DesirMED actively participated in the Fourth Forum for the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, a flagship event co-organised by the European Commission and the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Held in Wrocław, this year’s edition put a strong spotlight on real-life climate adaptation actions, showcasing regional successes and challenges in addressing risks such as heatwaves, flooding, and water scarcity.
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders (local, regional, and national authorities, EU institutions, Mission Charter Signatories, and research partners) to exchange experiences and co-develop solutions for a more climate-resilient Europe.
As part of the DesirMED delegation, CMCC, Tecnalia, the Municipality of Fundão, and the Province of Potenza took part in key sessions and related discussions throughout the day.
Notably, Alessandro Attolico, from the Province of Potenza, represented DesirMED during Panel 3: Innovation is key, where he shared insights into innovative adaptation strategies being piloted in southern Italy. His intervention highlighted Potenza's local resilience initiatives as part of the broader Mission effort.
In addition to the panel contributions, the DesirMED poster on regional best practices was featured in the poster exhibition, alongside other Mission Adapation projects. Together, the 7 sister projects funded under the same Horizon Europe topic “HORIZON-MISS-2022-CLIMA-01-06 jointly presented the first NBS4EU cluster poster: “Lead the Way: Let nature inspire your region’s resilience journey”.
It has been a great opportunity to see all NBS4EU project coordinators coming together to share their visions, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual inspiration at this early stage of the journey!
The Forum unfolded over a full day of engaging discussions, beginning with a deep dive into regional resilience strategies in Panel 1. Panel 2 turned the spotlight on financial mechanisms to support adaptation planning and implementation. The event culminated in Panel 3 with a compelling showcase of innovative case studies, where DesirMED brought valuable insights from the Province of Potenza, highlighting its practical experience on the ground. Parallel workshops allowed Mission participants to dive into thematic discussions on water, risk evaluation and management, and heat management.
This year’s Forum reaffirmed the vital role of cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and cross-sector innovation in driving progress toward the Mission’s goals. It also underscored the power of storytelling, showcasing successful cases and best practices of NbS mainstreaming from Mission regions and beyond, as a catalyst for scaling action, inspiring peers, and turning local success into collective momentum.
