Following the recently concluded global climate negotiations (COP26), many have been left wondering how best to approach the ongoing climate crisis. Achieving climate goals is a complex and time sensitive endeavour and involves cutting down on emissions, while developing solutions to adapt to a new climate reality. These adaptation solutions are most effective if coordinated at the regional level in order to account for the unique needs and vulnerabilities of local cities and regions. ICLEI Europe is redoubling efforts to support such locally-tailored strategies.

One way in which ICLEI is supporting this work is via a new initiative that aims to coordinate and foster regional adaptation transformations in the EU. The project will help the most climate vulnerable regions of Europe to develop adaptation trajectories and will work to broaden understandings of resiliency to the general public. These regions will then be supported in crafting and implementing tailored “transformation pathways” – in other words,pathways that combine adaptation and mitigation strategies to realise development goals in ways that are just, and that foster resilience both in regions and ecosystems.

By sharing knowledge amongst different partners, networking between stakeholders, and making use of a wide array of information-gathering activities, it will be possible to work cross-sectorally and identify the most locally-appropriate climate pathways for each region.

One of the first activities will be to coordinate a survey of the 50 most vulnerable regions in the EU to identify their needs, knowledge gaps, and to ultimately find the most suitable solutions and trajectories for the respective regions.

All of this work is being done in the context of the newly launched REGILIENCE project. REGILIENCE is furthermore coordinating three existing projects – referred to as “Innovation Packages” – to coordinate common results.

For more information, click here and stay tuned.