Adaptation AGORA(A Gathering place to cO-design and co-cReate Adaptation) project supports communities and regions to exploit a broad range of approaches, mechanisms and initiatives to meaningfully and effectively build a resilient Europe.

Two years ago, we embarked on an exciting journey with the launch of the Adaptation AGORA project under Horizon Europe. This ambitious endeavor, supported by the European Commission, has presented us with unique opportunities to engage citizens all over Europe and draw climate adaptation solutions with stakeholders in our four pilot regions. The results of these two years go beyond what we could have imagined! A big thank you goes to all the people that actively participated in the Adaptation AGORA activities and to those that spread the voice!  

The Adaptation AGORA co-production hubs, where stakeholders and local communities can design, develop and implement climate change adaptation solutions, are running their concluding participatory activities! The cities of Rome and Malmö hosted their workshops in January 2025, while the cities of Dresden and Zaragoza had their closing events in February. More details about the Dresden and Zaragoza workshops will be shared on the Adaptation AGORA website in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here are some key insights from the workshops in Rome and Malmö: 

The project is concluding the participatory activities

ITALIAN PILOT - Rome

The Italian co-creation workshop, held at a technology center located in the heart of the city, saw the participation of approximately 50 people. Participants had the opportunity to work in groups to analyze and discuss the results achieved from all the previous meetings organized by the project. This allowed for the collection of very interesting and useful information regarding which adaptation measures are best suited for a reality like Rome—from the perspective of those who experience it—as well as which methods of engagement would be beneficial for implementing these measures. The presence of participants from the local administration also provided an additional perspective on the actual feasibility of the prioritized measures and methodologies, as well as their impact (including comparisons to past experiences). 

SWEDISH PILOT - Malmö 

Adaptation AGORA teamed up with the City of Malmö to host a workshop on urban heat resilience. Around 40 participants gathered to tackle the growing challenge of heatwaves, co-exploring strategies to keep Malmö cool as temperatures soar. The workshop featured inspiring presentations from both the City of Malmö and external experts, setting the stage for an interactive session where participants co-created adaptation solutions for a heat-resilient city. Participants identified many adaptation measures, such as nature-based solutions, civil society networks, and green corridors.  

The Mission Secretariat has indicated that any region or local authorities that wishes to sign the Mission Charter can send them an enquiry. The Mission aims to help regions and communities understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and droughts. By signing the Mission Charter, regions express their commitment to take concrete action to adapt to climate change and build a more resilient future. 

One of the objectives of Adaptation AGORA project is to provide support to diverse stakeholders on the topics related to local adaptation processes, for example by sharing information about the Mission Charter. Adaptation AGORA welcomes participation from diverse stakeholders beyond the four pilot regions. This includes other regions, associations, organizations, and institutions actively engaged in climate change adaptation. By joining as 'followers,' these entities can expand the Adaptation AGORA community, contributing to a broader understanding of adaptation needs across Europe. Followers can share their specific adaptation challenges and benefit from the project outcomes generated within the pilot areas, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach to climate change adaptation. Adaptation AGORA will be honored to facilitate followers in the process of signing the Mission Charter.  

To become a follower, contact us! 

The Adaptation AGORA project was recently included in the "best practices" section of the Italian Platform on Climate Change Adaptation, managed by the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA). This recognition strengthens Adaptation AGORA's role in promoting social transformation by empowering local communities to address the climate crisis while supporting the EU Mission on Climate Change Adaptation. 

The Adaptation AGORA project has achieved a significant milestone with the publication of a politically backed report by the City of Malmö, Sweden. This report, titled "Extremvärme i Malmö: Vem drabbas och hur kan vi lindra effekterna?" (Extreme Heat in Malmö: Who is Affected and How Can We Mitigate the Effects?), investigates urban heat vulnerability.  The report is currently available in Swedish and showcases Malmö as a model for other cities in addressing the challenges of extreme heat. 

Here, Emanuel Toft, Project Research Officer of the City of Malmö and Adaptation AGORA contact point.

Three Adaptation Agora digital tools are available online! The Agora Community Hub and two Digital Academies. 

The Agora Community Hub is a meeting point to empower local communities to share needs, knowledge and experiences on climate adaptation issues and solutions. Discover innovative projects, case studies, and events taking place with a focus on climate adaptation in Europe! You can use our new discussion forums to engage, learn, and share information with like-minded people working on climate adaptation. 

Explore our platforms page to see available climate platforms, locate national platforms, or see how information is shared at regional levels. Would you like to add your platform? Let us know and we can support you to add it to the page! 

The Agora Explorer, available in the Agora Community Hub, encourages users to share information and exchange knowledge on climate change adaptation activities and projects across Europe.  

If you are currently involved in adaptation projects, please share your work on the Agora Explorer by signing up! 

Adaptation AGORA provides two “Digital Academies” to support citizens and stakeholders to access open-source climate data for adaptation and tackle climate change disinformation. 

This tool is designed to make scientific and high-quality information available to citizens and stakeholders, helping them better understand complex data sets and how to use it. The academy includes inventories to explore climate information, learning modules on how to read, interpret and effectively use climate-related information and a section on citizen science, where users can flag existing initiatives and good practices at local and European levels. 

This tool is designed to provide solid information on climate change. Based on scientific evidence, it identifies and addresses the main fake news on this topic and provides citizens with the tools to tackle them. The academy includes a section on climate narratives to learn how to debunk the most common fake news and myths, a section with learning modules on the two key topics of climate disinformation and media literacy, and finally a collection of trustful resources.

Introducing AGORA-Quiz! The Adaptation AGORA project is taking citizen engagement to the next level with an interactive gamified mobile app designed to boost climate change adaptation awareness while debunking misinformation. Through a fun and engaging quiz-based experience, users can test their knowledge, challenge themselves with real-world climate questions, and learn to spot disinformation. Open-source and community-driven – The development of AGORA-Quiz follows an open-code approach, and we are excited to announce that its public GitHub repository is now available! This means developers, educators, and climate advocates can explore the code, contribute, and even adapt it for their own climate education initiatives.  

Coming soon! The first public release of the app is just around the corner! Stay tuned as we roll out the first playable version, where you’ll be able to compete in quizzes, level up your climate literacy, and become a myth-busting champion. 

ITS3.4/AS.11, “Engaging Citizens in Understanding Urban Climate and Climate Change Risks through Participatory Science. 

CL3.2.11, “Adapting to Climate Change: Coastal Focus with Insights on Continental Regions – Leveraging Climate Services and EU entities' engagement”. 

Collaboration and communication are the core of our activities.

Thank you for being part of our mission 😊

This newsletter has been produced with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the Horizon Europe programme. The contents are the sole responsibility of the Adaptation AGORA consortium and can under no circumstances be regarded as an expression of the position of the European Union.