NSIs play a crucial role in informing the public about climate change issues, as they are a trusted source of data and information. The basic principle of their functioning is independent and impartial provision of data on economic, demographic, social and environmental topics. In today's world, where unverified information and disinformation are spreading, their role in providing reliable statistics on climate change is particularly important.

The publication identifies several ways in which NSIs can contribute to informing the public:

1. Publishing relevant and high-quality statistics: In addition to data on greenhouse gas emissions, the NSI should also provide other types of climate statistics, for example on the impact of climate change on health, the economy, or biodiversity.
2. Simplifying data access and interpretation: NSIs should publish data in a comprehensible form, supplement it with explanatory comments and visualizations, and use plain language.
3. Active communication with the public: NSAs should proactively reach out to the public through press releases, environmental reports, interactive websites and social media. It is also important to organize educational activities for schools and universities to raise awareness about climate change and relevant statistics.
4. Cooperation with the media: Journalists play a key role in communicating information to the public. NSIs should provide them with the necessary support, for example through specialized service lines and press releases focused on current issues.
5. Taking into account the needs of different user groups: NSIs should publish information in a variety of formats and at different levels of detail to meet the needs of the general public, experts, and journalists.

The publication emphasizes that NSOs must be responsive to user needs and regularly evaluate their experience with data accessOnly in this way can they ensure that their work is relevant and helps raise public awareness of the issue of climate change.

In addition to the points above, it is important that the NŠU cooperated with other actors in the field of climate change, such as government agencies, research institutions and non-governmental organizations. This collaboration will help ensure that the public has access to comprehensive and reliable information on climate change and its impacts. Spring

Glossary

• Climate change adaptation: Adapting to current or expected impacts of climate change to reduce damage and take advantage of potential opportunities.
• Greenhouse gas emissions inventory: Systematic recording of greenhouse gas emissions from various sources and their removals within a given area and time period.
• Climate finance: Financial resources intended to support climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Individual country plans setting out their climate change mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Paris Agreement: The 2015 global climate change agreement aims to keep the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.
• Residence principle: Recording greenhouse gas emissions based on the economic activity of resident units in a given national economy.
• Territory principle: Recording greenhouse gas emissions based on their release in a given area.
• SEEA: Environmental and economic accounting system.
• Just transformation: A transition to a low-carbon economy that is socially just and ensures that no one is left behind.
• Climate change mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions or increasing their removals to mitigate climate change.

Heat waves pose a serious health risk, especially for certain groups of the population. Their bodies have difficulty adapting to high temperatures, making them more susceptible to health complications. The groups most at risk include:

Children:

• Babies and young children have underdeveloped body temperature regulation system, their sweat glands are not fully functional and their body surface area is larger in relation to their weight than adults. This causes a faster rise in body temperature and an increased risk of overheating.
• Children need regular hydration and protection from direct sunlight, especially at lunchtime.
• Never leave children in a parked car., not even for a short time, because the temperature inside the vehicle can rise very quickly and endanger their lives.

Older people:

• The cardiovascular system of older people is not as efficient in heat dissipation from the body.
• Their the ability to sweat decreases and they often do not feel thirsty even after losing fluids, leading to dehydration and the risk of overheating.
• Older people should to control the temperature in the room and keep it below 26°C.
• It is important to pay attention to sufficient fluid intake and consult with your doctor about possible medication adjustments.

Sick people:

• People with cardiovascular or kidney problems, diabetes, central nervous system diseases, or mental disorders such as schizophrenia are particularly sensitive for heat-related illnesses.
• People with dementia are also very vulnerable.
• Taking medicationthat affect blood circulation, the body's water and electrolyte balance, or the nervous system, may also increase the risk health problems in hot weather.
• It is important regular body temperature check and consulting with a doctor about adjusting medication.

In addition to these groups, people working outdoors and homeless people are also at risk.

All of the above groups should be especially careful during heat waves and follow heat protection recommendations, such as:

• Stay in a cool environment, in the shade, or in air-conditioned areas.
• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, diluted juices, and herbal teas.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity during peak heat.
• Wear light and bright clothing.
• Watch for signs of overheating, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fainting.

If overheating is suspected, medical attention should be sought immediately. Spring

Citizen events engage, connect, and empower communities to prepare for the impacts of climate change. They include activities such as hands-on workshops, informational exhibitions, community forums, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. The aim of these events is to inform and inspire local communities to actively participate in adapting to climate change. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

As Europe accelerates its transition to climate neutrality, cities are stepping up. But this green transition comes with a significant challenge: financing. The European Commission estimates that with limited public subsidies, traditional financing methods will only cover 20-30% of the 1T3T of investment needed to achieve the necessary scale of the climate and energy transition. As it says Sylwia Słomiak, Senior Advisor for Climate Finance at Eurocities : "Cities, public authorities and regions must start looking elsewhere."

This reality forms the backdrop to the European Commission’s work on the upcoming Clean Industry Deal, a framework that promises to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness while meeting ambitious climate goals. Cities are testing innovative financing models that reduce subsidy dependency, lower energy costs and promote long-term sustainability. However, regulations and a lack of resources still pose barriers for many cities to adopt these models. (More on eurocities.eu)

The document entitled ""A Manual for Engaging Stakeholders and Citizens in Climate Change Adaptation" It is aimed at regional and local authorities and highlights four key actions for engaging stakeholders and citizens in climate change adaptation:

• Communication: Providing clear and accessible information.
• Stakeholder and community engagement.
• Connecting stakeholders and citizens in order to facilitate cooperation.
• Enabling collective and individual 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 is divided into six steps, which correspond to the steps in the climate change adaptation planning cycle.

Step 1: Preparing the groundwork for adaptation This step is crucial because it involves gathering and organizing the essential elements needed to begin the adaptation planning process. This includes identifying key stakeholders and citizens involved in the process. In this step, you can develop an engagement strategy that is tailored to your local context.

Steps 2, 3 and 4: Assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities and identifying, assessing and selecting adaptation options In these steps, you can consult stakeholders and citizens to improve your climate change adaptation strategy or plan.

Step 5: Implementation of adaptation policies and measures The involvement of stakeholders and citizens in the implementation of climate change adaptation policies and measures is crucial to ensure their effectiveness.

Step 6: Monitoring, evaluating and learning Engaging stakeholders and citizens in monitoring, evaluation and learning can strengthen their understanding of needs and foster their support and engagement in the implementation of your climate change adaptation plan.

In the manual you will find concrete examples of tools, good practices and experiencesthat will help you effectively involve stakeholders and citizens in all steps of climate change adaptation planning. Spring

Climate change (CC) has become such an important economic, social and environmental issue that it has been renamed the “climate crisis” in mainstream discourse. This crisis highlights the urgency, especially as many countries report an increase in climate-related events. Europe has set many goals to address the climate crisis using a top-down approach; at the other end of the spectrum, individuals are motivated to act, but many are unsure of how and where to act.

LIFE Terra aims to create a movement that plants 500 million trees in 5 years, harnesses and monitors nature’s own carbon sequestration mechanism and empowers citizens to take urgent action against the climate crisis. It will unite stakeholders through a platform that will facilitate tree planting, engage future generations through key communication and education activities, and monitor progress on cutting-edge European technologies to support a sustainable long-term business model for soil restoration and large-scale carbon sequestration. ( More on lifeterra.eu)

As 2025 approaches, cities’ efforts to reduce traffic congestion, tackle air pollution, improve access to housing and reduce flood risk are receiving more attention than ever before. These initiatives are important for the more than 4 billion people who live in urban centers around the world, and they also have huge implications for the planet and global environmental goals. (More on thegef.org)

A message The European Environment Agency examines how justice is embedded in EU policies for sustainable transitions. It analyses the different dimensions of justice – distributive, procedural and recognition – in key EU strategies and sectoral policies, drawing on case studies from national, regional and city levels. It focuses on the challenges of the uneven impact of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on different social groups and regions, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and holistic approach. The report offers recommendations for policymakers on how to improve the governance of just transitions and ensure that no one is left behind. It includes examples from countries such as Spain, Finland, Estonia, Italy and Barcelona. Spring

Adaptation finance plays a key role in the efforts of local and regional authorities (LRAs) to promote sustainable development and inclusive growth. LRAs can use adaptation finance to support sustainable development (more…)

The report by the European Committee of the Regions examines financing for adaptation to climate change at local and regional level in the EU. It analyses public and private sources of finance, the obstacles faced by local and regional authorities in accessing these sources, and presents case studies of the successful use of private finance. It also provides recommendations for local and regional authorities, private investors and policymakers to improve access to adaptation finance. It focuses on the need for innovative financial models and public-private cooperation to achieve climate goals.

Glossary

Climate change adaptation: The process of adapting to the actual or expected impacts of climate change with the aim of minimizing damage and taking advantage of opportunities.

Mixed financing: Combining public and private resources to finance projects that bring public benefit.

Green bonds: Bonds whose proceeds will be used to finance environmental projects, including climate change adaptation.

Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Long-term contractual cooperation between the public and private sectors to implement a project or service.

Bankable project: A project that is profitable and risky enough to attract private investment.

Credit rating: The ability of the debtor to repay its obligations on time and in full.

EU Taxonomy: A classification system that defines which economic activities are considered environmentally sustainable.

Cohesion Funds: EU financial instruments designed to support the economic and social development of less developed regions.

Horizon Europe: EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

Recovery and Resilience Tool (RRF): An EU financial instrument designed to support the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a green and digital economy.

Spring

This document, prepared for the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development, looks at the role of cohesion policy in supporting climate change adaptation, strengthening regional resilience and promoting sustainable entrepreneurship in the EU.

Main topics:

• Identification of regional and sectoral adaptation needs: The document analyses the different climate risks and adaptation needs across different types of EU regions (urban, rural, coastal, mountain areas, islands and outermost regions) as well as across different economic sectors. For example, urban areas face risks of flooding, heat waves and air quality deterioration, which require improving drainage systems, expanding green spaces and promoting sustainable transport. The document points out that “the impacts of climate change are being felt differently in different regions of the EU, creating the need to tailor adaptation strategies to the regional and potentially local contexts they are intended to benefit.” (Introduction)
• Mapping EU policy instruments to support climate change adaptation: The document provides a comprehensive overview of all EU policy instruments supporting the EU Adaptation Strategy, with a focus on cohesion policy. These include financial instruments, information and knowledge platforms, legislative and regulatory frameworks, strategies, plans and guidelines, initiatives and networks, skills and education programmes, research and innovation, as well as specialised agencies and bodies.
• Assessment of current cohesion policy support for adaptation: The paper analyses data on funding from cohesion policy funds, as well as the results of surveys among managing authorities and business operators. The findings point to an increase but still insufficient funding for adaptation, with gaps between support and needs. The paper notes that “funding data do not provide a breakdown of adaptation support by sector, type of business or specific investments.” (Chapter 4)

Key findings:

• Adaptation funding from Cohesion Policy has increased in the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods, but is still not sufficient to cover all needs.
• There are gaps between adaptation support and actual needs, especially in certain sectors and regions.
• Business entities are often unaware of the available adaptation funding options from cohesion policy.
• Regional and local authorities need to strengthen their capacities in the field of climate change adaptation.

Recommendations:

• Improving integration and adaptation monitoring: Improving the integration of climate change adaptation considerations into all projects funded by cohesion policy, not just those explicitly labelled as "adaptation" interventions.
• Development of sector strategies: Developing sectoral strategies for accessing adaptation funding from cohesion policy to ensure that sectors vulnerable to climate change (e.g. tourism) have sufficient access to funding.
• Improving business awareness and access to finance: Increasing awareness among businesses about available financing options and simplifying access to financing for SMEs.
• Strengthening regional capacities for adaptation: Providing training, recruiting specialized staff and building partnerships with academia and research institutions to strengthen the capacities of regional and local authorities.

The document stresses that “national authorities (in partnership with EU institutions such as the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions) should work to strengthen regional and local capacities for adaptation by improving knowledge and expertise within regional and local authorities.” (Chapter 6)

This document provides valuable information on how cohesion policy can contribute to climate change adaptation in the EU. It identifies key challenges and offers concrete recommendations for improvement. The implementation of these recommendations should lead to a better use of cohesion policy to strengthen the EU's resilience to climate change. Spring

Time is running out to join the MIP4Adapt Technical Assistance Programme, an initiative that empowers Charter signatories to plan and seek funding to implement robust and effective climate change adaptation solutions in their regions. Applications close on 31 January 2025, marking the last opportunity to access this support. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

The sources provide a comprehensive view of the issue of climate change adaptation within the EU and point to several shortcomings in the efficiency of the use of funds for this purpose. (more…)

A message The European Court of Auditors assesses the EU framework for climate change adaptation and financing. The analysis shows an overall good framework (more…)

The paper analyses the financing options for local and regional authorities for climate change adaptation. It presents various public and private sources of financing, including public-private partnerships, investment funds and insurance mechanisms. It focuses on overcoming barriers to raising funds and highlights the importance of public-private cooperation. It provides case studies from the European Union that demonstrate successful adaptation financing projects. It concludes with recommendations for local authorities, private investors and policymakers to improve the availability and effectiveness of adaptation financing. The entire document