The Adaptation AGORA project took part in the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference (ECCA) 2025 in Rimini, Italy. On June 17th, the project hosted the interactive policy session, “Accelerating transformational change in Europe: A roadmap for stakeholder and citizen engagement in climate adaptation,” chaired by Paola Mercogliano (CMCC Foundation) and featuring insights from speakers Enora Bruley (University of Geneva), Dmitry Erokhin (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis), and Sukaina Bharwani (Stockholm Environment Institute).
The roadmap aims to identify enabling conditions to scale citizen and stakeholder engagement in climate adaptation efforts by proposing policy and governance recommendations at regional, national, and European scales.
The session brought together a about 35 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to validate and refine the Adaptation AGORA policy roadmap. The aim was to bridge the gap between a high-level strategic framework and the practical realities of implementation. Through four interactive roundtables aligned with the roadmap’s pillars, participants collaboratively shared and discussed concrete actions and measures, supporting the establishment of the enabling conditions to scale engagement practice for adaptation.
Key takeaways from our interactive roundtables:
- On institutionalizing engagement (Pillar 1): Crucial need to better engage the private sector in adaptation and foster public-private partnerships, learning from mitigation initiatives and from regions where the private sector is more socially oriented.
- On strengthening local authorities’ capacities (Pillar 2): Need to leverage existing local capacities and building from the ground, rather than waiting for top-down frameworks institutional frameworks to guide decision and actions. There is a wealth of knowledge and capability at the local level that, with the right support, can be a powerful driver of change.
- On empowering citizens (Pillar 3): Participants repeatedly stressed the need to rely on local intermediaries and trusted community representatives to understand specific needs, interests, and capacities, and to provide the tailored support (time, skills, knowledge, and safe spaces) required for meaningful engagement.
- On sharing knowledge and best practices (Pillar 4): Meaningful engagement is not free, and securing dedicated resources is a prerequisite for success and for avoiding the growing risk of creating an ‘eco-precariat’ in adaptation planning.
We thank again all participants for the rich shared insights that will be instrumental in refining the Adaptation AGORA roadmap and will directly feed into the development of the project’s forthcoming policy white paper, ensuring it is grounded in the practical needs of those working on the front lines of climate adaptation.
To know more about the event, visit the website: https://www.ecca2025.eu/
