This manual is aimed at engaging stakeholders and citizens in climate change adaptation. It was developed by the EU Implementation Platform for Climate Change Adaptation (MIP4Adapt) for regional and local authorities. The manual highlights four key actions for engagement: communication, stakeholder and community engagement, connecting stakeholders and citizens to facilitate collaboration and enable collective and individual action.

The manual aims to provide practical ways to engage stakeholders and citizens and support their active participation in all elements of climate change adaptation planning and action. The manual guides users through relevant participatory activities and highlights tools, good practices and examples for engaging stakeholders and citizens in all steps of the climate change adaptation planning cycle, as outlined in the Regional Adaptation Support Tool (RAST).

The manual follows the steps of GROWTH and presents specific participatory activities and related tools, good practices and experiences regarding stakeholder and citizen engagement at each step of the climate change adaptation planning cycle. The manual also includes thematic leaflets and related tools for:

• Creative engagement to use creativity for climate adaptation that promotes resilience.
• Private sector involvement especially in identifying and implementing climate adaptation measures and innovative solutions.
• Support for vulnerable groups to ensure the inclusiveness of climate action.

The manual emphasizes that Stakeholder and citizen engagement increases the relevance, effectiveness and credibility of climate adaptation plans, builds trust and supports a collective mandate for implementing adaptation measures. This is done by incorporating local knowledge and concerns, complementing top-down approaches, promoting shared ownership and clarifying common goals.

Step 1: Preparing the ground for adaptation is crucial as it involves gathering and organizing the essential elements needed to start the adaptation planning process. It involves identifying key stakeholders and citizens involved in the process and developing an engagement strategy. In this step, it is important to define engagement objectives, identify key stakeholders, conduct a stakeholder analysis and align a communication strategy. Recommended participatory activities include stakeholder mapping and analysis, communities of practice, climate assemblies, storytelling, climate walks and climate festivals.

Steps 2, 3 and 4: Assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities, identifying, assessing and selecting adaptation options focuses on consulting stakeholders and citizens to improve a climate adaptation strategy or plan. This includes obtaining input and validating vulnerability and risk assessments, identifying and prioritizing adaptation options. It is important to involve vulnerable groups and create a common platform between stakeholders and citizens. Recommended activities include participatory workshops, focus groups, awareness-raising campaigns, citizen surveys, live labs, hackathons and participatory multi-criteria analysis.

Step 5: Implementation of adaptation policies and measures It emphasizes the involvement of stakeholders and citizens in developing implementation cost plans, identifying relevant funding sources and developing policy implementation plans. It is important to involve operational leaders from the public and private sectors and to inform citizens who can benefit from implementation. Participatory activities include green participatory budgeting, climate advocacy campaigns, incentives, public meetings, community-based participatory research and local climate action groups.

Step 6: Monitoring, evaluating and learning focuses on engaging stakeholders and citizens in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of climate adaptation plans. The aim is to build their understanding of the needs and support for implementation. The manual highlights the challenges of monitoring adaptation outcomes and emphasizes the importance of regular reporting on progress. Citizen science can help monitor and improve the plan by involving the public in tracking relevant variables.

The manual emphasizes that the selection of participatory activities and related tools depends on the objectives of each step and the overall goals. It is recommended to read Step 1 regardless of the stage of adaptation you are in, as it deals with developing an engagement strategy. If necessary, you may consider consulting an expert on effective stakeholder and citizen engagement. The manual also recommends showcasing good practices and gaining visibility through the existing EU Adaptation Mission community of practice. Spring

Glossary of key terms

• Adaptation to climate change: Adapting to existing or expected climate change and its impacts in order to minimize negative effects and take advantage of potential opportunities.
• Stakeholders: Individuals, groups or organizations that have an interest in or are affected by the outcome of climate change adaptation planning and implementation.
• Participatory activities: Methods and tools that actively involve stakeholders and citizens in different phases of adaptation planning and implementation.
• RAST (Regional Adaptation Support Tool): A regional adaptation support tool that provides a structured approach to planning and implementing adaptation measures.
• Stakeholder mapping: The process of identifying and analyzing stakeholders to understand their interests, influence, and interrelationships.
• Living lab: A real-world testing environment where solutions are collaboratively created, tested, and refined in the real world, often with the involvement of end users and stakeholders.
• Citizen science: Scientific research in which members of the public voluntarily participate, often in the collection and analysis of data.
• Participatory budget: A process that allows citizens to directly participate in decisions about the allocation of public funds.
• Climate anxiety: Feelings of fear, worry and helplessness regarding climate change and its potential impacts.
• Community of practice: A group of people who share a common interest or problem and meet regularly to learn from each other and collaborate.