There was a consistent message across a varied programme at the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference (ECCA) that although the call to adaptation action has been heard, it now needs scale and pace to create positive change.
With my ClimateXChange colleagues Anne-Marte Bergseng and Kay White, I recently attended the conference in Rimini, Italy, to learn more about the current tools and projects being implemented across Europe. Understanding the latest developments in climate change adaptation research enables us to better manage and direct our work supporting Scottish Government climate policy development.
Impactful projects and tools
The projects presented were diverse and exciting: from Eat the Streets in Ireland, encouraging food waste reduction and sustainable eating in Dublin, to massive multi-country programmes such as RESIST, implementing adaptation innovations in 12 European countries over five years.
Over 600 people attended this critical event in person and another 400 listened online. Adaptation is universally agreed to be essential if we are going to survive the changes that we have created across our climate system.
The backdrop to this event was extreme heat, torrential rainfall and storms. A good reminder of what we have created and need to live with.
Multiple tools were presented, designed to try and make sense of current and future extreme weather events and present scientific analysis in a format useable for decision makers. This included projects like MIRACA, which is developing a suite of risk tools to improve critical infrastructure resilience.
Motivation to take action
Sessions discussing coastal resilience raised difficult topics such as retreat. Examples from the Netherlands and Spain illustrated the devastating impacts of sea level rise and flooding.
This is now a reality for everyone – our families, neighbours and friends – and, as scientists, policy makers and practitioners, we agreed we have responsibility to take action.
Yet we left this event uplifted, positive and motivated to do more. Those working in adaptation can often feel isolated, but coming together as a community that is moving in the same direction is motivating.
It was inspiring to hear about the innovative solutions to daily life in a changing climate. It would be really useful to have the app developed in Germany that lets people walking, cycling and wheeling know the most shaded route on a hot day.
In some sessions that discussed questions to engage people in adaptation choices through climate assemblies, it was also noticeable that reducing emissions and how we live with climate change are discussed as two sides of the same coin. Sessions gave examples of how we design processes and test solutions to make climate resilient emissions reduction happen through, for example, the CLIMAS project.
Adaptation finance sessions
Having recently delivered a knowledge exchange event for Scottish Government on adaptation finance, my colleague Kay was particularly interested in attending sessions on this theme.
One session explored a perspective often missing from the adaptation finance discourse: where private companies, particularly banks and insurers, feel the opportunities for investment lie.
Part of the TransformAr project explored this and found that the most bankable adaptation solutions for private capital providers were grey infrastructure projects, urban resilience measures and climate-smart agriculture and forestry. Example projects included the Copenhagen Cloudburst Management Plan and the Paris Climate Bond initiative.
Climate change and mental health discussions
University College Cork convened a panel discussion on the mental health impacts of climate change. This was timely given CXC’s recent international review of climate change and mental health and wellbeing.
Jennifer Uchendu, a Nigerian climate activist and founder of SustyVibes, spoke about what the Western mental health discourse can learn from indigenous cultures, the power of intergenerational discussion on climate and how important finding joy and excitement in climate work is to build the mental resilience of climate practitioners.
Making sustainable travel choices
We travelled by train to Rimini and were surprised to be hailed as heroes at the conference for doing so. But this was not a heroic choice, it was essential.
Taking the train from Edinburgh to Rimini produces around 3% the emissions produced by flying. We are lucky to work in an organisation that allows us to make sustainable travel choices. It would be uncomfortable to sit in conferences discussing the terrible consequences of climate change and then hop on a plane home within Europe and beyond.
My journey took two days, through three beautiful countries. I worked, I rested, I made connections. I ate good food and saw parts of Europe I have never seen – and the tickets cost the same. But these are co-benefits of taking the train, not the main purpose. The main purpose is to be part of an effort that will save my friends, family and those I have yet to meet the pain and suffering of floods, heatwaves and storms. Is that worth it? Yes.
The next ECCA conference will be in Norway in 2027.
ClimateXChange project links
Project snapshot: Opportunities for financing a climate resilient Scotland
Climate change, mental health and wellbeing – a review of emerging evidence
ECCA links
7th European Climate Change Adaptation Conference
MIRACA (Multi-hazard infrastructure risk assessment for climate adaptation)
CLIMAS (Climate change citizens engagement toolbox for dealing with societal resilience
Copenhagen Cloudburst Management Plan
A few months ago, students and my colleagues at Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI) asked whether I would be heading to Baku for COP29, the UN Conference of the Parties. I was puzzled.
The COPs seem to have generated their own sense of fear of missing out (FOMO), a need to be there in order to ‘make change happen’. However, those who have attended past COPs will tell you that at these large and chaotic events your ability to make change happen is very limited. Access to the areas where negotiations take place is carefully managed, there are multiple zones with increasing security to ensure only those put forward by their nations are present in the inner sanctums of COP. And even then, the confusion of articles, roadmaps, frameworks and working groups delivered at a snail’s pace is enough to put anyone off actually attending.
Delayed action
This year appears to be no different. In the backdrop of extreme weather events destroying lives around the world, COP negotiators argue over language, individual words that are apparently critical to climate action or more likely inaction.
As someone who works primarily on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, the circus of COP is perhaps a necessary international moment for climate change policy. It gives us an opportunity to remind people that climate change is important. But the hype is followed by the inevitable disappointment of limited decisions.
Trying to follow COP’s entourage of policy documents is not easy but we have our allies in the form of Carbon Brief who have summarised the key outcomes.
This year was all about money. However, despite this focus, discussions on how to finance climate adaptation have been pushed to transitional meetings of the UN’s Adaptation Committee which will only take place next year.
In fact, only one of the five agenda items for adaptation was discussed. The rest has been side-lined for next year – a common approach within the busy and slow discourse of COPs. As UCL’s Professor of Disasters and Health Ilan Kelman highlighted in 2021 ‘the negotiations become an excuse to slow action while thieving the world’s resources.’
Urgent climate adaptation in Scotland
Agreement on a global goal for adaptation was progress but considering that it has taken 10 years to materialise you would be forgiven for feeling underwhelmed. Yet, back in Scotland we recognise the critical importance of adaptation.
We have now passed the point of keeping our climate within a manageable state. Our actions have severe and new consequences for us all in the form of extreme weather events and rapid changes to our weather patterns that will outstrip our ability to adapt without taking serious steps now. Despite this terrifying reality, COP continues to focus on emissions reductions.
It goes without saying that mitigation is vital, however what enables the reaching of net zero emissions is adaptation.
Kelman also highlights a significant detrimental issue, that adaptation and mitigation continue to be siloed and not considered together. Our understanding of the co-benefits of addressing vulnerability and capacity for both a green and resilient energy transition exists and has done for many years. COP is not debating new knowledge. Indeed Kelman highlights that there are activists and negotiators younger than the COP process itself.
What does COP mean for us in Scotland? Should we get on the roller-coaster, attempt to travel to far flung destinations to attend these high-level debates? Or should we focus our efforts on supporting local level action, providing an enabling environment for our governments to make better and informed decision that will benefit our people and those around the world?
We all have a role to play in protecting our environment, supporting those at risk from extreme hazards and resourcing our communities to transition toward a healthier future. Don’t let COP slow you down.
Related links
COP29: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Baku
Do we really need more climate change COPs? By Ilan Kelm
Insights into the Scottish National Adaptation Plan
Climate change negotiations again – But don’t despair
Last chance climate change COO (again)
Do we really need more climate change COPs?
As a centre of expertise for the Scottish Government, ClimateXChange undertake horizon scanning activities with the research community in Scotland, across a range of climate related topics.
To date, this has been done primarily through small engagements via contracted projects, project managers participating in relevant fora and knowledge exchange with relevant policymakers.
We have decided to trial alternative approaches to thematic horizon scanning, including ‘ignite’ workshops such as an event that took place on 21 May 2024 on the theme of a green economy.
The workshop had a strong academic presence and raised numerous challenges and opportunities for knowledge exchange, future research and policy directions for those working in the broad area of the green economy.
Needs and challenges
Participants largely agreed a need for clarity regarding climate finance, decision making processes as well as meaningful engagement with the public.
More specific recommendations demonstrated that theme provided an opportunity to see common challenges across biodiversity, adaptation and energy transitions.
Common challenges emerged such as public engagement, accountability, data challenges around measuring the wellbeing economy, skills development and building sustainable businesses.
Future events
For further information about the event, please read the proceedings document and see the presentations below.
We will continue to develop and refine the facilitation of research horizon scanning. For suggestions of future themes or events please contact info@climatexchange.org.uk.
Proceedings
Note of proceedings: Research futures within the green economy sector for climate action
Presentations
The green economy in Scotland: CXC research event – Jayne Winter and Jeremy Hanks, Scottish Government
Ignite session 1: Economic impact scenarios for Scotland’s energy transition – David Butler, Scottish Enterprise
Ignite session 2 – Iain Black, University of Strathclyde Business School