Multi-level Governance: Fourth REGILIENCE Open Training Session

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 

• Status of national adaptation actions: Angelika Tamásová, Climate Change Adaptation Expert at the  European Environment Agency (EEA), provided a comprehensive overview of the status of national adaptation actions, reinforcing the critical role of organised governance structures in effective climate adaptation. She highlighted the significance of technical reports like the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) in guiding policy priorities.

• 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.