA), it has been acting as a unique exchange platform in the field of resilience. The event brings together city representatives, experts, and stakeholders from local and regional institutions to discuss strategies, initiatives, and actions affiliating to climate change adaptation, disaster management, and the cultivation of urban resilience.

2023 EURESFO reached a significant milestone with the celebration of the event’s 10th anniversary. The commemorative edition reflected on progress made in the field of urban resilience over the past decade. The 10th anniversary of EURESFO welcomed the largest audience to-date, bringing together 100+ speakers and 350+ participants from 44 different countries to define pathways for a resilient transformation across Europe and the globe. 

Registration for the 11th edition of EURESFO will open in February 2024!

More information at https://urbanresilienceforum.eu/

Watch the EURESFO 2023 recap video to see all the best moments of last year’s event:

OTS4: Multi-level governance | March 11th 2023, 11:00-13:00 CET

The REGILIENCE team is pleased to announce the fourth Open Training Session focusing on Multi-level governance.

Climate Change Adaptation requires actions and ownership from all governance levels. Learn about the newest developments from the European to the local level. Get inspiration from innovative multi-level governance cooperations. 

Agenda (indicative):

  • Welcome and Introduction | Matthias Watzak-Helmer (FEDARENE) and Indriany Lionggo (IEECP) – 10 min
  • Status of national adaptation actions | Angelika Tamasova (EEA – European Environment Agency)  – 15+5 min
  • Funding climate resilience in national and regional adaptation plans   | Giulia Viero (REGILIENCE & IEECP) – 20 min
  • TransformAr Governance Framework Tool and Report | Jan Cools (TransformAR & University of Antwerp) – 20 min
  • Multi-level governance stakeholder group in practice Isabella Katsimenis Cools (NEVERMORE & ENERGIKONTORNORR) – 10 min
  • Multi-level governance dialogues for climate and energy policy | Tomislav Novosel (REGEA)10 min
  • Time for Q&A | Discussion with the presenters – 20 min
  • Wrap-up and closing | Satisfaction survey + topics for the upcoming events – 10 min 

Registration:

Click here to register

Recording

Will be available soon.

Takeaways

Will be available soon.

HAVE A SAY ON THE AGENDA!

The sessions are conceived including a lot of interactions with the audience. In addition to the many opportunities you will have to give your opinion and feedback, you will also be able to vote on the topics to be tackled during the second cycle.  

On this page, you can see the Open Training Sessions (OTS) available for all interested parties, that will take place between March 2023 and 2025. The sessions are organised in a series of ten online events divided into two cycles.

Ζείτε στην Περιφέρεια Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας στην Ελλάδα; Απαντήστε στο ερωτηματολόγιο και αφήστε τη φωνή σας να ακουστεί

Τα αποτελέσματα της #κλιματικήςαλλαγής έχουν ήδη αρχίσει να γίνονται αισθητά παγκοσμίως και είναι ζωτικής σημασίας η συμμετοχή όλων στην ανάπτυξη και εφαρμογή λύσεων προσαρμογής και Αντιμετώπισης των συνεπειών της. Χρειαζόμαστε τη γνώμη σας για να κάνουμε τη διαφορά!

 Αυτό το ερωτηματολόγιο στοχεύει στο να μετρήσει το επίπεδο ευαισθητοποίησης και συμμετοχής των πολιτών της περιοχής, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής και τις περιφερειακές ανάγκες. Η πολύτιμη σας ανατροφοδότηση θα διευκολύνει τη συν-ανάπτυξη και εφαρμογή μέτρων για την προσαρμογή και μείωση των επιπτώσεων της #κλιματικήςαλλαγής στην περιοχή.  Συμμετέχοντας στην έρευνα, συνεισφέρετε στην ανάπτυξη δράσεων ανθεκτικότητας στην Περιφέρεια Κεντρικής Μακεδονίας στην Ελλάδα. Η έρευνα θα βοηθήσει επίσης στον προσδιορισμό των αναγκών βιωσιμότητας αυτών των δράσεων μακροπρόθεσμα.

Απαντήστε στο ερωτηματολόγιο και αφήστε τη φωνή σας να ακουστεί

The impacts of climate change are already becoming evident globally and, unfortunately, the Central Macedonia Region in Greece is no exception. It is crucial for everyone to participate in the development and implementation of adaptation and mitigation solutions. We need your opinion to make a difference!

This survey aims to measure the level of awareness and participation of citizens in the region, taking into account the effects of climate change and regional needs. Your valuable feedback will facilitate the co-development and implementation of measures to adapt and reduce the impacts of climate change in the area.

By participating in the survey, you contribute to the development of resilience actions in the Central Macedonia Region in Greece. The research will also help identify the sustainability needs of these actions in the long term.

Respond to the survey and let your voice be heard! 

Introducing the updated weADAPT platform: Paving the way to resilience – Opinion Article

About weADAPT

Launched by SEI in 2007, weADAPT has become one of the world’s leading and longest-running user-led platforms and networks for climate change adaptation. Uniting over 7,000 users and nearly 5,000 organizations globally, it fosters learning, collaboration, and knowledge exchange in adaptation research, policy, and practice.

On January 22, 2024, weADAPT unveiled a cutting-edge version, enhancing co-learning, sharing, and connectivity within the adaptation community. The fresh look, innovative technological features, and new eco-design empower users to utilize weADAPT in bigger, better, and greener ways.

The upgrade is part of weADAPT’s efforts to continue to co-develop the platform to ensure that it is an up-to-date and dynamic space to help accelerate urgently needed action on climate change adaptation, while remaining inclusive of multiple voices and knowledge types. The longstanding mission of weADAPT to be a ‘go-to’ source of information on adaptation remains unchanged. But the new technologies allow us to better respond to evolving user needs, create more connections, and provide access to more people and organizations around the world.

weADAPT Today

weADAPT aims to build a professional community for research and practice on adaptation issues while creating policy-relevant tools and guidance for decision-making in adaptation planning. Currently the platform offers a plethora of resources divided in three main directions depending on what the user seeks:

Learn: Visitors on weADAPT can access the whole platform for free to learn about key climate-adaptation related issues. They will find articles, blogs, events and courses. The Maps of Case Studies allows users to explore who is doing what and where in the realm of adaptation to climate variability and change.

weADAPT is designed to bring information to its users in an intelligent and personalized way, organising information under themes, networks, categories, and using linked tags (or keywords) to integrate our collective knowledge in meaningful ways. The upgraded site improves weADAPT’s responsiveness to users’ needs and interests. They can now also access trending topics, bookmark content to read later and access it in their language of choice (out of over 100 to choose from).

Share: Registering on weADAPT is free and easy. Once registered, users can add and share information about their organization, latest project, reports, open access journal articles, case studies, upcoming events, blogs, courses and other relevant information. The content uploaded will be co-developed with weADAPT’s knowledge management team into digestible syntheses and then reviewed by our network of editors to ensure relevance, clarity and quality.

Connect: Based on users’ profile description, interests, and the work they publish, weADAPT links them with new knowledge and other climate adaptation professionals, helping them to find and connect to people doing similar work. They can follow and send direct message to other users, post comments and use forums to ask or answer questions, share announcements and reflections within the weADAPT community.

Green and low internet connectivity settings

weADAPT and its microsites are eco-conscious in their approach to web design. The aim is to reduce energy consumption across the site, while also providing benefits for users in remote locations who require a lower bandwidth digital experience.

For example, a central feature of the upgraded site includes the option for users to select the ‘dark mode’ and ‘low quality image options’.

Other components of our sustainable web design include reviewing the choice of assets and media on the site, such as images, to ensure they are optimized and add value, and reducing all unnecessary characters to improve processing time.

Vision for the future

As both a local and a global issue, the urgency of climate change adaptation efforts requires collaboration and learning across different geographies and scales of planning and implementation. weADAPT is pivotal in building adaptation knowledge, empowering connections, and fostering collaboration among individuals and organizations worldwide. Continued growth, investment, and funding are imperative to ensure the expansion and influence of knowledge sharing on adaptation.

Going forward, weADAPT aims to become the world’s main online space for learning about climate adaptation, supporting actors around the world – big and small – in their mission to accelerate policy and action on climate adaptation. We are continually exploring news ways to innovatively connect the climate change adaptation knowledge landscape and bring these cutting-edge approaches to our users. We hope the platform’s new features, developed as part of the upgraded site, will offer even more opportunities for learning, sharing, and connecting across sectors and geographies.

You can follow weADAPT on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and subscribe to our newsletter.

CLIMAAX Open Call – receive up to EUR 300,000 for your region

The CLIMAAX consortium is launching the 1st OPEN CALL FOR REGIONS AND COMMUNITIES to select regions and communities that will implement the CLIMAAX methodological framework and the supporting CRA toolbox to carry out their regional and local multi-risk assessments.  

Selected projects are expected to involve specialized technical knowledge, where necessary from external services contracted by public authorities.

CLIMAAX is looking for single applicants:

  • Public bodies (including regional authorities, municipalities, as well as public agencies) with a mandate to develop Climate-related Risk Assessments and Risk Management Plans in a given region or community.
  • Non-profit legal entities representing a local/regional community of people with social ties, shared values, or interests, engaged in joint action developing their activities in areas with vulnerability to climate change impacts and challenged by climate change adaptation.

Proposals have to aim at generating regional/local multi-risk climate assessment, including activities to complete these three phases:

  • Phase 1: Application of the CLIMAAX common methodology Framework for climate change-related multi-risk assessment applicable at regional/local scale in Europe using the Toolbox made available by the project. 

  • Phase 2: Refinement and improvement of the multi-risk assessment carried out in Phase 1 using local data of higher resolution and detail than the (European scale) data available for the common approach. In this second phase, the CLIMAAX partners will offer guidance to the beneficiaries in performing regional/local high-resolution analysis and multi-risk assessments.

  • Phase 3: Exploration of potential adaptation options and relevant actions at the local scale to address the risk and vulnerabilities identified from the multi-risk analysis carried out in Phases 1 and 2, including improvement of current regional/local risk management plans and adaptation strategies.

CLIMAAX Open Call beneficiaries will receive:

  • Up to 300,000 EUR lump sum funding per project.
  • Access and support to use the multi-risk assessment Toolbox. This support will include:
  1. Methodological guidance on the tools and on the technical details of the multi-risk assessment methodologies,
  2. Technical advice and support through the CLIMAAX helpdesk.
  • Access to the outreach and engagement events organized by CLIMAAX