In a significant stride towards enhancing climate resilience and urban innovation, two prominent European initiatives, ADAPTWISE and CLIMABOROUGH, have announced a collaborative partnership. This alliance aims to synergize their efforts in fostering sustainable urban development and effective climate adaptation strategies across European regions.
ADAPTWISE is an Interreg-funded project dedicated to establishing eight resilient communities capable of withstanding the adverse effects of climate change, particularly flash floods, droughts, and heatwaves. Initiated in March 2024 and coordinated by ANCI Toscana, the project focuses on urban and peri-urban neighborhoods, promoting collaboration among local authorities, public utilities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and civil society. Key interventions include the widespread installation of rainwater tanks, creation of rain gardens, depaving initiatives, planting of resilient vegetation, and the development of climate shelters. These actions are designed to be co-planned, implemented, and managed by the involved stakeholders, ensuring a participatory approach to climate resilience.
CLIMABOROUGH, co-funded by the Horizon Europe programme and coordinated by ANCI Toscana, strives to bridge the gap between the design and implementation of urban innovations aimed at climate neutrality in Cities. Launched in January 2023, the project collaborates with 14 European cities to field-test concepts such as ClimHub, Climate Sandbox, and Climate Services. These initiatives are intended to enhance traditional urban and spatial planning through data-driven decision-making, co-production of climate services, and innovative public procurement strategies. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the exchange of best practices and lessons learned, propelling cities towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
The collaboration between ADAPTWISE and CLIMABOROUGH is poised to create a robust framework for climate adaptation and urban innovation. By integrating ADAPTWISE’s community-centered resilience models with CLIMABOROUGH’s advanced urban planning tools and methodologies, the partnership aims to develop comprehensive strategies that address both immediate and long-term climate challenges. This joint effort will facilitate the co-creation of solutions, leveraging the strengths of diverse stakeholders to foster sustainable and resilient urban environments across Europe.
As these projects converge, they exemplify the power of collaborative action in tackling the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. Their unified approach not only enhances the effectiveness of individual initiatives but also sets a precedent for future partnerships aimed at building a climate-resilient and sustainable Europe.
