Adaptation to climate change is becoming an increasingly urgent challenge for Europe, with climate risks deeply impacting communities environmentally, socially and economically. It is shown that that the efforts of politicians, experts and stakeholders alone are not enough, and that broad citizen participation is essential. Engaging citizens and stakeholders is key to building more resilient and accountable communities to climate change challenges and solutions, which can lead to more effective, efficient and equitable outcomes.

The lack of interaction between stakeholders is a limitation of the approaches that can be adopted. A silo approach can limit the sharing of knowledge and insights across sectors, stakeholder groups and target groups, and does not allow for a direct flow of data and information to decision-makers. Regional and local authorities (RLAs) play a key role in this process, and actively supporting and promoting citizen and stakeholder engagement is essential for the successful and sustainable implementation of adaptation measures that include all community groups.

Use of knowledge exchange platforms

One key method for engaging citizens and stakeholders is online knowledge exchange platforms, also known as climate adaptation platforms (CAPs). These platforms can support citizens and stakeholders through a variety of methods, including knowledge and capacity development, resource localization, and knowledge sharing.

Important resources that RLAs and citizen networks can turn to include three main platforms:

1. Agora Community Hub: Created by the Adaptation Agora project, it serves as a meeting place to share needs, knowledge and experiences on climate change adaptation. It was co-designed based on feedback from workshops and pilot studies. Key features include an interactive Agora Explorer map, discussion forums to connect with communities, an events page and a platforms page that connects users to other online platforms. After the Adaptation AGORA project ends, the hub will be transferred to weADAPT to ensure its sustainability. The Agora Community Hub differs from the Climate-ADAPT platform in that it focuses specifically on citizen engagement and supporting citizen networks and RLAs.
2. Climate-ADAPT: An online platform providing access to information on climate change adaptation, EU policies and a database of publications, projects, tools, indicators and case studies to support countries, cities and regions in their adaptation planning.
3. weADAPT: A pioneering, user-led platform and network for climate change adaptation that has been operating for over 15 years and connects a global community of people and organizations engaged in adaptation research, policy and practice.

In addition to these platforms, there are other networks and associations, such as ENRICH GLOBAL, which also offer platforms for the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

RLAs should actively use existing long-standing platforms for gathering and sharing knowledge related to citizen and community engagement. These platforms facilitate knowledge exchange, raise awareness and support community-led solutions, leading to more effective and inclusive adaptation policies. It is important to strengthen, use and maintain these platforms and support them as a way to support community-led climate change adaptation strategies.

Lessons and examples from European projects

The sources present several case studies from European projects that provide valuable insights and tools for citizen and stakeholder engagement:

• Transformation Labs (Natalie Project): This approach integrates local knowledge and facilitates co-creation of solutions, such as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), across eight different locations. The project emphasizes the need for flexibility and careful planning, especially in stakeholder workshops.
• Mainstreaming NbS (NATURE-DEMO project): It focuses on the integration of NBS into engineering and urban planning. The project engages stakeholders across sectors and countries and provides key insights for RLAs on the need for specific information on the costs and effectiveness of NBS, on existing knowledge gaps and on the need to adapt regulatory frameworks and financing mechanisms. Practical demonstrations and a catalogue of NBS are important outputs.
• Basic control schemes (TransformAr project): Uses a Multi-Actor Approach and bottom-up governance to co-create adaptation portfolios. The project emphasizes the value of flexibility and the need for reflective mechanisms to assess progress. It has created an interactive innovation index and an app for citizen engagement.
• Citizen engagement in data collection (OCEANIDS project): The project supports regional authorities and citizens through a knowledge collection and management platform and uses inclusive governance tools such as local citizens' assemblies.
• Citizen engagement tools (including climate rallies, GREENGAGE observatories and a DIY manual): They provide a set of strategies, digital platforms and participatory methods for engaging communities. Climate Assemblies, supported for example by the CLIMAS project, provide a structured space for discussing adaptation and help design more acceptable policies. GREENGAGE Observatories use citizen science to collect data and integrate citizens’ perspectives into policy-making. The DIY manual provides a practical guide for RLAs on how to engage citizens and stakeholders throughout the adaptation planning cycle.
• Artificial Intelligence for Citizen Engagement (NEUROCLIMA Project): Explores the use of AI and “big data” to support citizen engagement. The project is being developed by open-source, explainable and responsible AI for decision support and AI-driven e-participation platform, where citizens, experts and politicians can discuss and co-create policies.
• Integrating stakeholders into strategic decision-making (Adaptation AGORA Pilots): Participatory tools for co-designing adaptation strategies were tested in four pilot areas. Common challenges emerged as insufficient awareness of risks, limited social support mechanisms and the need for clear leadership and more inclusive governance. The pilot studies also highlighted gaps in adaptation capacity, including lack of knowledge, inequalities and fragmented governance. The process included workshops and focus groups that enabled direct interaction between citizens and decision-makers, increasing trust and awareness. The project also developed digital tools for knowledge dissemination and citizen engagement, such as Academies and a mobile app.

These case studies provide valuable examples and methodologies that RLAs can use when designing and implementing their own engagement strategies. It is important that RLAs continue to strengthen citizen and stakeholder engagement, use and support existing platforms for knowledge exchange and support cross-sectoral cooperation and effective resource sharing. Active participation in knowledge-sharing networks, such as through the Climate Adaptation Platform (CAP) webinar series or the EU Climate Adaptation Mission Communities of Practice, can help RLAs learn from good practices, align local strategies with European initiatives and increase the effectiveness of climate resilience efforts. Collaboration between platforms such as Climate-ADAPT, weADAPT and the Agora Community Hub can also increase synergies and avoid duplication of efforts. (Spring , more on futurium.ec.europa.eu)

Glossary of key terms

• Climate change adaptation: The process of adapting to the current or expected effects of climate change.
• Civic engagement: Involving citizens in decision-making processes and activities, especially in areas that directly affect them, such as climate change adaptation.
• Stakeholder engagement: Active participation of various groups interested in or affected by a particular issue or project, including government bodies, businesses, NGOs, researchers and local communities.
• Nature-based solutions (NbS): Measures to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that effectively address societal challenges while providing human well-being and benefits for biodiversity.
• Knowledge exchange: The process of sharing and gaining knowledge, experience, and best practices among individuals or groups.
• Community of practice: A group of people who share a common interest, set of problems, or passion for a topic and who interact with each other to deepen their knowledge and expertise in that area.
• Citizen science: Scientific research carried out by volunteers (often non-professional scientists) in collaboration with professional scientists.
• Climate Assembly: An elected group of citizens who meet to learn about climate change and its consequences and to develop recommendations for policy.
• Transformative Laboratories (TLs): A mechanism to integrate local knowledge from stakeholders and facilitate co-creation of solutions, often used in the context of climate change adaptation.
• Multi-Actor Approach: A methodology that involves a diverse range of actors from different sectors and at different levels (e.g. researchers, policymakers, practitioners, citizens) in the process of solving a problem or developing a project.
• Agora Community Hub: An online platform for sharing knowledge and experience in the field of climate change adaptation, created by the Adaptation Agora project.
• Climate-ADAPT: A European online platform providing access to information on climate change adaptation.
• weADAPT: A user-led platform and network for climate change adaptation.
• NEUROCLIMATE: A European project using artificial intelligence to improve citizen engagement in climate change adaptation.
• Adaptation AGORA Project: A project focused on developing participatory tools and approaches to support local authorities, stakeholders and citizens in co-designing adaptation strategies.