Moving ForwARd to achieving CLIMATE-resilient and sustainable European regional economic systems

Project Information

FARCLIMATE

Grant agreement ID: 101112860

DOI

10.3030/101112860

EC signature date 21 May 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2027

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 4 723 433,75

EU contribution

€ 4 723 433,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD DE VIGO
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - FARCLIMATE (Moving ForwARd to achieving CLIMATE-resilient and sustainable European regional economic systems)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Climate change is the most critical challenge of our time. Urgent and sustained actions must be taken to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Economic sectors affected by climate change must transform to face the risks, develop climate-resilient business models and value chains and re-skill the labour force.

Climate change adaptation addresses the strategies to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. In 2021, The European Commission adopted the EU Adaptation Strategy to make this adaptation smarter, swifter and more systemic, and to step up international action.

In line with this EU strategy, FARCLIMATE aims to implement transformative solutions on the path to climate resilience in regions and local communities across Europe, in three key sectors affected by climate change (agriculture, forestry and fisheries). The project addresses the complex challenges of developing and expanding climate-resilient measures to prepare regional economic systems to become climate-resilient. This includes making them available and understandable to everyone while also paying special attention to the social, political and economic barriers commonly found. We aim to create a European network of climate-resilient communities, capable of tackling the challenges of climate change and locally developing solutions beneficial to their needs.

FARCLIMATE involves responsible and affected stakeholders in decision-making and solution creation, including regional and local governments, the private sector, consumers, civil society, academia and industries. We engage people from various parts of Europe through an inspiring communication approach, conveying that we can all work together for a climate-resilient future. The consortium brings together leading experts in Social Sciences and Humanities (Marketing and Business, Behavioural Sciences, Living Labs, Educational and Empowerment Sciences, Political Sciences and Knowledge Theory) and Science and Technology (Environmental Science, Agroecology, Forestry, Fishing Sciences, Sustainability, Computer Science). This diverse acumen, coupled with our multi-stakeholder approach and innovative communication methods, empowers us to create and share effective solutions swiftly, addressing the challenges of climate change.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

FARCLIMATE takes a multi-faceted approach. Nature-based solutions (NbS) are the guiding thread in the project's innovative actions across the three sectors: closer-to-nature silviculture (CNS) management, innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and rapid-response brigades to address emergencies stemming from climate change in the fishing sector.

We will set up 20 case studies in regions and communities across Europe to build, together with local stakeholders, innovations in climate resilience and climate change adaptation. We will help case studies launch a successful living lab in their community and gain the skills to develop local solutions for climate change adaptation. Even more, we will bring together these communities to take the first steps in the Climate-Resilient Communities' Network.

Based on the previous, FARCLIMATE will generate and validate new solutions that are environmentally friendly and economically affordable, focusing on transforming value chains to the evolving environmental conditions. This will be supported by a comprehensive socioeconomic analysis of the communities that will include labour, gender and consumer aspects, among others. We will also develop training programmes to empower local stakeholders and enhance their skills and capabilities in climate change adaptation. We will provide policy recommendations, business models and strategic guidelines for climate change adaptation. We will map and forge connections with the various actors, networks, and projects involved in the EU's Climate Adaptation Mission. Finally, our online knowledge platform, the Transformation Hub, will present information generated in this and other climate change adaptation initiatives and projects.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

FARCLIMATE pursues the transformation of relevant economic sectors and communities in Europe affected by climate change, so they are ready to face future climate risks.

This transformation will depart from a better understanding of the mechanisms that would drive the transformation of economic systems, intended not only as technical innovations in economic sectors but also as social, organisational and user-driven innovation. FARCLIMATE will contribute to this transformation with a broader and enhanced set of nature-based solutions in the fishing, agriculture and silviculture sectors. The project will also bring an increased and improved range of climate-resilient policies, business models, value chains, and re-skilling opportunities (including training capabilities).

These climate adaptation measures should also be understandable, socially acceptable and made available to all regions and communities. FARCLIMATE's comprehensive socioeconomic analysis, training activities and stakeholder engagement will help ensure the solutions meet these criteria.

Even more, the FARCLIMATE communication strategy and online knowledge platform aim to accelerate the transformation to a climate-resilient future. They will re-contextualise existing knowledge and create new narratives to mobilise society further and inspire the engagement of all stakeholders in the transformation journey to climate resilience.

Based on these contributions, it will be possible to increase the capacity of local businesses, social organisations and industries to cope with climate change sustainably, as well as the capacity of national or local governments, consumer organisations and other agents for empowering citizens to make informed choices. More generally, it will be possible for more stakeholders to play active roles in the transition to climate resilience.

FARCLIMATE also pursues to accelerate the transformation to a climate-resilient future in a number of regions. The different case studies will contribute through the living labs and their work with the FARCLIMATE consortium. There will be a range of technical and social solutions to build climate resilience locally, adapted to their socioeconomic and climatic conditions and the preferences of the communities. Nonetheless, these solutions will also support EU policies and global commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals or the European Green Deal.

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