On March 11, 2024, the ARCADIA project participated in the Climateurope Festival, held in Venice, Italy. The event, titled “Bridging Science, Services, and Standards for a Climate-Resilient Future,” provided a unique and interactive platform for advancing climate services through knowledge exchange, participatory activities, and artistic engagement. Unlike traditional scientific conferences, the Climateurope Festival included plenary sessions, World Cafés, a marketplace, and hands-on discussions to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders.
Engaging in climate resilience discussions
The ARCADIA project, focused on promoting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation, actively contributed to sessions on integrating climate services into NbS design and implementation. Representatives from ARCADIA shared insights on:
- The role of climate data in enhancing NbS effectiveness.
- Challenges and opportunities in scaling NbS across different European regions.
- Collaborative approaches to bridge the gap between science, policy, and practice.
Key themes from Climateurope Festival
The festival addressed several crucial aspects of climate services, structured around key thematic sessions:
Advancing climate services: from vision to progress
This session explored the value chain of climate data, from production to local application, incorporating technologies like Destination Earth’s Digital Twin. The discussion emphasized the importance of national coordination and local action in ensuring effective user engagement. A key takeaway was the need to scale the Digital Twin at the local level to improve risk reduction strategies, particularly in early warning systems and agriculture.
EU Mission on Climate Change
Discussions in this session focused on how climate services support the EU Mission on Climate Change Adaptation. Speakers highlighted the role of NbS in increasing climate resilience and emphasized the importance of modernizing regulations to enable adaptive solutions. Standardization of risk assessments and better integration of climate data were identified as critical challenges.
Urban challenges
Municipal administrations play a pivotal role in co-designing resilient and sustainable pathways, but citizen engagement remains crucial. This session explored strategies for mobilizing citizens in urban planning and co-design processes. The discussion underscored the need for innovative engagement tools and a citizen-first approach in project development.
Water management challenges
Water-related disasters and resource management are critical concerns, especially in the Mediterranean region. This session examined how climate services can mitigate adverse impacts and enhance decision-making. Participants agreed on the necessity of stronger cooperation between scientists, public authorities, the private sector, and citizens, as well as the development of comprehensive Early Warning Systems.
Participatory deep dives with climate services users
This interactive session allowed participants to engage with the key messages produced by Climateurope2 so far. Discussions highlighted the importance of robust user engagement and standardization in climate services, ensuring comparability and inclusivity in climate data selection and evaluation.
Communicating climate knowledge: bridging the gap
Effective communication remains a significant challenge in climate science. This session focused on the importance of collaboration between scientists and communication professionals. It emphasized the need to address scientific uncertainty transparently and foster trust between science and journalism to create impactful climate narratives.
Closing and looking forward
The Festival concluded with an announcement of the next Climateurope2 event, set to take place in Belgrade. The event will continue fostering community engagement, integrating art, and expanding the Climateurope2 network. Speakers reflected on the importance of open data, collaboration, and the usability of climate services in addressing climate challenges.
Next steps
Building on the insights gained from the festival, the ARCADIA project will continue to:
- Develop methodologies for integrating climate services into NbS frameworks.
- Strengthen cooperation with Climateurope2 partners to enhance knowledge sharing.
- Advocate for policies that support nature-based climate adaptation strategies.
By participating in events like the Climateurope Festival, ARCADIA reaffirms its commitment to fostering resilient and sustainable landscapes through nature-based innovation. Stay tuned for further updates on our progress and collaborations!