Periodic Reporting for period 2 - TransformAr (Accelerating and upscaling transformational adaptation in Europe: demonstration of water-related innovation packages)
Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30
TransformAr aims to develop and demonstrate products and services to launch and accelerate large-scale and disruptive adaptive process for transformational adaptation in vulnerable regions and communities across Europe. The impacts on people, prosperity and planet are already pervasive but unevenly distributed (Blueprint strategy, European Commission - EC, 2019). Transformational pathways are deemed essential for climate and social resilience to achieve rapid and far-reaching TA. Relying on existing successful initiatives, the project addresses water-related risks and impacts of climate change through six TransformAr lighthouse demonstrator regions and communities that will test solutions. The 6 TransformAr lighthouse demonstrators face a common challenge: water-related risks and impacts of climate change. Based on existing successful initiatives, the project will develop, test and demonstrate solutions and pathways, integrated in Innovation Packages, in 6 territories. Transformational pathways, including an integrated risk assessment approach are co-developed by means of 9 Transformational Adaptive Blocks. A set of 21 tested actionable adaptive solutions will be tested and demonstrated, from nature-based solutions, innovative technologies, financing, insurance and governance models, awareness and behavioural change solutions.
WP1 has supported stakeholder engagement in the demonstrators, organizing 39 activities involving stakeholders from various sectors. These include co-creation workshops on adaptation visions, pathways, and portfolios. To minimize fatigue, activities are scheduled ahead and bundled where possible.
WP2 worked on improving its knowledge base (D2.1 D2.2) and a climate data portal. Climate change damage and impact to economic sectors in TransformAr regions were assessed at NUTS2 level (D2.3). D2.5 and D2.6 both elaborate on alternative methods to assess the integrated risk due to climate change, and how the risk is distributed.
WP3 created the Playbook for Transformational Adaptation (D3.10) and by March 2023, produced the first set of pathways for each demonstrator (D3.3). Between January and July 2024, stakeholder workshops further developed these pathways into region-specific portfolios of solutions (D3.8) with a Compendium of pathways and action plans completed by September 2024 (D3.9). In July 2023, the TransformAr Avoided Damages Framework and its web-based application (D3.4) were developed, with good practices and guidelines for avoiding damages on a regional governance scale in March 2024 (D3.5). A socio-economic impact assessment tool for transformational pathways was delivered in January 2024 (D3.6).
In WP4, demonstrators and their technical partners have been working since September 2022 on the implementation of 21 adaptation solutions. In WP5, an intermediary monitoring report was delivered in November 2023 to identify indicators to monitor WP4 solutions (D5.8). An update of the report will be published by July 2025 (D5.1). New methodologies to assess the impact of solutions started (for D5.2 and D5.7). To develop bankability and willingness-to-pay aspects, workshops, interviews and surveys are being conducted. In 2024, a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) on the willingness to pay for stormwater management has been conducted in Norway and Finland. The analysis is expected to be finalized (D5.4) end of 2024. Interviews with actors in sustainable finance are conducted at EU-level and scheduled in the demonstrators early 2025. To bundle stakeholder engagement, two deliverables are merged (D5.3 and D5.6).
In WP6, the acceptance of adaptation solutions in 6 EU countries has been further developed (D6.1 D6.2). The preliminary exploitation plan was resubmitted. With the MIP4ADAPT project, we initiated activity on TransformAr’s Guidance document on transformational adaptation (D6.4).
WP7 developed the project’s visual identity, website, and communications plan (D7.3 D7.2). Outreach included a project video, social media engagement, and regular updates on the website. Six Open Days at demonstrator sites highlighted locally developed adaptation solutions. Joint communication activities with sister projects ARSINOE, IMPETUS, REGILIENCE were implemented. WP7 also participated in international events (e.g. Urban Resilience Forum, European Climate Adaptation Conference), and facilitated peer-to-peer learning webinars with TransformAr's Network on Climate Change Adaptation, engaging over 400 participants across three sessions.
WP8 coordinated the project’s activities through monthly calls and biannual consortium meetings. It ensured FAIR data management, submitting deliverables including the Quality Plan (D8.1) Management Plan and Tools (D8.2) Data Management Plans (D8.3 D8.7) and the Guidance for Quality (D8.5). A KPI report on the project’s progress (D8.4) is being developed.
WP2 worked on improving its knowledge base (D2.1 D2.2) and a climate data portal. Climate change damage and impact to economic sectors in TransformAr regions were assessed at NUTS2 level (D2.3). D2.5 and D2.6 both elaborate on alternative methods to assess the integrated risk due to climate change, and how the risk is distributed.
WP3 created the Playbook for Transformational Adaptation (D3.10) and by March 2023, produced the first set of pathways for each demonstrator (D3.3). Between January and July 2024, stakeholder workshops further developed these pathways into region-specific portfolios of solutions (D3.8) with a Compendium of pathways and action plans completed by September 2024 (D3.9). In July 2023, the TransformAr Avoided Damages Framework and its web-based application (D3.4) were developed, with good practices and guidelines for avoiding damages on a regional governance scale in March 2024 (D3.5). A socio-economic impact assessment tool for transformational pathways was delivered in January 2024 (D3.6).
In WP4, demonstrators and their technical partners have been working since September 2022 on the implementation of 21 adaptation solutions. In WP5, an intermediary monitoring report was delivered in November 2023 to identify indicators to monitor WP4 solutions (D5.8). An update of the report will be published by July 2025 (D5.1). New methodologies to assess the impact of solutions started (for D5.2 and D5.7). To develop bankability and willingness-to-pay aspects, workshops, interviews and surveys are being conducted. In 2024, a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) on the willingness to pay for stormwater management has been conducted in Norway and Finland. The analysis is expected to be finalized (D5.4) end of 2024. Interviews with actors in sustainable finance are conducted at EU-level and scheduled in the demonstrators early 2025. To bundle stakeholder engagement, two deliverables are merged (D5.3 and D5.6).
In WP6, the acceptance of adaptation solutions in 6 EU countries has been further developed (D6.1 D6.2). The preliminary exploitation plan was resubmitted. With the MIP4ADAPT project, we initiated activity on TransformAr’s Guidance document on transformational adaptation (D6.4).
WP7 developed the project’s visual identity, website, and communications plan (D7.3 D7.2). Outreach included a project video, social media engagement, and regular updates on the website. Six Open Days at demonstrator sites highlighted locally developed adaptation solutions. Joint communication activities with sister projects ARSINOE, IMPETUS, REGILIENCE were implemented. WP7 also participated in international events (e.g. Urban Resilience Forum, European Climate Adaptation Conference), and facilitated peer-to-peer learning webinars with TransformAr's Network on Climate Change Adaptation, engaging over 400 participants across three sessions.
WP8 coordinated the project’s activities through monthly calls and biannual consortium meetings. It ensured FAIR data management, submitting deliverables including the Quality Plan (D8.1) Management Plan and Tools (D8.2) Data Management Plans (D8.3 D8.7) and the Guidance for Quality (D8.5). A KPI report on the project’s progress (D8.4) is being developed.
WP1 advances on (i) the functioning of the Multi-Actor Approach for transformational adaptation (TA), (ii) a protocol and coding system to assess social acceptance of the adaptation solutions and to standardise data collection, and (iii) stakeholder and change management. Additional best practice reports focused on strategies for effective data dissemination and utilization and the development of transformational adaptation pathways.
Climate change impacts estimates in WP2 are based on latest outputs of climate projections (i.e. CMIP6), to provide estimate across the whole impact chain. Multiple climate assessments driven by multiple climate model projections allow to define critical aspects of uncertainties and climate sensitivity, linked to climate modelling drivers, but also considering different methodological approaches. To further exploit and facilitate data available, PIK compiled a web data visualisation and download portal.
TA pathways were developed based on the Playbook, but EU regions and cities are not well aware of available tools to become climate resilient, and academics disagree on how adaptation pathways should be developed. We are thus developing a paper on the lessons learned to develop adaptation pathways. WP3 also further innovated in tools to assess avoided damages and other socio-economic impacts of adaptation solutions. The application of the action plan development toolkit has contributed to improving the design of adaptation pathways, their assessment, and their transformation into operational action plans.
After 2 years of experimentation, learning stories were shared for each type of solutions in September 2024, and we are gradually publishing the experiences of individual solutions into EU Mission’s Adaptation Stories.
Bankability Reports are anticipated to help to overcome critical barriers to sustainable finance uptake and adaptation finance. The DCE on the willingness to pay for stormwater management by citizens in Norway and Finland, is innovative from a methodological point and gives insights to local authorities. Methodological development is also expected on the assessment of the impact of solutions. The guidance document on TA, associated with the Policy Brief is expected to be going beyond-the-start-of-the-art, as a common understanding on TA does not exist under academics and EU regions and cities struggle to understand the concept.
Finally, TransformAr is fostering a TA Community of Practice that connects diverse stakeholders—scientists, institutions, policymakers, and the public.
Climate change impacts estimates in WP2 are based on latest outputs of climate projections (i.e. CMIP6), to provide estimate across the whole impact chain. Multiple climate assessments driven by multiple climate model projections allow to define critical aspects of uncertainties and climate sensitivity, linked to climate modelling drivers, but also considering different methodological approaches. To further exploit and facilitate data available, PIK compiled a web data visualisation and download portal.
TA pathways were developed based on the Playbook, but EU regions and cities are not well aware of available tools to become climate resilient, and academics disagree on how adaptation pathways should be developed. We are thus developing a paper on the lessons learned to develop adaptation pathways. WP3 also further innovated in tools to assess avoided damages and other socio-economic impacts of adaptation solutions. The application of the action plan development toolkit has contributed to improving the design of adaptation pathways, their assessment, and their transformation into operational action plans.
After 2 years of experimentation, learning stories were shared for each type of solutions in September 2024, and we are gradually publishing the experiences of individual solutions into EU Mission’s Adaptation Stories.
Bankability Reports are anticipated to help to overcome critical barriers to sustainable finance uptake and adaptation finance. The DCE on the willingness to pay for stormwater management by citizens in Norway and Finland, is innovative from a methodological point and gives insights to local authorities. Methodological development is also expected on the assessment of the impact of solutions. The guidance document on TA, associated with the Policy Brief is expected to be going beyond-the-start-of-the-art, as a common understanding on TA does not exist under academics and EU regions and cities struggle to understand the concept.
Finally, TransformAr is fostering a TA Community of Practice that connects diverse stakeholders—scientists, institutions, policymakers, and the public.