© Pictures: ICLEI Europe
In June, ACCTING had the opportunity to take part in the 11th European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) in Valencia, Spain, the 2024 European Green Capital. EURESFO is a collaborative initiative by the European Environment Agency and ACCTING project partner ICLEI Europe. The 2024 edition, held during the Valencia Cities Climate Week, brought together representatives from cities and regions across Europe to discuss climate resilience and sustainable urban development.
Co-creating Inclusive Climate Adaptation Solutions: An Interactive Workshop on Citizen Engagement
The interactive workshop explored citizen engagement in climate adaptation through real-world case studies from Malmö, Dresden, Rome, Messinia, and Utrecht. The discussions were facilitated by local experts and supported by insights from related projects Adaptation AGORA and Urban ReLeaf.
The workshop emphasised the need for communities most affected by climate change to participate in decision-making, an approach which leverages local knowledge for better adaptation solutions. Key takeaways were highlighted:
Vulnerability
- Recognize the multifaceted nature of vulnerability, considering factors like age, health, socio-economic status, and more.
- View vulnerable communities as valuable sources of knowledge and solutions.
Trust
- Foster trust through early involvement, transparent communication, and shared decision-making.
- Meet people in their environments to lower engagement barriers and involve them in collective actions.
- Use intermediaries such as NGOs, community initiatives, and social services to connect with vulnerable populations.
Resources
- Partner with existing community-led groups to leverage on-the-ground knowledge and resources.
- Equip municipalities with the resources and training needed for meaningful and long-term citizen engagement.
- Ensure inclusivity by offering childcare, fair compensation, and addressing language barriers.
ACCTING case study
Within the workshop, the team of the ACCTING pilot action Dialogue and Action Against Wildfires: Empowering Communities for Disaster Resilience, represented by members of Dock and Nostos, hosted a case study discussion highlighting the situation of rural villages in Messinia, Greece.
Context
A small, mountainous village in Greece faces the threat of wildfire every summer, a situation worsened by climatic shifts, declining demographics and weakening local economic and social structures. Despite challenges due to their marginalisation from broader governance structures, the community has initiated a bottom-up process to develop a community-managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR) plan. Through self-assessment and participatory design, they have identified their strengths and vulnerabilities and drafted a list of desired actions and measures to include in the plan. The community is now preparing to engage in a deliberation process with a broader range of stakeholders, including local government officials, regional policymakers, and experts in disaster management.
Pilot project representatives shared their experiences in developing a community-managed disaster risk reduction plan through a bottom-up approach, and discussed strategies to strengthen collaboration and secure long-term support for the community-led initiative.
The group discussion was organised as a role-play, where participants chose a stakeholder role from a set of potential roles, and the local experts represented the village.
The workshop underscored the importance of participatory and deliberative democratic practices in enhancing local climate resilience. It highlighted the need for continuous exchange and learning among practitioners.
By embracing these inclusive and collaborative approaches, we can build more resilient communities capable of adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
