Arcadia objectives and results

Objectives and results

ARCADIA is committed to accelerating climate adaptation through the strategic implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) across Europe. We are deeply committed to:

  1. Galvanising transformative adaptation using nature-based solutions across European regions and support them in designing consistent regional blue-green infrastructure networks. 
  2. Assisting the regions & communities in accessing up-to-date, evidence, knowhow-based, actionable knowledge, guidance, knowledge-intense tools and services. 
  3. Fostering enabling conditions and capabilities for nature based leveraged transformation and green recovery, to: perform tailored risk & performance assessment, mobilise sustainable finance & resources and close adaptation financial gap, scale-up solutions for larger impact, and design adaptation services for transformative change to resilience.

Strategic objectives

1. Co-design regional strategies for transformative adaptation

  • Objective: we aim to collaborate closely with regional stakeholders to co-design strategies that accelerate climate adaptation. This process will integrate innovative and actionable NBS that have been proven to be feasible, effective, and socially valuable.
  • Expected results: the development of tailored regional strategies that not only address local challenges but also contribute to the broader European climate adaptation goals. These strategies will serve as blueprints for other regions, ensuring scalability and replicability.

2. Assist and empower communities, Public Administrations, and Businesses

  • Objective: empowerment is at the core of ARCADIA’s mission. We seek to assist communities, public administrations, and businesses in understanding, adopting, and implementing NBS. This will involve providing them with the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to drive meaningful change.
  • Expected results: enhanced capacity among local communities, governments, and businesses to implement NBS effectively, leading to increased resilience and sustainability in their regions.

3. Stimulate collaborative knowledge building and transfer

  • Objective: ARCADIA will foster an environment of collaborative learning and knowledge exchange, building the capacities and capabilities of all stakeholders involved. This will involve setting up 15 co-innovation labs across participating regions to experiment with and refine NBS.
  • Expected results: the creation of a dynamic network of knowledge-sharing platforms, where best practices and lessons learned can be disseminated across Europe. These co-innovation labs will generate actionable insights that will drive the successful implementation of NBS.

4. Promote coherence and exploit synergies across value and production chains

  • Objective: we aim to bridge the gap between public and private sectors by promoting coherence and exploiting synergies within and across value chains. This involves integrating NBS into business innovation, ensuring that both public and private entities work together towards shared climate goals.
  • Expected results: strengthened collaborations between public and private sectors, leading to innovative business models that support NBS adoption and the creation of sustainable value chains.

5. Advance the EU Research & Innovation Agenda on NBS

  • Objective: ARCADIA will contribute to advancing the European Union’s research and innovation agenda on NBS, aligning our work with the EU Mission Adaptation. This involves not only contributing new knowledge and solutions but also ensuring that these are integrated into the wider EU policy framework.
  • Expected results: enhanced alignment with the EU Mission Adaptation, contributing to the European Green Deal objectives. Our work will provide valuable insights and data that will inform future EU policies and funding schemes related to climate adaptation.

Expected results

  • Development of robust policy and economic tools: through the co-innovation labs and collaborative learning, ARCADIA will produce new regulations, funding schemes, business models, and investment tools that can be scaled across Europe.
  • Large-scale deployment of NBS: by leveraging the learning across different policy areas and regions, ARCADIA will facilitate the large-scale deployment of NBS, ensuring that these solutions are both locally adapted and broadly applicable.
  • Strengthened community engagement: engaging communities and societal partners is essential for the success of NBS. ARCADIA will ensure that these stakeholders are at the forefront of innovation, leading to increased social acceptance and community-driven climate action.