Leverage conditions enabling transition to climate resilience
In order to accelerate the transformation towards climate resilience, it is
fundamental to leverage an enabling environment at the regional level for
such change to happen. Because of the complexity of this task, it is
impossible to plan for any social tipping point or transformation to occur.
Instead, enabling conditions act as catalysts, smoothing the intricate
process of change in multifaceted environments. They encompass a range of
factors such as access to relevant knowledge and data, effective governance
structures, meaningful stakeholder engagement, adequate financial resources,
and capabilities and skills. They create an environment where ideas
flourish, initiatives align, and efforts synergize. By strategically
harnessing these conditions, transformative initiatives gain momentum and
sustainability. Hence, any journey to climate resilience is not just about
adapting to climate change; it is about leveraging these conditions to
proactively shape resilient, thriving systems capable of withstanding the
challenges of an ever-changing climate. It is important to establish and
leverage enabling conditions from the beginning of the Regional Resilient
Journeys on, and then to continuously uphold and further develop the
enabling conditions throughout each step of the journey, all the way to
having accomplished a just climate transition. As such, enabling conditions
themselves should also be considered as areas for innovation.
There
are many outputs stemming from the work leveraging conditions that are to
enable the transition to climate resilience, e.g., stakeholder engagement or
capacity building strategies, knowledge and data platforms, etc., but in
most cases these could be seen as being integrated within the context of
work done at different steps along the journey to climate resilience.
A critical output to highlight here in the context of the enabling
conditions is the importance of developing a Climate Resilience Investment
Plans and Pipeline of Bankable Projects.
Leverage finances & resources by developing an Adaptation Investment Plan
It is essential to ensure that appropriate finance and resources are
leveraged to begin and progress throughout the Regional Resilience Journey.
To actually implement transformational change, regions will need to mobilise
finance and resources at scale, raising, deploying and repaying the
associated capital. This involves ensuring public finance and budgeting
approaches align with climate resilience objectives, and take a strategic
approach, seeking to leverage and mobilise private finance (such as banks,
pension funds, insurance companies and asset managers) . The European
Investment Bank (EIB), Invest EU and the MIP4Adapt also play a pivotal role
in bridging the financial gap and building technical capacity to regions The
main way regions can mobilise the necessary finance is by developing an
Adaptation Investment Plan and pipeline of bankable adaptation projects
tailored to the regions’ needs and capabilities, in collaboration with
actors across the region. The development and implementation of such a plan
needs to be underpinned by approaches to develop the relevant data, skills,
policy and regulation, governance, and budgeting approaches which enable
finance to flow.
That means:
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Ensure appropriate finance and resources to follow the Regional
Resilience Journey: To ensure appropriate finance and
resources for the transition to climate resilience, a strategic approach
is vital. Begin by securing approval to undertake the development of an
Investment Plan, with the associated resources to undertake the
activities. The P2R funding call can support regions in such resources.
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Develop data, capabilities, policy, governance, and green
budgeting to support an Investment Plan: There are a wide
range of data and knowledge, policy and regulation and governance,
behavioural, financial and economic barriers which prevent finance from
flowing into adaptation. The Resilience Maturity Curve framework
identifies the capabilities regions need to develop and implement
Investment Planning approaches and mobilise capital. This may include
skills or knowledge, or green budgeting approaches. Similarly,
developing an Adaptation Investment Plan will also identify wider
actions with the regional government itself (e.g. policy reform, new
governance) which may also be needed to implement the Investment Plan.
- Develop an Adaptation Investment Plan: Regions should
follow the Adaptation Investment Cycle to develop an Adaptation
Investment Plan. An Adaptation Investment Plan translates the high-level
vision and pathways developed in the RRJ into bankable investments and
supporting actions to implement them. It does this by:
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Generating a current baseline of Investment in Adaptation in the
region,
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Identifying strategic barriers to adaptation finance,
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Defining Investment Needs,
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developing strategies to raise the finance for regions
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and if necessary, Matchmaking to develop bankable projects
The process results in an Adaptation investment Plan and pipeline of
bankable projects in line with public financial management criteria and/or
private sector requirements, such as compliance with the EU Taxonomy on
Sustainable Finance. It also helps identify actions that will boost access
to new sources and instruments and support implementation and delivery.
Where needed, the approach also involves developing individual bankable
propositions for areas identified as investment priorities but where further
work is needed to secure investment.
Leverage knowledge & data
Decision-making relies on comprehensive, up-to-date, accurate, reliable and
relevant information. Data supports risk and vulnerability assessment,
highlighting inequalities and informing priority fields for investments. It
illuminates potential solutions and precise actions data against
climate-related threats. Moreover, accessible knowledge cultivates
awareness, empowering communities and policy makers alike. It bridges gaps
between research and practical application, fostering innovation and the
sharing of best practices. Communities armed with relevant data can
strategize effectively, mobilise resources efficiently, and respond
resiliently to challenges. Ultimately, democratize climate-related knowledge
and data fosters resilience. It can empower vulnerable communities and
enable them to actively participate in shaping their resilient futures.
Therefore, in the journey toward climate resilience, having access to and
utilising relevant knowledge and data is not just beneficial but imperative,
shaping effective, sustainable, and evidence-based climate actions.
That means:
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Ensure access to and use of available knowledge & data
supporting the transition to climate resilience: To
facilitate the access to knowledge and data and digital services that
are critical for better understanding and managing climate risks,
enhancing adaptive capacities and supporting transformative innovations,
harnessing resources, and facilitate access to them. This can include
climate data like the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), but also
wider social and economic data, as well as local and community
knowledge. Establish user-friendly platforms that seamlessly integrate
C3S insights, making a continuous flow of updated information accessible
to diverse stakeholders. Invest in data literacy and skill-building
initiatives, empowering communities to interpret and apply information
effectively. Collect disaggregated data and lived experiences of the
most vulnerable to highlight power inequalities and social injustices.
Foster collaborations between researchers, policymakers, and local
communities, encouraging knowledge exchange. Additionally, promote open
data policies to enhance transparency and collaboration. Regularly
assess data needs, ensuring the information provided aligns with
evolving resilience strategies and trends. By creating a seamless
ecosystem where data is accessible, understandable, and applicable,
societies can make well-informed decisions, driving effective climate
resilience initiatives.
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Further develop data & knowledge provisions to underpin
transformations: Embrace cutting-edge innovations like
digital twinning, data spaces and AI, creating dynamic platforms for
seamless data access and analysis. Integrate citizen engagement,
empowering communities to actively participate in data generation.
Explore collaborative design processes for digital knowledge services,
ensuring user-friendly interfaces that enable meaningful contributions.
Foster partnerships between tech innovators, citizens, and scientists,
cultivating a collective intelligence approach. Disaggregate existing
data by combining quantitative and qualitative information and
approaches. By merging technological advancements with citizen
empowerment, we foster a robust ecosystem where diverse insights
converge. This convergence not only amplifies data accuracy but also
ensures that societal actors play a central role in shaping resilient
futures, driving transformative climate initiatives from the ground up.
Leverage governance, engagement and collaboration
Multilevel, integrated, cross-sectoral, and deliberative governance and
collaboration, alongside meaningful stakeholder and citizen engagement, are
essential cornerstones for accelerating transformations towards climate
resilience. Multilevel governance ensures coordination and synergy across
local, regional, and national levels, facilitating cohesive climate
strategies. Cross-sectoral collaboration taps into diverse expertise,
fostering innovative, interdisciplinary solutions. Deliberative governance
promotes informed decision-making through inclusive, participatory
processes, ensuring diverse voices are heard. Meaningful engagement of
stakeholders and citizens fosters a sense of ownership, driving
community-led initiatives and enhancing social acceptance and compliance.
Considerations should also be given to changes needed in existing governance
systems, e.g., with regard to the prevailing economic paradigm. By
integrating these approaches, resilience efforts become comprehensive,
addressing the intricate challenges of climate change.
That means:
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Establish structures/mechanisms that allow for cross-sector and
multilevel governance and mobilise local and regional ecosystems for
change: Establishing structures for cross-sector and
multilevel governance while mobilizing local and regional ecosystems for
change requires strategic planning. Start by fostering partnerships
between government bodies, private sectors, and community leaders,
encouraging shared responsibility. Establish coordination mechanisms and
clarify internal roles and responsibilities tailored to the size and
capacity of your regional or local authority (including human and
technical resources) that facilitate cross-sectoral and multi-level
decisions. Develop clear communication channels to facilitate seamless
information exchange. Empower regional organizations and local
communities with decision-making authority, ensuring initiatives align
with specific needs. Continually identify and foster the participation
of a plurality of actors, independently from their gender, race,
economic capacity, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, etc.
Include traditional and non-traditional collaborators (civil servants,
politicians, regulators, funders, researchers, journalists, artists,
activists, entrepreneurs, companies, unions, educators, citizens, etc.).
Also foster social innovation and citizen science, empowering
individuals to take action in their own communities. Promote innovative
learning and teaching methods, integrate i.e. citizen science, social
innovation or action-oriented learning in educational activities and
enhance the visibility of existing innovative programmes and initiatives
for education and learning.
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Cultivate and nurture collaboration and provide for diverse
stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution: Strengthen
relationships between actors in the ecosystem. Build and maintain trust.
Trust-based, collaborative relationships across a local ecosystem are
essential to be able to take difficult decisions, concerted actions and
stay on course over time. To enable these relationships to develop over
time, hold and curate space – physical, digital, and otherwise – in
which stakeholders from across the ecosystem can begin to interact and
collaborate. Cultivate and nurture collaboration built on shared,
distributed leadership toward the climate resilience goals.
Collaboration requires regions to invest in the conditions, the
settings, and spaces in which a plurality of actors can engage, learn
and collaborate. Such conditions aim to foster a culture of shared
purpose, participatory governance, and distributed leadership in
alignment with expectations and efforts. Create and nurture
opportunities for relationships to develop between diverse people,
organisations, and institutions. Enable connections between those whose
experience, imagination and understanding of problems differ from those
most commonly involved in decision-making. Practise deep listening and
address conflicts: Disagreements happen and conflict may occur.
Recognise and validate the experiences, fears and determination that
underpin each other’s convictions and make this a source of visioning.
Demonstrate how to thoughtfully propose and accept compromises that
serve the ecosystem’s shared understanding and vision.
Leverage capabilities & skills
Investing in spaces, where learning and skills building can happen,
strengthens regions and communities to design and lead their own
transformational change processes.
As the transition towards climate
resilience evolves and action is taking place, the diverse actors in the
ecosystem will be dealing with complex and evolving challenges, but also
with potential windows of opportunity. It is hence important to create the
conditions and promote spaces for stakeholders across the ecosystem to
exchange, learn, reflect and work together on their challenges and
opportunities.
Up-skilling ensures existing professionals adapt to
evolving demands, enhancing their ability to implement innovative solutions.
Re-skilling aligns the workforce with sustainable practices, creating
employment opportunities within the climate resilience sector. By empowering
individuals and communities with relevant skills, a capable workforce
emerges, capable of driving transformative, equitable initiatives. This
approach not only strengthens local economies but also ensures that climate
resilience efforts are just, inclusive, and socially sustainable, benefiting
all members of society.
That means:
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Build capacities to facilitate and engage in transformational
adaptation to climate change: Engage with local leaders and
stakeholders to map the available and missing skills to enable a
resilient transformation. Invest in capacity-building programs to
enhance their skills, enabling them to drive transformative initiatives
effectively. Create shared, safe spaces and conditions for interaction,
dialogue and experimentation with existing change-makers from across the
local ecosystem. This can help these actors reflect, manage conflicts,
dilemmas, stagnant situations, power dynamics and tensions as they
continue their efforts. Create a fertile environment for new ideas,
supporting and enabling the development of new individual and
organisational capabilities as well as catalysing bottom-up social
innovations. Foster creativity, exploration, co-creation, collaboration
and facilitate the integration of multiple perspectives into
transformative action with social innovation.
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Provide for the re- and up-skilling needed to ensure a just
transition to climate resilience: To ensure a just
transition to climate resilience, regularly conduct needs assessments to
identify skill gaps within communities and sectors. Develop tailored
training programs and collaborate with educational institutions and
vocational training centres, aligning curricula with the demands of
emerging green jobs. Prioritize inclusivity, ensuring marginalised
communities have equal access to training opportunities and mentoring.
Provide financial support, scholarships, and incentives to encourage
participation, especially for underprivileged individuals. Foster
mentorship programs connecting experienced professionals with newcomers.
By investing in re- and up-skilling initiatives, societies empower
individuals, fostering expertise that drives a just and equitable
transition to climate resilience.
Leverage behavioural change
To leveraging behavioural change, both at the individual and systemic levels,
increasing awareness about climate impacts is foundational, instilling a
sense of urgency among individuals. Understanding and harnessing social
tipping points, where small changes trigger significant shifts in collective
behaviour, becomes a powerful tool. Similarly, identifying systemic leverage
points—key areas within complex systems where interventions can create
substantial impact—enables strategic, large-scale changes. By encouraging
individual mindfulness and strategically targeting societal behaviours,
regions can catalyse a domino effect, accelerating transformative changes
towards climate resilience. This comprehensive approach not only empowers
communities to face climate challenges but also positions regions as
pioneers in driving impactful, sustainable adaptation efforts.
That means:
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Increase awareness and engagement for climate
resilience: Increasing awareness and engagement for climate
resilience on both individual and systemic levels demands a multifaceted
approach. Start by disseminating accessible, science-backed information
through educational campaigns, highlighting local climate risks and
tangible solutions. Foster dialogue through community events,
encouraging conversations about climate challenges and shared
responsibilities. Empower individuals with practical knowledge,
demonstrating how their actions impact resilience. Simultaneously,
engage policymakers, businesses, and institutions, advocating for
sustainable practices and policies. Utilize social media and interactive
platforms to amplify messages, reaching diverse demographics. Establish
partnerships with schools, NGOs, and local organizations, integrating
climate education into curricula and community activities. By weaving
awareness into the fabric of society, fostering dialogue, and embracing
collaboration, a foundation for behavioural change towards climate
resilience is laid.
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Improve the use of social tipping points and systemic leverage
points to accelerate transformations: Understanding and
harnessing social tipping points and systemic leverage points are
instrumental in accelerating transformative changes towards climate
resilience. Social tipping points represent moments when small
behavioural changes trigger widespread adoption of sustainable
practices. Identify these triggers through community engagement and
research. Systemic leverage points, pivotal areas within complex
systems, offer substantial impact. Analyse these points through systems
thinking, targeting interventions where they yield maximal results.
Collaborate with experts and stakeholders, utilizing their insights to
pinpoint effective strategies. By strategic interventions at these
critical junctures, transformative shifts can be catalysed, propelling
communities and systems towards enhanced climate resilience.
Leverage experimentation, strategic learning & reflective adjustment
Leveraging continuous experimentation, strategic learning, and reflective
adjustment of strategies and plans is pivotal throughout the regional
resilience journey. Experimentation fosters innovation, allowing regions to
pilot diverse approaches while learning in that process. Sensemaking as a
practise aims to facilitate continuous learning and adaptation and generates
valuable insights. This learning contributes to improved decision-making and
more effective strategies. This needs to be based on a robust Monitoring,
Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework providing a structured approach to
measure effectiveness, enabling evidence-based decision-making. Reflective
adjustment integrates lessons learned, refining theories, plans and
strategies in response to evolving challenges.
That means:
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Experiment, exchange, and learn together throughout the
resilience journey: To accelerate transformative changes
towards climate resilience, regions must foster a culture of
experimentation, exchange, and collaborative learning. Regions must
deliberately create a culture and the space for experimentation,
encouraging the testing of innovative approaches to climate challenges
as well as accepting and learning from their failure. Establishing
spaces for insights generation and knowledge exchange allows regions to
promote collective learning and effective action, enhance understanding
and dialogue, decision-making and helps driving systemic change in
complex and dynamic environments. Concurrently, developing a robust
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework is essential.
Reflecting the agreed Theory of Change, this structured approach enables
systematic assessment of experiments, offering insights for refinement.
By experimenting collaboratively, sharing experiences, and utilising a
solid MEL framework, regions can adapt swiftly, enhancing resilience
strategies and ensuring a collective, informed response to the
intricacies of climate change.
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Pivot and adjust relevant parts, e.g., the shared vision, theory
of change, pathways, enabling conditions: Regularly pivot
and adjust key components of the Regional Resilience Journey like the
shared vision, theory of change, pathways, the portfolio of
interventions, and enabling conditions. Continuous monitoring and
assessment of these elements against evolving climate challenges and
emerging knowledge are crucial. Engage stakeholders in ongoing
dialogues, integrating their insights for dynamic adjustments. Foster a
culture of adaptability and openness to change, enabling quick response
to new information. Embrace feedback loops and data-driven
decision-making, ensuring strategies remain effective. By fostering
flexibility and a willingness to pivot, regions can stay ahead, ensuring
their approaches are agile, relevant, and responsive in the
ever-changing landscape of climate resilience.