Policy white paper: upscaling citizen engagement for climate resilience - Adaptation AGORA Deliverable 4.5

This p ojec has ecei ed unding om he Eu opean
Union’s Ho izon Eu ope Resea ch and Inno a ion Ac ions
unde g an ag eemen No 101093921
1
Deli e able D4.5
Deli e able D4.5 - Policy whi e pape : upscaling ci izen engagemen o clima e
esilience
WP4 – Roadmap o policy ans o ma ional change
Ve sion 1.0| 10/25
(G an Ag eemen 101093921)
HORIZON-MISS-2021-CLIMA-02-05 - Local engagemen o ci izens in he
co-c ea ion o socie al ans o ma ional change o clima e esilience
This p ojec has ecei ed unding om he Eu opean
Union’s Ho izon Eu ope Resea ch and Inno a ion Ac ions
unde g an ag eemen No 101093921
2
Deli e able D4.5
Documen His o y
Deli e able Ti le
Policy whi e pape : upscaling ci izen engagemen o clima e
esilience
B ie Desc ip ion
The deli e able D4.5 p esen s a s a egic oadmap, s uc u ed a ound
ou in e connec ed pilla s and six een ecommenda ions, which
add esses he ins i u ional, inancial, cul u al and p ac ical challenges
ha hinde he scaling o s akeholde and ci izen engagemen o
clima e adap a ion and esilience.
WP numbe
WP4
Lead Bene icia y
UNIGE
Au ho (s)
Eno a B uley (UNIGE), Anna Scolobig (UNIGE), Alexand e De igne
(UNIGE), Jannis Nei hamme (ICLEI), Benede a Buccollini (ICLEI),
E ica Manuelli (ICLEI), Dmi y E okhin (IIASA), Nadeja Komendan o a
(IIASA), Sukaina Bha wani (SEI-Ox), Rosie Wi on (SEI-Ox), Paola
Me cogliano (CMCC), Ma ina Ma e a (CMCC), Simon Kei h Allen
(UNIGE), Ma kus S o el (UNIGE)
Con ibu o (s)
Lau a M. Cane a i Luza do, Luca Cos an ino A bau
Deli e able Due Da e
31 Oc obe 2025
Ac ual Deli e y Da e
Oc obe 2025
Na u e o he Deli e able
R – Documen , epo
Dissemina ion Le el
PU - Public
Da e
Ve .
Con ibu o s
Commen
04/06/25
0.1
Eno a B uley, Jannis Nie hamme ,
Anna Scolobig
30/09/2025
0.2
Eno a B uley, Alexand e De igne,
Anna Scolobig
In eg a ion o ex e nal
con ibu o s’ inpu s
15/10/2025
0.3
Alexand e De igne, Eno a B uley,
Anna Scolobig
In eg a ion o co-au ho s’
eedback and commen s
22/10/2025
1.0
Alexand e De igne, Eno a B uley,
Anna Scolobig
In eg a ion o in e nal e iewe ’s
eedback and commen s
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Deli e able D4.5
Table o Con en s
Documen His o y ................................................................................................................................ 2
Abb e ia ions ....................................................................................................................................... 5
1. Execu i e Summa y ...................................................................................................................... 6
2. The impe a i e o scaling ci izen and s akeholde engagemen p ac ices o clima e
adap a ion ............................................................................................................................................ 8
2.1. The ole o ci izen and s akeholde engagemen : P omise and pi alls o e ec i e
adap a ion ............................................................................................................................................ 8
2.2. The Eu opean policy landscape: Cu en s a e o engagemen in clima e adap a ion .......... 10
2.3. A amewo k o scaling: Dimensions o conside o he scaling o engagemen p ac ices . 11
3. Policy whi e pape aim and scope ............................................................................................. 13
4. Roadmap de elopmen .............................................................................................................. 14
5. The oadmap: Fou s a egic pilla s o scaling ci izen and s akeholde engagemen in clima e
adap a ion .......................................................................................................................................... 16
5.1. The con ex o ac ion: Key challenges o scaling engagemen ............................................. 16
5.1.1. Common c oss-cu ing challenges ...................................................................................... 16
5.1.2. Con ex ual dispa i ies ac oss Eu opean Regions ................................................................ 17
5.2. S a egic pilla s and associa ed policy ecommenda ions ...................................................... 19
5.2.1. Pilla 1: Ins i u ionalizing ci izen and s akeholde engagemen in public and p i a e
ac ions ac oss scales and sec o s. ...................................................................................................... 19
5.2.2. Pilla 2: S eng hening capaci y and esou ces o local au ho i ies o implemen e ec i e
engagemen mechanisms. ................................................................................................................. 27
5.2.3. Pilla 3: Empowe ing s akeholde s and ci izens o ake an ac i e and meaning ul ole in
adap a ion ac ions. ............................................................................................................................ 33
5.2.4. Pilla 4: Sha ing and applying knowledge and bes p ac ices o acili a e he co-p oduc ion
o jus and ailo ed adap a ion ac ions. ............................................................................................. 39
6. Conclusion and way o wa d ..................................................................................................... 45
7. Re e ences.................................................................................................................................. 47
8. Appendix: De ailed me hodology o oadmap de elopmen .................................................... 50
8.1. Objec i es ................................................................................................................................ 50
8.2. Lessons lea ned om he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec ou pu s .............................................. 50
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8.3. Comp ehensi e e iew o Eu opean ecommenda ions (ICLEI) ............................................. 70
8.3.1. Objec i es ............................................................................................................................ 70
8.3.2. Me hods .............................................................................................................................. 70
8.3.3. Resul s ................................................................................................................................. 71
8.3.4. Syn hesis: T ans o ma ion pa hways .................................................................................. 76
8.4. Roadmap cons uc ion me hod .............................................................................................. 78
8.4.1. Adop ing social inno a ion scaling amewo k ................................................................... 78
8.4.2. De i ing he s a egic pilla s ................................................................................................ 79
8.4.3. Re ining and consolida ing he ecommenda ions ............................................................. 79
8.4.4. Recommenda ions’ e ision and desc ip ion ...................................................................... 79
8.5. Roadmap alida ion ................................................................................................................ 80
8.5.1. G enoble Biennale o Ci ies in T ansi ion 2025 ................................................................... 81
8.5.2. Eu opean Clima e Change Adap a ion Con e ence 2025 wo kshop .................................. 83
8.5.3. Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um 2025 wo kshop ............................................................ 88
Table o Illus a ions
Figu e 1. Dimensions o conside o he scaling o engagemen p ac ices. Adap ed om Moo e e
al. (2015) and Sánchez Rod íguez e al. (2021). ................................................................................. 12
Figu e 2. Pilla s and ecommenda ions o he policy oadmap om scaling ci izen and s akeholde
engagemen in clima e adap a ion. ................................................................................................... 19
Figu e 3. Scaling di ec ions add essed by ci izen and s akeholde engagemen ins i u ionaliza ion.
............................................................................................................................................................ 20
Figu e 4. Scaling di ec ions add essed by s eng hening local au ho i ies’ capaci y and esou ces.27
Figu e 5. Scaling di ec ions add essed by s akeholde s and ci izens empowe men o engage. ..... 33
Figu e 6. Scaling di ec ions add essed by sha ed and applied knowledge and bes p ac ices. ........ 39
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Deli e able D4.5
Pa ne s sho names / Legal name
APRE
Agenzia pe la P omozione della Rice ca Eu opea
FONDAZIONE CMCC
Fondazione Cen o Eu o-Medi e aneo sui Cambiamen i Clima ici
ICLEI
In e na ional Council o Local En i onmen al Ini ia i es
IIASA
In e na ionales Ins i u ü angewand e Sys emanalyse
SEI-Ox
S ockholm En i onmen Ins i u e, Ox o d O ice Limi ed
UNIGE
Uni e si é de Genè e
Abb e ia ions
CCA
Clima e Change Adap a ion
CSO
Ci il Socie y O ganisa ion
CSRD
Co po a e Sus ainabili y Repo ing Di ec i e
EBRD
Eu opean Bank o Recons uc ion and De elopmen
ECCA
Eu opean Clima e Change Adap a ion Con e ence
ECSA
Eu opean Ci izen Science Associa ion
EEA
Eu opean En i onmen al Agency
EESC
Eu opean Economic and Social Commi ee
EIB
Eu opean In es men Bank
EU
Eu opean Union
Eu es o
Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um
IPCC
In e go e nmen al Panel on Clima e Change
JRC
Join Resea ch Cen e
CC-DEMOS
Compe ence Cen e o Pa icipa o y and Delibe a i e Democ acy o he
Commission’s Join Resea ch Cen e
M&E
Moni o ing and E alua ion
NGO
Nongo e nmen al O ganisa ion
RAST
Regional Adap a ion Suppo Tool
TCFD
Task Fo ce on Clima e- ela ed Financial Disclosu es

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1. Execu i e Summa y
Clima e change demands comp ehensi e adap a ion s a egies ha a e no only e ec i e bu also
equi able and socially accep ed. Meaning ul ci izen and s akeholde engagemen is he co ne s one
o such s a egies, p omising o ha ness local knowledge, build public us and ensu e jus
adap a ion ou comes. Howe e , despi e s ong Eu opean Union (EU) policy suppo and many
inspi ing local ini ia i es, engagemen in clima e adap a ion ac oss Eu ope emains agmen ed,
o en educed o okenis ic exe cises ha s uggle o achie e hei po en ial.
This Adap a ion AGORA policy whi e pape add esses he c i ical gap be ween high-le el ambi ion
and on- he-g ound implemen a ion. I a gues ha o mo e om isola ed successes o a new
s anda d o clima e go e nance, Eu ope mus adop a holis ic app oach o scaling engagemen . This
equi es mo ing beyond eplica ing success ul pilo s (scaling ou ) o simul aneously impac ing laws
and policies (scaling up), shi ing cul u al alues owa d pa icipa ion (scaling deep), and
s eng hening he in e nal capaci ies and means o ac ion o he o ganiza ions esponsible o
implemen a ion (scaling in and down). Wi hou his mul i-dimensional s a egy ha builds sys emic
enabling condi ions, engagemen p ac ices isk ein o cing inequali ies, os e ing public dis us and
unde mining long- e m adap a ion goals.
To ca alyse his ans o ma ion, his whi e pape p esen s a s a egic oadmap de eloped om a
comp ehensi e analysis o cu en esea ch, policies and p ac ices. I builds on a syn hesis o
e idence om academic li e a u e, EU policy ins umen s, EU-le el documen s, pa icipa o y
p ac ices, and empi ical insigh s om he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec . The oadmap is s uc u ed
a ound ou in e connec ed pilla s, which collec i ely add ess he ins i u ional, inancial, cul u al
and p ac ical challenges hinde ing he scaling o s akeholde and ci izen engagemen :
1. Ins i u ionalizing engagemen : Embedding ci izen and s akeholde engagemen as a o mal,
s anda dised componen o clima e adap a ion go e nance ac oss all le els and sec o s. This
includes s eng hening EU leade ship, es ablishing clea legal manda es, mains eaming
engagemen in o socio-economic sec o s, and embedding p inciples o clima e jus ice in o
policy amewo ks.
2. S eng hening local capaci y: Empowe ing local au ho i ies, as he p ima y ac o s in ol ed
in adap a ion, wi h he dedica ed unding, obus in e nal s uc u es, a ge ed aining and
sus ained poli ical commi men necessa y o design and implemen high-quali y and
e ec i e engagemen p ocesses.
3. Empowe ing ci izens and s akeholde s: Ensu ing all membe s o socie y, pa icula ly
ulne able and ma ginalized g oups, ha e he awa eness, oppo uni y, and capaci y o
pa icipa e meaning ully. This in ol es enhancing clima e li e acy, emo ing p ac ical
ba ie s o pa icipa ion, and ac i ely suppo ing communi y-led adap a ion and ci izen
ac ion ini ia i es.
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4. Sha ing and applying knowledge and bes p ac ices: Fos e ing a cul u e o con inuous
lea ning and imp o emen by s eng hening knowledge exchange pla o ms, acili a ing
c oss-cul u al dialogue, p omo ing he use o di e se and con ex - ailo ed me hodologies
and ensu ing anspa ency h ough obus eedback and e alua ion mechanisms.
This oadmap p o ides 16 ac ionable policy and go e nance ecommenda ions o Eu opean,
na ional, egional and local ac o s. These ecommenda ions a e g ounded in he Adap a ion AGORA
p ojec 's heo e ical and p ac ical insigh s om sys ema ic analysis o engagemen con ex s and
pilo ac i i ies, ensu ing hey a e bo h e idence-based and ele an o eal-wo ld challenges. Pilla s
and ecommenda ions we e e ined and alida ed h ough in e ac ion wi h he a ge audience
du ing se e al majo Eu opean e en s (G enoble Biennale o Ci ies in T ansi ion 2025, Eu opean
Clima e Change Adap a ion Con e ence 2025, Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um 2025). Feedback
was ga he ed om a di e se g oup o o e 60 s akeholde s, including policymake s om municipal
o EU le els, p ac i ione s om public au ho i ies and ci il socie y, and esea che s in he ield o
clima e adap a ion and go e nance.
The oadmap is no in ended o be a one-size- i s-all bluep in amewo k. I p o ides a lexible
guidance and di ec ions o suppo policymake s and p ac i ione s, and o empowe ci il socie y o
collec i ely build a clima e esilien and democ a ic Eu ope.
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2. The impe a i e o scaling ci izen and s akeholde engagemen
p ac ices o clima e adap a ion
Clima e change p esen s a complex and e ol ing challenge o Eu ope, demanding no only
ambi ious mi iga ion e o s bu also comp ehensi e adap a ion s a egies 1. The una oidable
impac s o a changing clima e, om ex eme wea he e en s o al e ed ecosys ems, necessi a e a
p oac i e and collec i e socie al esponse 2. To de elop adap a ion s a egies ha a e bo h e ec i e
and jus , i is impe a i e o mo e beyond adi ional go e nance models and emb ace meaning ul
ci izen and s akeholde engagemen ha conside s di e se alues, oices and p inciples o jus ice
and equi y 3,4. Howe e , while inspi ing ini ia i es exis , hey o en emain isola ed measu es and
pilo s. The Adap a ion AGORA EU- unded p ojec de eloped his policy whi e pape and i s oadmap
o mo e owa ds iden i ying he sys emic enabling condi ions necessa y o ans o m isola ed
successes in o a new s anda d o clima e adap a ion go e nance ac oss Eu ope.
2.1. The ole o ci izen and s akeholde engagemen : P omise and
pi alls o e ec i e adap a ion
Ci izen and s akeholde engagemen is undamen al o success ul clima e adap a ion, p omising
mo e e ec i e, equi able, and esilien ou comes by iden i ying, p io i izing and implemen ing
solu ions h ough he mobiliza ion o di e se ac o s and knowledge sys ems. Howe e , e idence
shows ha engagemen e o s a e equen ly unde mined by p ocedu al and s uc u al ba ie s,
limi ing hei scope and impac .
Consis en wi h he de ini ion p oposed by Reed in 2008 5, we e e o ci izen and s akeholde
engagemen as a p ocess h ough which indi iduals, g oups o o ganiza ions a e in ol ed in aking
an ac i e ole in making decisions ha a ec hem.
The p omise o success ul engagemen
The co e bene i s, suppo ed by ex ensi e esea ch 6–12, a e mani old:
➢ Inc eased knowledge, lea ning and unde s anding: Public engagemen h ough delibe a i e
p ocesses can acili a e unde s anding o clima e change impac s and adap a ion solu ions,
hus inc easing social accep ance.
➢ Mo e e ec i e and ele an solu ions: Engagemen ha nesses in aluable local, adi ional,
and li ed-expe ience knowledge, ensu ing adap a ion measu es a e ailo ed o speci ic
con ex s and ulne abili ies. I can also help o iden i y he mos app op ia e (and desi able)
o ms o adap a ion, new solu ions, and hei iabili y.
➢ Enhanced legi imacy, equi y and owne ship: By p omo ing inclusi i y and ep esen ing
ma ginalized oices, co-de eloped adap a ion plans a e pe cei ed as mo e equi able. This
enhances legi imacy, inc eases public us and os e s a sense o sha ed owne ship.
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➢ Inc eased adap i e capaci y and esilience: Collabo a i e p ocesses build us be ween
communi ies and ins i u ions, s eng hen local go e nance and mobilize he collec i e ac ion
necessa y o espond o long- e m clima e challenges.
➢ Na iga ing complexi y: Engagemen p o ides a c ucial pla o m o na iga ing complex
ade-o s, add essing powe dynamics and add essing po en ial con lic s be o e hey hinde
adap a ion ac ion.
Risks o engagemen p ac ices
Howe e , while he bene i s o engagemen a e clea , he isks associa ed wi h i s poo
implemen a ion a e equally signi ican and o en unde es ima ed by policymake s. Ci izen and
s akeholde engagemen is no a neu al p ocess and when conduc ed wi hou he necessa y
esou ces, capaci y and suppo i e s uc u es i can become coun e p oduc i e 13.
A en ion should be paid a he p ocess le el, whe e unclea objec i es, inadequa e acili a ion,
poo inclusion o pa icipan s inpu s o he exclusion o key oices can lead o undemoc a ic
ou comes by ein o cing powe inequali ies, ma ginalizing mino i y oices and c ea ing dis us
among pa icipan s 14.
Mo e impo an ly, hese p ocedu al ba ie s o en esul om deepe s uc u al ba ie s. Indeed,
engagemen ini ia i es could ail o achie e hei objec i es because he su ounding ins i u ional
and go e nance sys ems a e no designed o suppo hem 15. Local au ho i ies lack dedica ed
esou ces, aining and manda es, lea ing p ac i ione s wi h esponsibili y bu no capaci y 16.
Thus, e en well-in en ioned engagemen isks becoming a okenis ic “box- icking” exe cise and
causing angible ha m. This is pa icula ly ue when he iming appea s poli ically mo i a ed, o
ins ance, when conduc ed oo close o an elec ion pe iod, which may make he e o appea o be
a poli ical manoeu e. Such p ocesses unde mine immedia e adap a ion goals, ein o cing social
inequali ies and c ea ing long- e m public a igue and dis us o e ins i u ions, especially when
ini ial p omises abou how inpu will be used a e no anspa en ly ul illed 17,18.
To e ec i ely scale engagemen and mo e om p omise o p ac ice, policy mus shi om simply
encou aging pa icipa ion o s a egically and sys ema ically building ins i u ional and social
enabling condi ions ha allow engagemen p ac ices o un old hei po en ial o p omo e socie al
esilience 19.
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5. The oadmap: Fou s a egic pilla s o scaling ci izen and s akeholde
engagemen in clima e adap a ion
5.1. The con ex o ac ion: Key challenges o scaling engagemen
To e ec i ely scale ci izen and s akeholde engagemen , i is c ucial o i s acknowledge he cu en
con ex in which engagemen p ac ices occu and he complex and in e connec ed challenges ha
hinde i s mains eaming and meaning ul implemen a ion. Acco ding o esea ch unde aken wi hin
he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec 26,31 and in pa icula he sys ema ic li e a u e e iew 15,25 hese
challenges can be b oadly ca ego ized in o wo g oups: common c oss-cu ing challenges and
con ex ual dispa i ies ac oss Eu opean Regions.
5.1.1. Common c oss-cu ing challenges
P ac i ione s and policymake s consis en ly ace a se o common challenges inhe en in he p ac ice
o engagemen i sel :
➢ Challenge C.1 – Lack o inclusi i y, especially in he engagemen o ulne able and
ma ginalized g oups: These g oups o en ace a combina ion o p ac ical challenges o
engage (li e acy, inancial, digi al, language...) associa ed wi h deepe sys emic ba ie s
including powe imbalances, his o ical dis us o au ho i ies, and he p io i y o immedia e
daily-li e s uggles o e clima e conce ns (see Box 1). Mo eo e , ulne abili y is a mo ing
concep , he g oups conside ed ulne able can a y signi ican ly depending on he speci ic
con ex . The e is a lack o inclusion s a egies o hese g oups, including he younge
gene a ions.
➢ Challenge C.2 – Accessibili y o engagemen o ma s and conside a ion o pa icipan s
needs: Many engagemen p ocesses ail o conside he di e se needs, cons ain s, and
socioeconomic eali ies o hei pa icipan s. This may lead o accessibili y issues ela ed o
e.g., channels o pa icipa ion (e.g., in-pe son s. online), iming, loca ion, and language,
which can exclude impo an segmen s o a ec ed ac o s and communi ies. The a ailabili y
o compensa ion incen i es and esou ces can also make a di e ence.
➢ Challenge C.3 – Engagemen p ocess design and managemen complexi ies: The p ocess o
co-p oduc ion i sel is inhe en ly complex. Facili a o s o en lack expe ience and aining,
leading o challenges in managing di e se expec a ions, na iga ing di e en ways o
wo king, and de ining clea oles and esponsibili ies. The use o echnical and scien i ic
language can c ea e ba ie s, and a ailu e o in ol e pa icipan s ea ly enough in he p ocess
can unde mine owne ship and us om he ou se .
➢ Challenge C.4 – Lack o anspa ency, us and impac e alua ion: The e is a g owing
pa icipan s’ a igue and public disillusionmen due o he lack o clea and anspa en

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eedback on how ci izen inpu s in luence decisions. This absence o obus moni o ing and
e alua ion (M&E) unde mines us and he pe cei ed impac s o pa icipa ion.
5.1.2. Con ex ual dispa i ies ac oss Eu opean Regions
Beyond c oss-cu ing challenges, o na iga e he signi ican egional and local di e ences any
e ec i e s a egy o scale engagemen mus be sensi i e o he ollowing con ex ual ac o s:
➢ Challenge C.5 – Di e se engagemen cul u es and pe cep ions: Public ecep i eness and
a i udes o engagemen is no uni o m. I is shaped by egion’s democ a ic habi s, his o ical
expe iences wi h social mo emen s, and he le el o public us in au ho i ies and
ins i u ions. These ac o s a e o en compounded wi h a lack o awa eness abou
engagemen oppo uni ies. Membe S a es and egions adop di e en combina ions o
poli ical ep esen a ion and pa icipa ion esul ing in impo an di e ences in he adop ed
engagemen p ac ices.
➢ Challenge C.6 – Pe cep ions o clima e isk: Awa eness le el and pe cei ed u gency o
clima e change adap a ion a y signi ican ly among locali ies. Mo i a ion o engage is o en
lowe in egions ha a e less a ec ed, a challenge ha mus be combined wi h he di e en
le els o clima e li e acy. This is exace ba ed by he pe asi e issue o mis/disin o ma ion,
which can unde mine public unde s anding and us in adap a ion measu es.
➢ Challenge C.7 – Une en poli ical will, s abili y and powe imbalance: The success o
engagemen is highly dependen on he poli ical will o local and egional au ho i ies o sha e
powe and suppo pa icipa o y decision-making. This commi men is o en es ic ed by
sho - e m poli ical agenda and p io i ies, elec ed ep esen a i es’ ea o losing powe ,
acing opposi ion and damaging epu a ions. These issues a e oo ed in deepe sys emic
challenges, including undamen al powe imbalances, his o ical dis us o and in
au ho i ies, and an unde es ima ion o local knowledge, which can dis up he long- e m,
us -based e o s equi ed o e ec i e engagemen .
➢ Challenge C.8 – Unequal local au ho i y capaci ies and esou ces: Meaning ul engagemen
is esou ce-in ensi e and local au ho i ies ace signi ican inequali ies in inancial esou ces,
access o skilled s a , and adminis a i e capaci ies. Fu he mo e, ins i u ional silos and
bu eauc a ic bu dens o en hinde coo dina ed and c oss-depa men al ac ion.
➢ Challenge C.9 – F agmen ed policy and egula o y suppo : Ac oss Eu ope, he e is a lack o
clea legal manda es o s anda dized guidelines o ci izen engagemen in clima e
adap a ion. This lea es such p ocesses olun a y, ad-hoc and o en dependen on indi idual
champions a he han being sys emically embedded in go e nance s uc u es.
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Box 1. Gende and in e sec ionali y issues
One issue ha cu s ac oss all he abo e is gende . Gende inequali ies a e c ucial o conside in he
design o adap a ion policies, as hey shape how clima e change is expe ienced and impac s
di e en segmen s o he popula ion. Social no ms c ea e gende inequali ies in access o esou ces,
employmen , and powe , which in luence he le el o exposu e and ulne abili y o he impac s o
clima e change. Fo ins ance, in many egions whe e women a e p ima ily esponsible o collec ing
wa e and ood, hei exposu e and ulne abili y o d ough s is inc eased. Ano he example ha
was iden i ied du ing Adap a ion AGORA pa icipa o y sessions is he inc eased ulne abili y o
elde ly women and single mo he s in (pe i)u ban a eas du ing hea wa es, due o hei lowe
incomes (sala ies o pensions) compa ed o men, which can exace ba e ene gy po e y and educe
access o means o p o ec ion om he hea (such as ai condi ione s, al hough hese a e a
maladap i e solu ion o ex eme hea as hey expel ho ai ou side, consume a lo o ene gy and a e
high emi e s o g eenhouse gases). Gende iden i y also in e sec s wi h o he s uc u al inequali ies
based on ace, social class, (dis)abili y, eligion, sexual o ien a ion, age, and income, in luencing how
clima e change and i s impac s a e expe ienced, as well as ulne abili y and esponse and
adap a ion capaci ies. Globally, mi iga ion and adap a ion s a egies ha e ye ailed o consis en ly
and comp ehensi ely include gende inequali ies, which ein o ces he need o engaging hese
popula ions in designing and implemen ing adap a ion s a egies ha a e i ed o hei needs,
inclusi e, and subs an i e.
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5.2. S a egic pilla s and associa ed policy ecommenda ions
The policy oadmap is displayed isually in Figu e 2 below. In he ollowing subsec ions, each pilla
and i s associa ed ecommenda ions will be p esen ed.
Figu e 2. Pilla s and ecommenda ions o he policy oadmap om scaling ci izen and s akeholde engagemen in clima e
adap a ion.
5.2.1. Pilla 1: Ins i u ionalizing ci izen and s akeholde engagemen
in public and p i a e ac ions ac oss scales and sec o s.
Ci izen and s akeholde engagemen need o ans o m om spo adic o olun a y ini ia i es o a
sys ema ic, embedded and s anda dized p ocess wi hin he o mal s uc u es and p ocesses o
clima e adap a ion go e nance ac oss Eu ope. This pilla add esses his c i ical need by ansi ioning
ci izen engagemen in o a co e componen o go e nance and ac ion.
The e o e, his pilla ocuses on c ea ing he necessa y ins i u ional a chi ec u e o make
meaning ul engagemen a s anda d, ecognized, and in eg al pa o policy making, planning, and
implemen a ion. I es ablishes o mal manda es and policy amewo ks o ins i u ionalize ci izen
engagemen (Scaling up – E eu ! Sou ce du en oi in ou able. ). I equi es engagemen o be
mains eamed ac oss all socie al sec o s, including a g ea e a ie y o ac o s and p i a e
o ganiza ions (Scaling ou ). This pilla also embeds he co e p inciples o jus esilience in o hese
amewo ks, shi ing he unde lying no ms and alues o go e nance (Scaling deep) and p o iding
local au ho i ies wi h he o mal legi imacy and unding needed o implemen engagemen ac i i ies
on he g ound (Scaling down).
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This equi es s ong leade ship and cohe en mechanisms a he EU le el o guide and suppo hese
e o s ac oss Membe S a es. I also means es ablishing clea legal and policy amewo ks o
in eg a e pa icipa ion in o exis ing democ a ic mechanisms (e.g. elec o al and ep esen a i e
democ acy) and ex ending engagemen p ac ices beyond public adminis a ion in o di e se socio-
economic sec o s.
Figu e 3. Scaling di ec ions add essed by ci izen and s akeholde engagemen ins i u ionaliza ion.
Recommenda ion 1.A: S eng hen EU leade ship and cul u e o ci izen engagemen
➢ Main objec i e: P o ide he high-le el poli ical, cul u al and ins i u ional amewo k o d i e
and suppo he b oade ins i u ionalisa ion o pa icipa o y democ a ic p ac ices and
mechanisms ac oss Eu ope. Policies should ocus on s eng hening EU leade ship in ci izen
engagemen by de eloping clea guiding p inciples and enhancing he isibili y, accessibili y,
ep esen a i eness, and esponsi eness o EU-le el engagemen mechanisms, ensu ing
e ec i e communica ion and moni o ing o how ci izen inpu s in luence EU ou comes. These
s eng hened democ a ic ools mus hen be e ec i ely and sys ema ically le e aged o he
complex challenges o clima e adap a ion.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o S onge poli ical signal ein o cing he impo ance o engagemen in he con ex o
exis ing ep esen a i e ins i u ions;
o G ea e cohe ence in engagemen p ac ices ac oss EU policies;
o Inc eased ci izen us in EU ins i u ions and clima e policies;
o Imp o ed quali y and ele ance o EU-le el adap a ion s a egies;
o Po en ial o posi i e in luence on na ional engagemen p ac ices;
o Be e connec ion be ween ci izens and EU decision-making.
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➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: The EU plays a c i ical ole in se ing he agenda, p o iding esou ces,
and es ablishing no ms o clima e ac ion, including he mains eaming o ci izen
engagemen . S eng hening EU-le el mechanisms and demons a ing leade ship can inspi e
and suppo ac ion a na ional and local le els. Calls o imp o ed EU pa icipa o y
mechanisms, be e communica ion, and clea moni o ing o esul s ha e eme ged s ongly.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o De elop and adop an EU Cha e o Ci izen engagemen in EU A ai s, o p o ide
sha ed p inciples.
o Enhance exis ing EU digi al pa icipa ion pla o ms (e.g. ‘Ha e You Say’) o be e
use - iendliness, accessibili y (mul ilingualism), in e ac i i y, and anspa en
eedback loops on how inpu is used.
o Fo malize and po en ially expand he use o ep esen a i e Eu opean ci izens’ panels
and assemblies on clima e adap a ion opics, ensu ing obus me hodologies, expe
inpu , clea manda es, and anspa en ins i u ional esponses o ecommenda ions.
o Imp o e communica ion s a egies o aise awa eness o EU engagemen
oppo uni ies among di e se publics.
o Es ablish clea mechanisms wi hin EU ins i u ions o moni o and publicly epo on
he up ake and in luence o ci izen con ibu ions om a ious pa icipa o y
p ocesses.
o Ensu e EU unding p og ams (e.g. Ho izon Eu ope, LIFE) con inue and po en ially
inc ease suppo o inno a i e engagemen p ojec s and he mains eaming o
Ci izen engagemen mechanisms (e.g. obse a o ies).
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
o EU le el: Eu opean Commission (Sec e a ia -Gene al, DG CLIMA, JRC), Eu opean
Pa liamen , Council o he EU, Commi ee o he Regions, Eu opean Economic and
Social Commi ee (EESC), EU agencies (EEA), EU-le el CSO ne wo ks.
o Na ional le el: Na ional go e nmen s (as pa icipan s in EU p ocesses).
Recommenda ion 1.B: Es ablish o mal manda es and amewo ks o ci izen
engagemen in he adap a ion cycle
➢ Main objec i e: Inc ease consis ency and quali y o engagemen ac oss Eu ope by c ea ing
he necessa y o mal s uc u es and equi emen s o engagemen o become a s anda d
pa o adap a ion go e nance. Es ablish clea legal and policy amewo ks a EU, na ional,
egional, and local le els ha o mally in eg a e and, whe e app op ia e, manda e
meaning ul engagemen as a sys ema ic componen h oughou he en i e clima e

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adap a ion cycle (e.g. Regional Adap a ion Suppo Tool (RAST) and Regional Resilience
Jou ney), om planning o implemen a ion and moni o ing, including anspa en
mechanisms o ack up ake and impac .
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Inc eased consis ency and quali y o engagemen ac oss Eu ope;
o Mains eaming engagemen as s anda d p ac ice, mo ing beyond ad-hoc ini ia i es;
o Enhanced legi imacy and public accep ance o adap a ion policies;
o Imp o ed policy e ec i eness h ough in eg a ion o di e se ypes o knowledge;
o G ea e accoun abili y o public au ho i ies;
o Inclusion o new s anda dized democ a ic p ocedu es ha in ol e ci izens in exis ing
ep esen a i e democ acy sys ems.
➢ Ra ionale/challenges: Cu en ly, ci izen engagemen in clima e adap a ion o en emains
olun a y, agmen ed, and dependen on luc ua ing poli ical will (as men ioned in
challenge C.7). Lack o o mal in eg a ion leads o inconsis encies and missed oppo uni ies
o le e aging local knowledge (challenge C.9). Exis ing ins i u ional ba ie s and siloed
app oaches hinde e ec i e co-p oduc ion (challenge C.8). Es ablishing clea amewo ks
and manda es, suppo ed by s ong ins i u ional backing and po en ially making
pa icipa ion legally binding in ce ain con ex s, is c ucial o ensu ing engagemen is
sys ema ic, sus ained, and in luen ial ac oss all go e nance le els. This add esses he need
o s uc u al changes o ins i u ionalize public pa icipa ion and p o ides he p edic abili y
needed o long- e m planning and accoun abili y.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o De elop models o hyb id ep esen a i e democ acy ha in eg a e di e en o ms
(elec o al, pa icipa o y) o poli ical ep esen a ion and pa icipa ion in o clima e
adap a ion policy and decision making.
o Design new di ec i es o ein o ce exis ing legisla ion (e.g. Aa hus Con en ion
implemen a ion, Clima e laws) se ing s anda ds o ci izen engagemen in
na ional/ egional adap a ion planning and signi ican adap a ion p ojec s.
o De elop o e ise na ional and egional adap a ion s a egies and laws o explici ly
equi e and guide engagemen p ocesses a ele an phase o he cycle (planning,
implemen a ion, moni o ing).
o De elop clea adminis a i e guidelines o a “code o conduc ” de ining scope,
me hods, a ge g oups, expec ed ou pu s, including how inpu s will be conside ed
and eedback p o ided (Adap a ion Suppo Tool, Regional Resilience Jou ney).
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o In eg a e engagemen equi emen s in o exis ing local planning ins umen s like
Sus ainable Ene gy and Clima e Ac ion Plans. Include clauses o in e -municipali y
coope a ion wi hin poli ical manda es o add ess c oss-bo de issues.
➔ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο EU le el: Eu opean Commission, Eu opean Pa liamen , Council o he EU.
ο Na ional le el: Na ional go e nmen s and pa liamen s, en i onmen al agencies.
ο Regional and local le el: Regional and local au ho i ies, planning depa men s.
Recommenda ion 1.C: Mains eam engagemen ac oss socio-economic sec o s,
including he p i a e sec o
➢ Main objec i e: Expand he scope o ci izen engagemen beyond go e nmen s uc u es
in o he ab ic o he economy and di e en socie al sec o s. P omo e and incen i ize he
in eg a ion o ci izen engagemen o co-p oduce clima e adap a ion s a egies and ac ions
ac oss all ele an socio-economic sec o s mo ing beyond silos (e.g. ene gy, anspo ,
ag icul u e, heal h, inance), and explici ly encou aging p i a e sec o pa icipa ion,
in es men , and esponsibili y in co-de eloping and implemen ing adap a ion solu ions.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Mo e comp ehensi e and in eg a ed adap a ion solu ions ac oss sec o s;
o B eaking down ins i u ional silos;
o Le e aging p i a e inance and inno a ion o esilience;
o Inc eased ele ance and owne ship o adap a ion measu es ac oss socie y;
o Po en ial o co-bene i s (e.g. g een jobs, imp o ed heal h ou comes).
➢ Ra ionale/challenges: Clima e adap a ion is no only a public sec o esponsibili y, and i
equi es ac ion ac oss all pa s o socie y and he economy. Cu en app oaches a e o en
siloed wi hin en i onmen al o planning depa men s (challenge C.8), neglec ing he speci ic
adap a ion needs and po en ial con ibu ions o sec o s like ag icul u e, heal h, ou ism, o
inance. Fu he mo e, public unding alone is insu icien ; engaging he p i a e sec o can
unlock addi ional esou ces, inno a ion, and expe ise. Manda ing c oss-sec o al s a egies
ha include engagemen and os e ing public-p i a e pa ne ships a e c ucial o holis ic and
e ec i e adap a ion.
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➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o Manda e h ough na ional policy ha key socio-economic sec o s (e.g. anspo ,
ag icul u e, heal h) de elop clima e adap a ion plans ha inco po a e a ec ed
s akeholde and ci izen pe spec i es on isks and solu ions.
o In eg a e ci izen engagemen conside a ions in o sec o al policies and unding
s eams (e.g. Common Ag icul u al Policy, egional de elopmen unds).
o De elop inancial and non- inancial incen i es (e.g. public p ocu emen c i e ia,
ecogni ion schemes) o businesses ha in eg a e engagemen in o hei adap a ion
e o s.
o Link ci izen and s akeholde engagemen equi emen s o manda o y co po a e
sus ainabili y and clima e isk epo ing amewo ks (e.g. CSRD, TCFD), equi ing
companies o epo on how hey engage a ec ed communi ies in hei adap a ion
planning.
o Es ablish o suppo mul i-s akeholde pla o ms, egional clima e hubs, o
communi ies o p ac ice ocused on speci ic sec o s o c oss-sec o al challenges.
o De elop guidance ma e ials ailo ed o speci ic sec o s on how o e ec i ely engage
s akeholde s and ci izens in hei adap a ion planning.
➢ Ac o s in ol ed:
ο EU le el: EU gene al di ec ions (DGs) such as CLIMA, GROW, and all sec o al DGs, EIB,
EBRD.
ο Na ional le el: Na ional minis ies (en i onmen , economy, ag icul u e, heal h,
anspo , e c.), indus y egula o s, inancial ins i u ions (e.g. na ional banks).
ο Regional and local le el: Regional/local au ho i ies, chambe s o comme ce, inancial
ins i u ions.
ο O he s: P i a e sec o companies and associa ions, esea ch ins i u ions.
Recommenda ion 1.D: Embed en i onmen al and clima e jus ice in he policy
amewo k
➢ Main objec i e: Ensu e ha engagemen p ac ices a e g ounded in jus ice and equi y,
add essing powe imbalances and p omo ing inclusi e esilience ha p io i ises ulne able,
ma ginalised and unde - ep esen ed oices. Embed p inciples o en i onmen al and clima e
jus ice as a co e equi emen wi hin all clima e adap a ion policies and associa ed ci izen
engagemen amewo ks. Make su e ha no one is le behind in clima e adap a ion policies
by equally dis ibu ing he bene i s o adap a ion and a oiding placing he bu den o
adap a ion on ulne able g oups. To do so, ensu e ha dedica ed s a egies, esou ces, and
me hodologies a e employed o ac i ely p io i ize he inclusion, meaning ul pa icipa ion
and speci ic needs o ulne able and his o ically ma ginalized g oups.
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➢ Expec ed bene i s:
ο Fai e and mo e equi able adap a ion ou comes;
ο Reduced ulne abili y o ma ginalized communi ies;
ο Inc eased social cohesion and us in go e nance;
ο P e en ion o maladap a ion (i.e., adap a ion solu ions ha lead o an inc eased
ulne abili y) ha ha ms ulne able g oups o un ai ly bu dens some pa s o he
popula ion, po en ially inc easing inequali ies;
ο Alignmen wi h EU undamen al igh s and Sus ainable De elopmen Goals.
➢ Ra ionale/challenges: Clima e change impac s disp opo iona ely a ec ulne able
popula ions, ye hese g oups o en ace he g ea es ba ie s o pa icipa ing in decision-
making (challenge C.1). Wi hou explici a en ion o jus ice, adap a ion policies isk
ein o cing o e en exace ba ing exis ing inequali ies. Consis en ly embedding jus ice
p inciples a all go e nance le els and a all le els o he adap a ion policy cycle is essen ial
o achie ing “jus esilience" and ensu ing engagemen p ocesses a e uly inclusi e and
equi able. This equi es mo ing beyond okenis ic inclusion o ensu e ulne able g oups
ha e genuine in luence. Manda ing he iden i ica ion and a ge ed engagemen o hese
g oups is c ucial.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o Explici ly in eg a e en i onmen al and clima e jus ice p inciples in o EU, na ional,
egional, and local adap a ion s a egies and he o mal amewo ks men ioned in
ecommenda ion 1.B.
o Manda e pa icipa o y social ulne abili y assessmen s as pa o clima e isk
assessmen s, iden i ying g oups mos a isk, including he spa ial mapping o
ulne abili y.
o De elop and und a ge ed inclusion s a egies ailo ed o he speci ic needs and
con ex s o ulne able and “di icul o each” g oups (e.g. using us ed
in e media ies, p o iding ansla ion, childca e, compensa ion).
o Alloca e dedica ed budge lines wi hin adap a ion unding o inclusi e and equi able
engagemen ac i i ies, le e aging EU unding mechanisms (e.g., Cohesion Funds,
Ho izon Eu ope).
o Build capaci y among public au ho i ies and acili a o s on jus ice p inciples, gende
mains eaming and inclusi e, powe -sensi i e acili a ion echniques.
o Requi e epo ing on how he pe spec i es and needs o ulne able g oups ha e
in luenced adap a ion planning and ou comes.
o Lea n om exis ing models like he Sco ish Jus T ansi ion Commission o in o m he
c ea ion o new go e nance bodies ocused on dis ibu ional and p ocedu al jus ice.
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➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Lack o consis en poli ical will is a majo impedimen o scaling and
sus aining engagemen (challenge C.7). Engagemen seen me ely as op ional o a po en ial
isk will emain agile. Secu ing long- e m commi men equi es aming engagemen as
aluable o achie ing be e , mo e legi ima e adap a ion ou comes and in eg a ing i in o
he municipali y’s s a egic ision and s anda d ope a ions. S ong leade ship signals i s
impo ance, bu s uc u al embedding helps ensu e con inui y despi e poli ical changes.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o In eg a e ci izen engagemen p inciples and commi men s explici ly in o he
municipali y’s o e all s a egic plan, clima e ac ion plan, and es ablish a manda o y
accoun abili y mechanism, such as an annual public epo , o ack hei
implemen a ion.
o P omo e awa eness among elec ed o icials and senio managemen abou he
bene i s o engagemen o clima e adap a ion and public ac ion (e.g. h ough
b ie ings, showcasing success ul local examples, highligh ing links o unding
oppo uni ies).
o P omo e engagemen as a isk managemen ool ha educes poli ical opposi ion,
li iga ion, and p ojec ailu e di ec ly con ibu ing o ins i u ional goals.
o Es ablish mechanisms (like he in e nal s uc u es in Rec 2.B) ha ins i u ionalize
engagemen p ac ices, making hem less dependen on indi idual poli ical
champions.
o Encou age pa icipa ion in na ional and in e na ional ci y ne wo ks ha p omo e and
no malize ci izen engagemen in clima e ac ion, and ac i ely le e age EU p og ams
(such as he Mission on Adap a ion o he Co enan o Mayo s) o champion poli ical
leade ship and gain in e na ional isibili y.
o De elop clea communica ion s a egies ha ame engagemen posi i ely,
emphasizing sha ed esponsibili y and democ a ic alues.
o Ensu e con inui y o engagemen p ocesses ac oss elec ion cycles by es ablishing
non-pa isan amewo ks o o e sigh bodies whe e app op ia e.
o Le e age poli ical leade ship and he ole o he mayo o signal he impo ance o
engagemen and p o ide ins i u ional backing.
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
Regional and local le el: Mayo s, ci y councillo s, senio municipal managemen , poli ical
pa ies (local b anches), local go e nmen associa ions, ci y ne wo ks.

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5.2.3. Pilla 3: Empowe ing s akeholde s and ci izens o ake an
ac i e and meaning ul ole in adap a ion ac ions.
This pilla di ec ly empowe s ci izens and di e se s akeholde g oups o become ac i e and
in luen ial pa icipan s in clima e adap a ion, mo ing beyond passi e consul a ion. I s a egically
aims o os e he necessa y awa eness, mo i a ion, skills, and oppo uni ies o meaning ul
engagemen , pa icula ly add essing ba ie s aced by o en-excluded g oups.
Pilla 3 undamen ally impac s cul u al oo s and os e s clima e li e acy ac oss socie y, building
awa eness and empowe ing ci izens o see engagemen as a aluable and accessible ac i i y (Scaling
deep – Figu e 5). By p oac i ely emo ing p ac ical and economic ba ie s o ulne able g oups and
suppo ing g ass oo s ac ions, i di ec ly p o ides he means o ac ion (Scaling down). This
empowe men a indi idual and communi y le el c ea es a b oade and mo e commi ed ci izen
base, which in u n inc eases he numbe and di e si y o people ac i ely engaged in adap a ion
(Scaling ou ) and suppo s g ea e public and poli ical demand o he ins i u ionaliza ion o
pa icipa o y go e nance (Scaling up).
This in ol es manda ing and suppo ing he inclusion and in luence o a ec ed and ulne able
popula ions and c ea ing a enues o di ec ci izen con ibu ion h ough communi y-led adap a ion
ac ions and ci izen ac ions ini ia i es.
Figu e 5. Scaling di ec ions add essed by s akeholde s and ci izens empowe men o engage.
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Recommenda ion 3.A: Enhance clima e adap a ion and ci izen ac ion li e acy and
awa eness ac oss socie y
➢ Main objec i e: Build he ounda ional knowledge and awa eness necessa y o ci izens o
eel empowe ed and equipped o engage meaning ully. Enhance clima e adap a ion and
ci izen ac ions li e acy and awa eness ac oss socie y h ough sus ained, accessible public
educa ion campaigns using plain language, and by sys ema ically in eg a ing adap a ion and
engagemen concep s in o educa ional cu icula a all le els.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Inc eased public unde s anding and knowledge abou clima e isks and adap a ion;
o Enhanced awa eness and capaci y o ci izens o engage meaning ully;
o G ea e mo i a ion o pa icipa ion and indi idual ac ion;
o Imp o ed long- e m socie al esilience h ough in o med ci izenship.
➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Meaning ul pa icipa ion equi es a ounda ional unde s anding o
clima e change impac s, adap a ion op ions, and he ole ci izens can play. Ci izens
hemsel es highligh ed educa ional gaps and a lack o awa eness hinde ing mo i a ion o
engage (challenge C.6). Public educa ion campaigns using clea , ela able language and
ocusing on local impac s can b idge his gap (challenge C.3). In eg a ing adap a ion in o
school cu icula ensu es long- e m, sys emic capaci y building o u u e gene a ions.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o De elop and und na ional and egional public awa eness campaigns on clima e
adap a ion, using di e se media (including adi ional channels like local adio/p in )
and ailo ing messages o local con ex s and conce ns.
o Manda e and suppo he in eg a ion o clima e change adap a ion and ci izen ac ion
opics in o o mal educa ion cu icula om p ima y o e ia y le els, while
p omo ing schools as hubs o hands-on communi y esilience p ojec s.
o In es in equi able access o quali y clima e adap a ion educa ion o all, including
be e ing he connec ion be ween he eaching and scien i ic communi ies.
o Fos e a cul u e o engagemen by p o iding esou ces and oppo uni ies o ci izens
o de elop and lead clima e adap a ion ini ia i es in hei own languages, p omo ing
a sense o owne ship and pa icipa ion in he p ocess.
o Enable anspa en and accessible p ac ices and media ha p omo e c i ical hinking
and challenge misin o ma ion and disin o ma ion abou clima e adap a ion.
o De elop accessible educa ional ma e ials (in og aphics, ideos, ac shee s) in
mul iple languages, a oiding echnical ja gon.
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o De elop public communica ion campaigns ha p oac i ely add ess misin o ma ion
and sou ces o public dis us .
o Suppo in o mal educa ion ini ia i es h ough museums, lib a ies, communi y
cen es, and ci il socie y o ganisa ions.
o T ain educa o s and communica o s on e ec i ely con eying clima e adap a ion and
engagemen concep s.
o P omo e ansdisciplina y co-c ea ion and knowledge sha ing o iden i y clima e
adap a ion solu ions h ough he sha ing o p ac ices and expe iences.
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο Na ional le el: Na ional and egional minis ies o educa ion and en i onmen .
ο Regional and local le el: Ins i u ions in cha ge o educa ion.
ο O he s: Educa ion CSOs and NGOs, media, schools and uni e si ies, science
communica ion p o essionals, museums and lib a ies.
Recommenda ion 3.B: Ensu e equi able access o engagemen by emo ing ba ie s
and imp o ing ou each
➢ Main objec i e: Empowe ci izens di ec ly by ensu ing hey ha e he p ac ical means and
in o ma ion needed o access and pa icipa e in engagemen oppo uni ies. Ensu e
equi able access o clima e adap a ion engagemen oppo uni ies by implemen ing
p oac i e, a ge ed communica ion s a egies o each all segmen s o he popula ion and
sys ema ically emo ing p ac ical and economic ba ie s o pa icipa ion.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
ο Mo e di e se and ep esen a i e pa icipa ion in engagemen p ocesses;
ο Reduced socioeconomic ba ie s o pa icipa ion;
ο Inc eased legi imacy o engagemen ou comes;
ο Empowe men o g oups p e iously excluded.
➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Pa icipa ion is o en skewed owa ds al eady engaged o p i ileged
g oups due o a ious ba ie s. Financial cons ain s, lack o ime (ca e du ies, job
cons ain s), mobili y issues, and language ba ie s p e en many om pa icipa ing
(challenges C.1 and C.2). P o iding compensa ion o suppo (childca e, a el) is c ucial o
equi y. Fu he mo e, simply announcing oppo uni ies isn’ enough; a ge ed ou each
h ough di e se channels, including non-digi al ones and us ed communi y ne wo ks, is
needed o each hose o en missed.
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➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
ο Sys ema ically o e inancial o non- inancial compensa ion, eimbu semen o
a el/childca e, o o he ele an incen i es o pa icipa ion, pa icula ly o
unde ep esen ed g oups. “Ci izen engagemen can’ be done o ee”.
ο De elop mul i-channel communica ion s a egies using di e se o ma s (digi al,
p in , local adio, communi y mee ings) and languages ailo ed o di e en a ge
g oups.
ο Pa ne wi h communi y o ganiza ions, social se ices, and local leade s who ha e
es ablished us and ne wo ks wi hin speci ic communi ies.
ο Ensu e engagemen ac i i ies a e held a accessible imes and loca ions.
ο P o ide op ions o bo h online and o line pa icipa ion o ca e o di e en needs
and capaci ies.
ο Simpli y and ailo communica ion abou engagemen oppo uni ies, clea ly s a ing
he pu pose, ime commi men , and suppo a ailable, aming hem a ound local
eali ies ins ead o abs ac concep s.
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο Na ional le el: Na ional unding bodies (p o iding guidelines/ unding o suppo
measu es).
ο Regional and local le el: Local au ho i ies, social se ices.
ο O he s: CSOs (e.g., ECSA), communi y leade s/g oups, engagemen p ac i ione s and
expe s.
Recommenda ion 3.C: Suppo he meaning ul inclusion and in luence o ulne able
g oups
➢ Main objec i e: Empowe speci ically ulne able ci izens by ensu ing hei oices a e no
only hea d bu also in luen ial in shaping adap a ion ac ions ha a ec hem mos . Manda e
he explici conside a ion o p e-exis ing inequali ies and ensu e he meaning ul inclusion
and demons able in luence o ulne able and ma ginalized g oups wi hin clima e
adap a ion planning and decision-making p ocesses h ough ailo ed suppo and
me hodologies. These p ocesses should include younge gene a ions, who will be mos
a ec ed by he consequences o clima e change.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
ο Mo e equi able adap a ion policies ha add ess he speci ic needs o hose mos
a ec ed;
ο Reduced isk o maladap a ion ha ming ulne able g oups (as de ailed in Rec. 1.D);
ο Inc eased us and social cohesion;
ο Empowe men o ma ginalized communi ies;
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ο Ful ilmen o jus ice and equi y p inciples.
➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Vulne able g oups and younge gene a ions a e disp opo iona ely
a ec ed by clima e change bu sys ema ically unde ep esen ed in decision-making
(challenge C.1). Achie ing “jus esilience” equi es mo ing beyond okenis ic inclusion o
ensu e hese g oups ha e genuine in luence (powe -sensi i e pa icipa ion). This
necessi a es speci ic manda es, ailo ed app oaches ecognizing hei speci ic needs and
cons ain s (challenge C.2), and ensu ing hei inpu is demons ably conside ed.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o Manda e wi hin adap a ion policy amewo ks (linked o Rec 1.B & 1.D) ha
ulne abili y assessmen s iden i y key g oups and equi e a ge ed engagemen
s a egies o hem.
o Requi e adap a ion plans o epo speci ically on how ulne able g oups we e
in ol ed and how hei inpu in luenced decisions.
o Co-design engagemen p ocesses wi h ep esen a i es o ulne able g oups
(women-led, mino i y g oups), o ensu e me hods a e app op ia e, accessible, and
cul u ally sensi i e.
o P o ide dedica ed suppo (e.g. capaci y building o pa icipa ion, ansla ion
se ices, sa e spaces o dialogue) ailo ed o he needs o speci ic g oups.
o U ilize me hods ha empowe ma ginalized oices, po en ially including communi y-
d i en assessmen s o pa ne ships wi h ep esen a i e o ganiza ions.
o T ain acili a o s in powe -sensi i e and inclusi e me hodologies.
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο Na ional le el: Na ional au ho i ies’ componen s, human igh s o ganiza ions.
ο Regional and local le el: Local and egional au ho i ies (policy make s, planning
dep s., social se ices).
ο O he s: CSOs ep esen ing ulne able g oups, communi y leade s, local human igh s
o ganiza ions, esea ch ins i u ions (social ulne abili y).
Recommenda ion 3.D: P omo e and suppo ci izen-led adap a ion and g ass oo
ini ia i es
➢ Main objec i e: Empowe ci izens by suppo ing hei capaci y o ini ia e and implemen
adap a ion ac ions and con ibu e di ec ly o knowledge gene a ion and moni o ing. Ac i ely
p omo e and p o ide angible suppo ( inancial, echnical, adminis a i e) o ci izen-led
adap a ion ini ia i es and ci izen ac ion p og ams (e.g. ci izen science) ela ed o clima e
impac s and adap a ion moni o ing o a oid maladap a ion.

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➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Inc eased local adap a ion ac ion d i en by communi ies;
o Enhanced sense o agency and owne ship among ci izens;
o Imp o ed local da a and moni o ing capaci y;
o S onge social capi al and communi y ne wo ks;
o Inno a i e and con ex -speci ic adap a ion solu ions.
➢ Ra ionale/challenges: Empowe men ex ends beyond pa icipa ing in go e nmen -led
p ocesses o enabling ci izens o ake di ec ac ion hemsel es. Suppo ing g ass oo s
ini ia i es os e s owne ship, aps in o local c ea i i y and ene gy, and can lead o highly
con ex -speci ic solu ions. Ci izen p og ams such as ci izen science in ol e he public di ec ly
in ac ion/ esea ch and moni o ing, enhancing unde s anding, da a collec ion, and
po en ially in o ming adap i e managemen . Suppo ing hese ac i i ies empowe s ci izens
as ac i e agen s o change and con ibu o s o esilience building, mo ing beyond a passi e
ecipien ole.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o Es ablish dedica ed small and lexible g an schemes o unding mechanisms
accessible o communi y g oups o local adap a ion p ojec s (e.g. g eening
ini ia i es, local awa eness campaigns, mu ual suppo ne wo ks).
o P o ide echnical assis ance and adminis a i e suppo om local au ho i ies o help
communi y g oups na iga e egula ions and implemen p ojec s.
o De elop and suppo ci izen ac ion/science p og ams ocused on moni o ing local
clima e impac s (e.g. hea mapping, lood epo ing, biodi e si y moni o ing) o he
e ec i eness o adap a ion measu es.
o C ea e pla o ms o o mal pa hways o sha ing esul s and expe iences om
ci izen-led ini ia i es and ci izen science (linking o knowledge pla o ms in Rec 2.C).
o In eg a e da a om c edible ci izen science p ojec s in o o icial moni o ing and
epo ing whe e app op ia e.
o Facili a e pa ne ships be ween ci izen g oups, local uni e si ies, and local
au ho i ies o co-designed p ojec s.
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο Na ional le el: Na ional unding ins i u ions.
ο Regional and Local le el: Local au ho i ies (en i onmen dep ., communi y
de elopmen ).
ο O he s: CSOs and NGOs (e.g., ECSA), communi y g oups/ac i is s, esea ch
ins i u ions, ci izen science pla o ms/associa ions.
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5.2.4. Pilla 4: Sha ing and applying knowledge and bes
p ac ices o acili a e he co-p oduc ion o jus and ailo ed
adap a ion ac ions.
This pilla enhances he quali y, e ec i eness, and app op ia e applica ion o co-p oduc ion
p ac ices ac oss he di e se geog aphical, cul u al, and poli ical con ex s o Eu ope h ough
imp o ed knowledge sha ing, mu ual lea ning, and con ex ual adap a ion. I aims o eplica e
success ul app oaches by ensu ing ha aluable knowledge, p ac ical expe ience, and inno a i e
me hods a e e ec i ely cap u ed, dissemina ed, c i ically e alua ed, and hough ully adap ed.
Pilla 4 p ima ily es ablishes he in as uc u e (pla o ms, Communi ies o P ac ice) and p ocesses
(c oss-cul u al lea ning, ailo ed me hods) necessa y o he e ec i e eplica ion and dissemina ion
o engagemen p ac ices o g ea e numbe s o people and places (Scaling ou - Figu e 6). I
simul aneously p omo es a cul u e o lea ning, anspa ency and accoun abili y, which helps build
us and shi s no ms a ound how knowledge is alued and sha ed (Scaling deep). I also enhances
p ac i ione s and o ganiza ions in e nal capaci ies by s eng hening he knowledge base and
me hodological epe oi e (Scaling in). Finally, i demons a es he angible impac and alue o
engagemen and p o ides he e idence and jus i ica ion needed o high-le el policy suppo and
ins i u ionaliza ion (Scaling up).
This s eng hens knowledge exchange in as uc u e, os e ing c oss-cul u al dialogue, p omo ing
me hodological di e si y and ailo ing, and es ablishing obus eedback and e alua ion sys ems o
ensu e anspa ency, accoun abili y, and con inuous imp o emen as p ac ices di use.
Figu e 6. Scaling di ec ions add essed by sha ed and applied knowledge and bes p ac ices.
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Recommenda ion 4.A: S eng hen knowledge exchange h ough accessible
pla o ms and mul i-le el communi ies o p ac ice
➢ Main objec i e: P o ide he necessa y in as uc u e and ne wo ks o good p ac ices and
knowledge dissemina ion and collabo a i e lea ning, ocusing on in eg a ing wi h and
enhancing exis ing pla o ms a he han c ea ing duplica i e new ones. This in ol es
s eng hening he sha ing, adap a ion, and applica ion o co-p oduc ion knowledge ac oss
Eu ope by suppo ing accessible, mul i-lingual knowledge pla o ms and by ac i ely os e ing
obus Communi ies o P ac ice a Eu opean, na ional, and local le els.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Reduced duplica ion o e o ;
o Fas e up ake o e ec i e p ac ices;
o Imp o ed quali y and consis ency o engagemen ac oss Eu ope;
o Enhanced capaci y o p ac i ione s h ough pee lea ning;
o Fos e ing inno a ion h ough c oss- e iliza ion o ideas;
o Be e adap a ion o p ac ices o di e se con ex s.
➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Scaling ou e ec i e co-p oduc ion equi es mechanisms o
p ac i ione s, policymake s, and ci izens o easily access and sha e lessons lea ned, bes
p ac ices, ools, and ele an da a (challenge C.3). Cen alized, use - iendly pla o ms
p o iding ele an in o ma ion in mul iple languages can o e come knowledge
agmen a ion. Complemen ing his, dynamic communi ies o p ac ice enable i al pee - o-
pee lea ning, collabo a i e p oblem-sol ing, and he adap a ion o p ac ices o di e en
con ex s. S eng hening bo h s a ic upda ed esou ces and dynamic ne wo ks is c ucial o
e ec i e knowledge dissemina ion and capaci y building ac oss di e se Eu opean se ings.
➢ Examples o implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms:
o In es in de eloping and main aining accessible online pla o ms by building upon
and ensu ing in e ope abili y wi h success ul exis ing ini ia i es (like weADAPT and
MIP4Adap ), o e ing cu a ed esou ces on co-p oduc ion o adap a ion.
o C ea e communi y-based physical spaces o engagemen and educa ion ailo ed o
di e en communi ies’ needs and con ex s.
o Es ablish and suppo mul i-le el Communi ies o P ac ice ocused on ci izen
engagemen in clima e adap a ion, connec ing p ac i ione s, policymake s,
esea che s, and po en ially ci izen ep esen a i es ac oss di e en go e nance
scales (such as AGORA Communi y Hub and EU Mission Communi y o P ac ice and
Thema ic Wo king G oups).
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o Facili a e egula online and o line mee ings, wo kshops, and webina s wi hin hese
Communi ies o P ac ice o knowledge sha ing and join e lec ion.
o P omo e he documen a ion and sha ing o bo h success ul and challenging
engagemen expe iences o os e ealis ic lea ning.
o Ensu e pla o ms and Communi ies o P ac ice ac i ely dissemina e in o ma ion
abou inno a i e me hods and ools, including hose o inclusi e engagemen (Rec
4.C) and e alua ion (Rec 4.D).
➢ Key ac o s in ol ed:
ο EU le el: EU (EEA, JRC, DG CLIMA).
ο Na ional le el: Na ional/ egional en i onmen /adap a ion agencies.
ο Regional and local le el: ci y ne wo ks (e.g. communi y o municipali ies, ICLEI).
ο O he s: CSOs, p o essional associa ions, esea ch ins i u ions, p ac i ione s.
Recommenda ion 4.B: Facili a e c oss-cul u al lea ning and dialogue on
engagemen p ac ices
➢ Main objec i e: Fos e mu ual unde s anding and p omo e p og ess in engagemen
p ac ices ac oss di e se cul u al con ex s. Facili a e s uc u ed c oss-cul u al lea ning
ini ia i es and dialogue pla o ms speci ically designed o b idge di e se egional
expe iences, expec a ions, and cul u al pe spec i es on ci izen engagemen , p omo ing
mu ual unde s anding and he p og ession o p ac ices.
➢ Expec ed bene i s:
o Inc eased awa eness and unde s anding o con ex ual ac o s in luencing
engagemen ;
o Imp o ed abili y o ailo engagemen s a egies e ec i ely ac oss di e se Eu opean
egions;
o Reduced isk o imposing inapp op ia e models;
o Enhanced collabo a ion and us be ween ac o s om di e en backg ounds;
o Mo e nuanced and cul u ally sensi i e scaling o p ac ices.
➢ Ra ionale/Challenges: Eu ope exhibi s signi ican egional di e ences in public pe cep ion,
amilia i y, and adi ions ega ding ci izen engagemen (challenge C.5). Di ec ly ans e ing
p ac ices wi hou conside ing hese cul u al con ex s can lead o ailu e o mis us . E ec i e
p ac ice eplica ion equi es spaces o ac o s om di e en backg ounds o unde s and
hese nuances, sha e expe iences cons uc i ely, and lea n how o adap app oaches
sensi i ely. S uc u ed dialogue can help o e come assump ions and build common g ound
o collabo a ion ac oss di e se Eu opean se ings.
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21. Eu opean Commission. Eu opean Commission. EU Missions & ci izen engagemen ac i i ies.
. h ps:// esea ch-and-inno a ion.ec.eu opa.eu/ unding/ unding-oppo uni ies/ unding-
p og ammes-and-open-calls/ho izon-eu ope/eu-missions-ho izon-eu ope/eu-missions-
ci izen-engagemen -ac i i ies_en.
22. MI4ADAPT. S akeholde and Ci izen Engagemen in Clima e Adap a ion: A DIY Manual.;
2023. h ps:// esea ch-and-inno a ion.ec.eu opa.eu/documen /download/56804bb8-ddb9-
40c8-8370-1648e2262b80_en? ilename=ec_diy-manual-adap a ion-clima e-change-
mission.pd
23. Moo e ML, Riddell D, Vocisano D. Scaling Ou , Scaling Up, Scaling Deep: S a egies o Non-
p o i s in Ad ancing Sys emic Social Inno a ion. Jou nal o Co po a e Ci izenship.
2015;2015(58):67-84. doi:10.9774/glea .4700.2015.ju.00009
24. Sánchez Rod íguez AM, MacLachlan M, B us A. The coo dina es o scaling: Facili a ing
inclusi e inno a ion. Sys Res Beha Sci. 2021;38(6):833-850. doi:10.1002/s es.2740

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25. B uley E, Scolobig A, Kei h Allen S, e al. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able D4.1 - Enable s and
Ba ie s o Co-Design, Co-De elop and Co-Implemen Solu ions o Clima e Resilience. SEI
HQ; 2024.
26. Komendan o a N, E okhin D, Scolobig A, B uley E, Ma e a M, Baldelli M. Adap a ion
AGORA Deli e able D4.2 - Policy Ins umen s and In luences on Co-P oduc ion.; 2024.
27. Komendan o a N, E okhin Dmi y, A jomendi Ak am P, e al. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able
D4.3 - Guidelines o T ans e abili y o Success ul Ins umen s om O he Policy A eas o
Clima e Change Adap a ion.; 2025.
28. Picka d S, Baulenas E. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able D1.2- Repo on he Me hodologies
and Recommenda ions Used o Ci izen Engagemen .; 2024.
29. Jos F, Ve ones A, Nach igall; Ne e a i, e al. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able D2.3 -
Inno a i e Mechanisms and App oaches o Ci izen Engagemen in Clima e Change
Adap a ion.; 2025.
30. Englund M, Ge ge Swa ling A, And é K, Ka lsson S. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able D3.2 -
Re ined and Upda ed F amewo k o Co-E alua e Ci izen and S akeholde Engagemen
Me hodologies.; 2023.
31. Baulenas E, Picka d S. Adap a ion AGORA Deli e able D1.1- Mapping o Exis ing Ci izen
Engagemen Ini ia i es.; 2024.
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8. Appendix: De ailed me hodology o oadmap de elopmen
This annex de ails he mul i-phase p ocess used o collec , analyse and syn hesize he di e se
da ase used o de elop he oadmap. The me hodology was designed o be i e a i e and e idence-
based, in eg a ing insigh s om academic li e a u e, policy analysis, empi ical esea ch, and di ec
s akeholde alida ion.
8.1. Objec i es
The oadmap ollowed he objec i es es ablished in he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec ask 4.5:
Task 4.5: De elop a oadmap o ans o ma ional change
This ask will summa ise WP4 key lessons lea n and ecommenda ions in a policy whi e pape ocused on
highligh ing s a egic ac ions and go e nance mechanisms/s uc u es ha can suppo he upscaling o co-
p oduc ion/ci izen engagemen p ocesses o clima e esilience in Eu ope. I will e ise, build on and expand
exis ing inno a ion oadmaps (e.g. Roadmap o he up ake o Ci izen Obse a o ies, de eloped in he
WeObse e p ojec ) and ini ia i es sugges ed in o he EC p ojec s (e.g. Eu opean Policy Di ec i e on he use
o ci izen gene a ed da a, see also sec ion 1.2.1.2). I will iden i y p io i y s a egic ac ions in he con ex o
medium- e m policy windows o oppo uni y (e.g. Clima e Adap a ion Mission) and pinpoin he key pilla s
o he es ablishmen o inno a i e and las ing go e nance mechanisms a egional, na ional and Eu opean
scale ha will acili a e wide-scale implemen a ion o co-p oduc ion p ocesses. A i s d a o he policy whi e
pape will be p esen ed and discussed in a wo kshop in ol ing p ac i ione s and policy make s ( he same
ea lie engaged in Task 4.1 and Task 4.4). Based on hei eedback, a inal e sion o he policy whi e pape
will be p epa ed, co-au ho ed by all in ol ed con ibu o s.
8.2. Lessons lea ned om he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec ou pu s
The da ase p ima ily encompassed a ailable deli e ables p oduced in he Adap a ion AGORA EU
unded p ojec summa izing he lessons lea ned abou ci izen and s akeholde engagemen
p ac ices, me hodology, challenges and oppo uni ies ac oss he p ojec . These deli e ables
included:
➢ Deli e able D4.1 - Enable s and ba ie s o co-design, co-de elop and co-implemen
solu ions o clima e esilience
➢ Deli e able D4.2 - Policy ins umen s and in luences on co-p oduc ion
➢ Deli e able D3.2 - Re ined and upda ed amewo k o co-e alua e ci izen and s akeholde
engagemen me hodologies
➢ Deli e able D1.1 - Mapping o exis ing ci izen engagemen ini ia i es
➢ Deli e able D1.2 - Repo on he me hodologies and ecommenda ions used o ci izen
engagemen
➢ D2.3 Inno a i e mechanisms and app oaches o ci izen engagemen in clima e change
adap a ion - Lessons lea ned om pilo s’ ocus g oups
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These deli e ables de eloped di e en s ands o knowledge, including a sys ema ic li e a u e
e iew o academic li e a u e ocusing on he iden i ied ba ie s and enable s o e ec i e
s akeholde and ci izen engagemen in clima e adap a ion (D4.1); Sys ema ic analysis o
pa icipa o y elemen s in Eu opean, Spanish and Ge man adap a ion policies (D4.2); Empi ical da a
ga he ed om eal-wo ld ci izen engagemen p ac ices, including indings om su eys, semi-
s uc u ed in e iews and ocus g oups conduc ed wi h di e se s akeholde s and ci izens ac oss
di e en Eu opean con ex s (D1.1, D1.2, D2.3, and D4.1); Expe s d i en knowledge including Delphi
consul a ion, online su eys and in-dep h in e iews (D1.2, D3.2 and D4.1); and he mapping o
exis ing da abases o ci izen engagemen ini ia i es (D1.1).
A sys ema ic and quali a i e analysis o hese documen s was ealized in o de o ex ac key
elemen s abou exis ing ins i u ional, economic, social and cul u al challenges and oppo uni ies
hinde ing o suppo ing he scaling o ci izen and engagemen p ac ices. These elemen s ha e been
colla ed in he ollowing ables (Tables 1 o 6).
Table 1. Key elemen s ex ac ed om Deli e able D4.2.
Ou pu s
Desc ip ion
Sou ce
Page
Decen alized and
ailo ed engagemen
Es ablishing egional and local councils o clima e
adap a ion would enable mo e localized
pa icipa ion, especially in u al and high- isk a eas.
Coun ies could le e age such mechanisms o b idge
he u al-u ban di ide ha limi s clima e engagemen
in smalle , mo e ulne able communi ies. Tailo ing
engagemen e o s o local con ex s – accoun ing o
linguis ic, cul u al, and echnological di e ences –
ensu es ha pa icipa ion amewo ks esona e wi h
and a e accessible o all ci izens.
D4.2
73
Imp o ed digi al and
non-digi al
pa icipa ion
pla o ms
While digi al ools ha e been use ul, hey exclude
indi iduals wi h limi ed access o echnology o digi al
li e acy. Policies should inco po a e non-digi al
al e na i es, such as mobile uni s ha can a el o
emo e communi ies, o adi ional communica ion
channels (e.g. local adio, p in ma e ials) o each a
b oade audience.
D4.2
73
Vulne able g oups
ep esen a ion
The policies should manda e ha clima e adap a ion
plans explici ly include inpu om ulne able
communi ies. Engaging hese g oups h ough
a ge ed ou each and ensu ing hei ep esen a ion
D4.2
73
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on pa icipa o y bodies would align wi h EU goals o
inclusi i y.
Public awa eness
campaigns
Na ional and egional go e nmen s should in es in
public educa ion campaigns ha use plain, ela able
language o communica e clima e adap a ion
s a egies. This will equi e a conce ed e o o
simpli y echnical ja gon and ocus on he local
impac s o clima e change, as well as speci ic ac ions
ha ci izens can ake o engage. Coun ies could
bene i om egion-speci ic campaigns, pa icula ly
in a eas p one o looding o d ough .
D4.2
73
Clima e adap a ion
educa ion in schools
In eg a ing clima e adap a ion concep s in o school
cu icula ac oss all egions is c ucial. Such educa ion
would help cul i a e long- e m ci izen engagemen
and ensu e ha u u e gene a ions a e equipped o
pa icipa e in adap a ion e o s.
D4.2
73
Fo mal eedback loops
Es ablish o mal, ecu ing eedback sys ems ha
allow ci izens o pa icipa e in pe iodic e iews o
clima e adap a ion policies. Coun ies could c ea e
public consul a ions o ci izen e iew panels o assess
ongoing adap a ion measu es.
D4.2
73
T anspa en epo ing
To build us , go e nmen s should publicly epo
how eedback is in eg a ed in o policy changes.
Repo s should be accessible and easily
unde s andable, allowing he public o see di ec links
be ween hei inpu and subsequen go e nmen
ac ion.
D4.2
74
Dedica ed unding o
pa icipa ion
ini ia i es
Go e nmen s should es ablish long- e m unding o
pa icipa ion ini ia i es, ensu ing ha engagemen
mechanisms a e sus ained beyond he ini ial s ages.
This could be pa o b oade clima e adap a ion
inancing, allowing egions o alloca e a po ion o
hei budge s speci ically o os e con inued ci izen
engagemen .
D4.2
74
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Public-p i a e
pa ne ships o
engagemen
P i a e-sec o in ol emen in adap a ion e o s,
pa icula ly h ough unding and co-designing
engagemen s a egies, can help alle ia e public
sec o unding cons ain s. Go e nmen s should
encou age p i a e businesses o sponso clima e
adap a ion p ojec s ha inco po a e s akeholde
pa icipa ion.
D4.2
74
Regional clima e hubs
Es ablish mul i-sec o al egional clima e hubs whe e
s akeholde s om di e en sec o s (e.g. ag icul u e,
public heal h, and in as uc u e) can collabo a e
wi h local go e nmen s and ci izens. Coun ies could
bene i om ex ending hei municipal clima e
adap a ion s a egies o inco po a e mo e di e se
sec o al ep esen a ion.
D4.2
74
Manda ed c oss-
sec o al adap a ion
s a egies
Na ional go e nmen s should manda e ha all
sec o s – including anspo , ag icul u e, heal h, and
educa ion – de elop in eg a ed clima e adap a ion
s a egies. This would ensu e ha adap a ion is no
siloed bu a he embedded ac oss all a eas o
go e nance.
D4.2
74
Table 2. Key elemen s ex ac ed om Deli e able D3.2.
Ou pu s
Desc ip ion
Page
Rele an knowledge
Con ex ual adap a ion knowledge and ac ion ha align wi h
local needs, expec a ions, and alues.
Ou come 1.1 – The engagemen p ocess and i s ou pu s a e
aligned wi h he local con ex (co-explo e con ex , co-
explo e ulne abili y, adap as change un olds).
Ou come 1.2 – Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and
o he s akeholde s ha e a sense o buy in (engage ea ly,
manage expec a ions, o mula e join objec i es).
34-35

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Jus pa icipa ion
Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and o he
s akeholde s ha e an equal oppo uni y o
pa icipa e and oice conce ns in he adap a ion decision-
making and ac ion.
Ou come 2.1 – The engagemen p ocess enjoys a ai
ep esen a ion o a ec ed g oups (iden i y and in ol e
ele an s akeholde s).
Ou come 2.2 – Ci izens and o he s akeholde s ha e access
o he engagemen p ocess and i s
ou pu s (decide on ime and place, ailo ou pu s o di e en
g oups).
Ou come 2.3 - Ci izens and o he s akeholde s pa icipa e
ac i ely in he engagemen p ocess (adop me hods and
pla o ms o engagemen , appoin an expe ienced
acili a o ).
35-36
Mu ual lea ning
Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and o he
s akeholde s lea n, exchange, and co-p oduce
knowledge.
Ou come 3.1 – Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and
o he s akeholde s ha e sha ed
knowledge abou key opics. (Iden i y lea ning a eas,
Add ess knowledge gaps).
37
Imp o ed
collabo a ion
Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and o he
s akeholde s build, de elop, o imp o e hei
collabo a ion.
Ou come 4.1 – Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and
o he s akeholde s ha e a mu ual
in e es in main aining hei ela ionship h ough u u e
collabo a ion.
Ou come 4.2 – Ci izens, decision make s, esea che s, and
o he s akeholde s ha e a sense o
mu ual us (alloca e oles and esponsibili ies, es ablish
ules o conduc , deli e accoun abili ies on ime, encou age
open communica ion).
37-38
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Table 3. Key elemen s ex ac ed om Deli e able D1.2.
Ou pu s
Desc ip ion
Page
Local cul u al no ms
and alues
The cul u al a i udes owa d pa icipa ion, delibe a ion,
and collabo a ion impac how ci izens engage. Fo
example, in some egions, delibe a ion and public
discussion a e well-accep ed, while in o he s, hey a e seen
as unnecessa y o con on a ional.
Table 8
Social mo emen s and
his o ical expe ience
Mo emen s like Spain’s Indignados (2011) in luenced he
public pe cep ion o engagemen . Con ex s wi h a his o y
o social mo emen s end o ha e highe public in e es in
pa icipa ion.
Table 8
Familia i y wi h
delibe a i e
democ acy
Some egions (like Scandina ia and Benelux) ha e mo e
es ablished adi ions o consensus-building, while in o he
a eas (like Cen al and Eas e n Eu ope), ci izen engagemen
may seem "biza e" o un amilia .
Table 8
T us in public
ins i u ions
Con ex s wi h low us in go e nmen o public bodies
end o equi e addi ional anspa ency and accoun abili y
mechanisms o engage ci izens meaning ully.
Table 8
Poli ical clima e and
go e nmen buy-in
Poli ical suppo o engagemen a ies widely.
Au ho i a ian-leaning go e nmen s may see engagemen
as a h ea , while democ a ic go e nmen s may emb ace i
o legi imacy.
Table 8
Elec ion cycles and
poli ical change
The li espan o a ci izen engagemen ini ia i e can be
dis up ed i he e’s a change in poli ical leade ship o
p io i ies.
Table 8
Ins i u ional openness
o engagemen /co-
p oduc ion
Public au ho i ies may esis powe -sha ing o emain
eluc an o shi decision-making powe o ci izens,
especially i his challenges exis ing hie a chies.
Table 8
Legal and egula o y
amewo ks
In some cases, legal manda es exis ha equi e ci izen
engagemen (e.g. EU di ec i es on public pa icipa ion).
Howe e , wi hou such manda es, engagemen becomes
olun a y and mo e agile.
Table 8
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Regional di e ences
The e a e s a k egional di e ences in he adop ion o
ci izen engagemen . Cen al and Eas e n Eu ope ha e lowe
adop ion a es, while Scandina ia and Benelux ha e long
adi ions o public delibe a ion.
Table 8
A ailabili y o unding
and esou ces
Engagemen equi es money o logis ics, acili a ion,
communica ion, and compensa ion o pa icipan s. Lack o
unding can limi engagemen scope, especially in
ma ginalized communi ies.
Table 8
Ma ke iza ion o
democ acy
Expe s no ed ha he e is a g owing “compe i i e ma ke ”
o ci izen engagemen , wi h unding sou ces like he EU
p omo ing compe i ion among o ganiza ions o “sell
democ acy.”
Table 8
Compensa ion and
incen i es
Ci izens a e mo e likely o pa icipa e when he e a e clea
incen i es (e.g. inancial compensa ion, meals, childca e, o
skills de elopmen oppo uni ies).
Table 8
Economic inequali y
Economic inequali y shapes engagemen , as weal hie
ci izens may ha e mo e lexibili y ( ime, money,
knowledge) o pa icipa e, while ma ginalized g oups may
ace ba ie s like unpaid ca e wo k o job cons ain s.
Table 8
Popula ion
demog aphics
Age, gende , and educa ion le els in luence how people
engage. Fo example, olde ci izens may p e e in-pe son
engagemen , while younge gene a ions may be
com o able online.
Table 8
Social di e si y and
inclusion
Engaging unde ep esen ed g oups equi es addi ional
e o s o o e come language, li e acy, and accessibili y
ba ie s. Gende balance and ep esen a ion o
ma ginalized g oups a e o en explici goals in CEIs.
Table 8
Exis ing social capi al
I communi ies ha e s ong ne wo ks and social ies (e.g.
local communi y g oups o neighbou hood associa ions), i
becomes easie o engage hem.
Table 8
U ban s. u al
se ings
U ban a eas o en ha e mo e engagemen due o highe
popula ion densi y, bu u al a eas may equi e place-
based app oaches and a en ion o u al-u ban di ides.
Table 8
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Clima e change
ele ance
In he con ex o clima e adap a ion, ci izens in egions
mo e a ec ed by clima e haza ds (like loods, wild i es, o
hea wa es) may eel mo e u gency o engage.
Table 8
Physical loca ion o
e en s
I engagemen is in-pe son, ci izens may be excluded i
loca ions a e no easily accessible ( emo e a eas,
inadequa e public anspo , e c.).
Table 8
Access o echnology
and digi al li e acy
The shi o digi al engagemen (due o COVID-19) e ealed
ha no e e yone has equal access o eliable in e ne o
knowledge o online ools.
Table 8
Digi al pla o ms o
engagemen
Ci izen engagemen pla o ms ha e become common, bu
amilia i y wi h hese pla o ms a ies, pa icula ly o
elde ly o ma ginalized g oups.
Table 8
Cybe secu i y and
da a p i acy
Digi al pa icipa ion equi es gua an ees ha ci izens' da a
is p o ec ed, which can in luence whe he people eel sa e
engaging online.
Table 8
Table 4. Key elemen s ex ac ed om Deli e able D4.1.
Ou pu s
Desc ip ion
Page
Key ba ie 1:
Ins i u ional and
o ganiza ional ba ie s
These o ganiza ional and cul u al ba ie s wi hin
adminis a ions can pa ially be add essed by:
➔ s eng hening coo dina ion mechanisms wi hin and
ac oss ins i u ions o b eak down silos and os e a mo e
in eg a ed app oach o adap a ion (Key enable 6);
➔ enhance ins i u ional capaci y by p o iding aining,
esou ces, and ools ha suppo co-p oduc ion
p ocesses (Key enable 6);
➔ imp o ing he egula o y and policy amewo k ha
acili a e pa icipa o y p ocesses (Key enable 6);
➔ enhance poli ical will and commi men ensu ing ha
adap a ion e o s a e sus ained despi e shi s in poli ical
p io i ies (Key enable 4 and 6).
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CEI common me hods
used
Mee ings a e he mos common me hod, ollowed by
wo kshops and webina s.
26
Recommenda ion as a
main ou pu
The mos common ou pu was ecommenda ions.
26
Lack o e alua ion
p ocess
Few CEIs ha e an e alua ion p ocess.
26
Table 6. Key elemen s ex ac ed om Deli e able D2.3.
Ou pu s
Desc ip ion
Page
P e e ed
engagemen
mechanisms
➔ T aining wo kshops and mobile skill-building (ca ego y:
lea n abou adap a ion and build you skills - public
awa eness and capaci y building): This engagemen
app oach was p e e ed o se e al easons (inclusi e and
well-sui ed o eaching unde ep esen ed g oups;
adap ed o di e en communi y and ins i u ional se ings;
suppo s pee lea ning and collabo a ion wi h expe s;
lexibili y o in eg a ion in o schools, neighbou hoods, o
public e en s).
➔ Pa icipa o y decision-making p ocesses (ca ego y:
communica ion and eedback mechanisms): This
engagemen app oach was p e e ed o i s capaci y o
suppo anspa en and inclusi e go e nance h ough
s uc u ed dialogue. I was also seen as empowe ing o a
di e se ange o ci izens, allowing hem o con ibu e o
shape adap a ion esponses in ealis ic, con ex -sensi i e
ways. Addi ionally, i was deemed o enhance he
legi imacy o policy decisions by g ounding hem in hei
li ed expe ience.
➔ Hands-on clima e educa ion (ca ego y: lea n abou
adap a ion and build you skills – public awa eness and
capaci y building): This engagemen app oach was
p e e ed because i o e s p ac ical and memo able
lea ning expe iences ha a e g ounded in eal-li e
si ua ions and in ol e di ec pa icipa ion. Beyond
ad ancing long- e m skill de elopmen , his mechanism
was also seen as a way o s eng hen social cohesion (bo h
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wi hin a speci ic ci izen g oup and/o a he communi y
le el). I encou ages ci ic engagemen and en i onmen al
esponsibili y ac oss age g oups and cul u al backg ounds.
➔ Localised ale sys ems (ca ego y: p epa e o eme gency -
communi y esilience and ea ly wa ning sys ems): This
engagemen mechanism was alued o i s inclusi e each
ac oss di e en li e acy le els and social g oups. By
combining mul iple communica ion channels, i p o ides a
lexible model ha can be adap ed o di e se con ex s
while main aining a ocus on cla i y, accessibili y, and
p o ec i e ac ion.
➔ Communi y na a i es and cul u al e en s (ca ego y: lea n
abou adap a ion and build you skills - public awa eness
and capaci y building): This app oach was a ou ed o i s
capaci y o ha ness c ea i i y, emo ion, and collec i e
iden i y o os e engagemen . I p o ed accessible ac oss
language and li e acy ba ie s, pa icula ly in in o mal o
communi y-based se ings.
➔ No able men ion: Communi y ga dens and sha ed spaces
(ca ego y: engage as communi y engagemen and
pa icipa ion): Communi y ga dens we e desc ibed as
inclusi e and angible spaces ha suppo pee lea ning,
in e cul u al exchange, and isible connec ions o clima e
adap a ion e o s. The hands-on, place-based na u e o
his app oach was seen as pa icula ly e ec i e in os e ing
in o mal educa ion, mu ual suppo , and pa icipa ion
ac oss gene a ional and linguis ic di e ences.
Leas p e e ed
engagemen
mechanisms
➔ Public hea ings and consul a ion e en s (ca ego y:
communica ion and eedback mechanisms): This
engagemen mechanism was gene ally seen as poo ly
sui ed o inclusi e and empowe ing pa icipa ion. I s
o ma ails o accommoda e quie e oices o c ea e he
condi ions o us -building, leading o a pe cep ion ha
hese engagemen mechanisms o en se e as p ocedu al
checkboxes a he han oppo uni ies o genuine dialogue
and collabo a ion.
97-99
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➔ Communi y liaison o ice s (ca ego y: communica ion and
eedback mechanisms): Iden i ied among wo king
popula ions and pa icipan s wi h disabili ies in D esden as
one o he leas a ou ed engagemen mechanisms, his
mechanism aised conce ns ela ed o i s cla i y,
p ac icali y, and e ec i eness. Pa icipan s we e no
con iden o ely on a single in e media y o ep esen he
pe spec i es and needs o di e se communi y membe s.
The e we e also conce ns abou he in e pe sonal
demands associa ed wi h he ole, including he ad anced
communica ion, media ion, and nego ia ion skills i would
equi e, quali ies ha may no always be p esen o easily
iden i iable in p ac ice.
➔ Household p epa edness campaigns (ca ego y: p epa e
o eme gency - communi y esilience and ea ly wa ning
sys ems): Household p epa edness campaigns eme ged as
one o he leas a ou ed engagemen mechanisms ac oss
se e al pilo egions, pa icula ly among wo king
popula ions in Malmö and D esden, as well as
mul icul u al communi ies in bo h D esden and Za agoza.
Pa icipan s ac oss hese g oups aised conce ns abou he
o ma ’s indi idualised na u e and i s eliance on pe sonal
mo i a ion, capaci y, and indi idual knowledge, ac o s
ha many el unde mined i s inclusi eness and
e ec i eness.
➔ Communi y disas e commi ees (ca ego y: p epa e o
eme gency - communi y esilience and ea ly wa ning
sys ems): Leas a ou ed in he wo ocus g oups o
wo ke s in D esden, his engagemen mechanism was me
wi h s ong ese a ions among heal hca e p o essionals.
The app oach was pe cei ed as o e ly bu eauc a ic and
di icul o align wi h he eali ies o as -paced, high-
p essu e wo k en i onmen s. The app oach was also
iewed as oo complex o olun ee -based pa icipa ion.
Pa icipan s exp essed doub s abou i s easibili y wi hou
o mal oles, clea incen i es, o designa ed leade ship o
ensu e owne ship and ollow- h ough.
➔ T aining Wo kshops and Mobile Skill-Building (ca ego y:
lea n abou adap a ion and build you skills - public
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awa eness and capaci y building): Al hough his app oach
was one o he mos a ou ed engagemen mechanisms
o e all (pa icula ly in Rome, Za agoza (you h), and bo h
heal hca e- ocused g oups in D esden) i was also among
he leas a ou ed in wo speci ic con ex s: he wo ke
popula ion in Za agoza and he mul icul u al g oup in
D esden. These con as ing esponses highligh ha he
e ec i eness o aining wo kshops and mobile skill-
building o ma s depends signi ican ly on how well hey
a e adap ed o he speci ic needs and eali ies o he a ge
g oup.
Eme ging engagemen
app oaches: a ge
g oup-led inno a ions
o clima e
engagemen
➔ Fo he engaged you h g oups, inno a i e p oposals
highligh ed he impo ance o emo ional connec ion and
ac i e pa icipa ion. These ideas e lec ed an in e es in
o ma s ha suppo c ea i i y and p ac ical lea ning
wi hin e e yday en i onmen s such as schools and
communi y spaces, while also os e ing long- e m
pe sonal de elopmen .
➔ The wo king popula ion, pa icula ly hospi al s a in
D esden, gene a ed p oposals oo ed in hei p o essional
eali ies and ins i u ional s uc u es. Thei ideas balanced
o mal mechanisms wi h lexible, accessible engagemen
oppo uni ies.
➔ Pa icipan s om mul icul u al communi ies emphasized
cul u ally esonan , accessible, and inclusi e engagemen
s a egies.
➔ Among pa icipan s wi h disabili ies and ch onic diseases,
p oposals placed a clea emphasis on accessibili y and
empowe men . Thei sugges ions demons a ed a desi e
no jus o ba ie - ee pa icipa ion bu o meaning ul
leade ship oppo uni ies ha could ensu e ha
adap a ion planning e lec s he li ed expe iences o
ma ginalised g oups.
102-
103
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Engagemen
challenges and
sugges ions om
pa icipan s
Pa icipan s ac oss di e en pilo egions and a ge g oups
highligh ed se e al signi ican ba ie s impac ing he
e ec i eness o ci izen engagemen mechanisms.
➔ Communica ion ba ie s s ood ou p ominen ly ac oss
egions, wi h pa icipan s om mul icul u al backg ounds
s essing he di icul ies o clea ly dissemina ing clima e-
ela ed in o ma ion amid p e alen in o ma ion o e loads.
➔ Managing di e se opinions and pe spec i es in se ings
such as public hea ings and communi y dialogues. This
o en leads o pola iza ion and ine ec i e mode a ion,
esul ing in imbalanced discussions and limi ed inclusi i y.
➔ Rep esen a i es o con ac pe sons a e no always
equipped wi h he necessa y skills, o us o he
communi y o e ec i ely b idge communica ion gaps
be ween s akeholde s.
➔ Tokenis ic app oaches in public hea ings, wi h ci izens
pe cei ing p ede e mined decisions ha a ely
inco po a ed genuine communi y inpu .
➔ Ins i u ional esis ance o change was also iden i ied as a
challenge, wi h some pa icipan s no ing ha public
adminis a ion p ac ices did no always keep pace wi h
e ol ing cul u al a i udes, leading o occasional
misalignmen be ween communi y needs and
adminis a i e esponses.
o Pe sis en us challenges can s em no only om
public misunde s anding, bu also om ing ained
ins i u ional habi s ha may o e look he cul u al
assump ions embedded in scien i ic app oaches,
o en imposing na ow echnical amings on public
issues.
Pa icipan s p o ided de ailed and con ex -speci ic
ecommenda ions aimed a o e coming he iden i ied
challenges:
➔ Engaged you h g oups ecommended embedding
engagemen ac i i ies wi hin educa ional ins i u ions.
➔ Wo king popula ions ecommended s uc u ed ye lexible
engagemen oles such as “idea collec o s” wi hin eams
103-
105
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o acili a e in o ma ion low be ween p ojec
coo dina o s and s a .
➔ Wo ke s also ecommended p ac ical aining sessions o
ensu e wo kplace-based imp o emen s.
➔ Mul icul u al communi ies p oposed using emo ionally
esonan , cul u ally ailo ed o ma s, such as a s,
s o y elling, and communi y ga dening, o engage di e se
g oups e ec i ely.
➔ Pa icipan s highligh ed mul ilingual communica ion,
s uc u ed dialogue e en s, and smalle , ocused
discussion g oups as e ec i e s a egies o ensu e genuine
pa icipa ion and o e come language ba ie s.
➔ Pa icipan s wi h disabili ies and ch onic illnesses s essed
he impo ance o ac i ely in eg a ing public eedback in o
decision-making, wi h clea communica ion on how
con ibu ions in luence ou comes. They ecommended
equen local dialogues and hyb id e en o ma s o
maximize accessibili y and pa icipa ion.
➔ Senio pa icipan s p oposed le e aging amilia , non-
digi al communica ion channels like adio b oadcas s and
communi y ga he ings, emphasizing in o mal pee - o-pee
communica ion oo ed in daily li e con ex s.
O e all, pa icipan s ac oss g oups consis en ly ad oca ed o
p ac ical, inclusi e, cul u ally sensi i e, and con ex ually
g ounded engagemen s a egies, in eg a ed in o e e yday
communi y and ins i u ional s uc u es. They emphasized ha
success ul ci izen engagemen equi es add essing
mo i a ional ba ie s h ough anspa en communica ion,
s uc u ed eedback, and consis en ins i u ional suppo ,
ensu ing ci izens eel genuinely hea d and in luen ial in
shaping clima e adap a ion measu es.

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8.3. Comp ehensi e e iew o Eu opean ecommenda ions (ICLEI)
8.3.1. Objec i es
In p epa a ion o he Task 4.5 o de elop a oadmap o ans o ma ional change, a comp ehensi e
e iew on policy epo s and oadmaps o scale ci izen engagemen in clima e adap a ion was
execu ed by ICLEI Eu ope in collabo a ion wi h ask lead UNIGE. To op imize he policy ele ance o
he oadmap, he ask is o build on exis ing knowledge and ecommenda ions. Th ough he Tasks
4.1 & 4-2, he oadmap is ounded in a comp ehensi e e iew o he academic li e a u e, he
expe ien ial knowledge o p ac i ione s and adap a ion policies. Howe e , a gap was iden i ied in
he e iew o g ey li e a u e, including p ojec epo s, policy oadmaps and b ie s, ha may con ain
impo an p ac ical knowledge on s a egic le e s o ans o ma i e change.
The p esen epo hus p esen s a li e a u e e iew o g ey li e a u e, including exis ing oadmaps,
policy b ie s, and p ojec epo s, o iden i y go e nance mechanisms/s uc u es, policy p ocesses
and s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions ha can suppo he scaling o co-p oduc ion and ci izen
engagemen p ocesses in clima e adap a ion in Eu ope. The goal o he ask was o p o ide da a as
well as an ou come epo ha se es as a s uc u ed inpu o he policy whi e pape , along wi h
he lessons lea ned om he o he WP4 asks and he wide p ojec s wo k. To do so, he ask is also
building on p e ious wo k in hese WP4 asks, e.g. he iden i ied ba ie s and enable s o co-design
in T4.1 and he gaps in clima e adap a ion policies iden i ied in T4.2.
8.3.2. Me hods
To achie e his objec i e, h ee s eps we e iden i ied and implemen ed:
● Iden i y exis ing oadmaps, policy b ie s and p ojec epo s ha pe ain o he scaling o co-
p oduc ion p ocesses in clima e adap a ion go e nance.
● Iden i y ele an go e nance mechanisms/s uc u es and public policy p ocesses o his
sake.
● Iden i y s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions o enable he scaling in ligh o he go e nance
mechanisms and policy p ocesses.
Documen selec ion: In he i s s ep, ele an g ey li e a u e was collec ed, selec ed, and
ca ego ized acco ding o he lexible applica ion o p e-es ablished c i e ia. We chose g ey li e a u e
as a ocus o complemen he e iew o scien i ic li e a u e and expe knowledge (T4.1) and policy
documen s (T4.2) in o he asks. We decided o ocus on a ime pe iod o he las 5 yea s (2019-
2024) o ensu e ele ance o cu en policy deba es. In e ms o opic, we we e aiming o
documen s ha speak o clima e adap a ion (clima e esilience/ isk), ci izen engagemen
(pa icipa ion/co-design/s akeholde engagemen /ci izen science/delibe a e democ acy) and up-
scaling (mains eaming/s eng hening/policy change/ ans o ma ion e c.). As he selec ion o
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documen s ha speak o all h ee dimensions is qui e limi ed (see below), we also selec ed
documen s ha speak o wo o hese dimensions, e.g. ci izen engagemen in clima e adap a ion
(wi hou clea policy ocus) o upscaling ci izen engagemen gene ally, in o de o ge a ulle
pic u e. Documen s we e ecei ed h ough complimen a y collec ion me hods, namely
da abase/ eposi o y sea ch (CORDIS, Clima eAdap , weADAPT, Compe ence Cen e on Pa icipa o y
& Delibe a i e Democ acy, Zenodo), a ge ed websea ch, a ge ed webpages (e.g. ele an Ho izon
p ojec s), consul a ion wi h expe ne wo ks (ICLEI, Adap a ion AGORA conso ium, con e ences),
and snowballing ( e e ence lis s o analysed documen s). F om his collec ion, we selec ed 19
documen s. An o e iew can be ound in he able below.
Documen analysis: In a second s ep, we analysed hese documen s in dep h o e ie e he
go e nance mechanisms/policy p ocesses as well as s a egic ac ions ha a e highligh ed by he
espec i e au ho s. The go e nance mechanisms & policy p ocesses we e collec ed, esul ing in a
long lis o 26 mechanisms. These we e hen clus e ed acco ding o policy domain and go e nance
le el.
To collec & analyse he s a egic ac ions, we cons uc ed an analysis g id wi h he ollowing
ca ego ies: ID Doc, Recommenda ion summa y, Recommenda ion quo e, Sou ce wi h page numbe ,
Ta ge s akeholde /agen , Go e nance le el; Policy p oblem add essed, Add essed ba ie ,
Add essed enable , Add essed policy gaps, Phase o he clima e adap a ion policy cycle,
Implemen a ion s eps, Expec ed impac s/bene i , Example & Links o (o he ) policy/go e nance
ins umen . All s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions we e coded acco ding o hese ca ego ies whe e
applicable, esul ing in a comp ehensi e da abase o 99 s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions o
upscaling ci izen engagemen o clima e esilience. In a inal s ep, hese s a egic ac ion
ecommenda ions we e coded and clus e ed in o 5 o e a ching g oups ha speak o di e en
ans o ma ion pa hways, as ou lined below.
8.3.3. Resul s
Iden i ied documen s
Based on he p ocess ou lined, 19 g ey li e a u e documen s, including epo s, guidebooks,
oadmaps and policy b ie s, we e selec ed o analysis. The ull lis can be ound in Table 7 below.
All he epo s a e ecen , spanning om 2021 o 2024.
Ele en o he epo s a e au ho ed by ac o s embedded in he EU ins i u ional con ex . The op
sou ce o insigh s was he Eu opean En i onmen al Agency (EEA) wi h i e analysed epo s on he
opic o clima e adap a ion and jus esilience. The Compe ence Cen e o Pa icipa o y and
Delibe a i e Democ acy (CC-DEMOS) o he Commission’s Join Resea ch Cen e (JRC) also ea u es
p ominen ly, pa icula ly in discussions on s eng hening pa icipa o y p ocesses and inclusion o
di e se knowledge in policy design and implemen a ion. While he e migh be a sligh bias in
selec ion h ough delibe a ely looking in o hei eposi o ies as well as snowballing, hese wo
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ins i u ions appea as key policy knowledge b oke s in he ields o clima e adap a ion and
pa icipa o y policy making espec i ely. A special case is he ou come epo o he Con e ence on
he Fu u e o Eu ope, which con ains a lo o ele an s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions o
s eng hen ci izen engagemen ac oss policy domains and which in i sel is he ou come o a
delibe a i e ci izen engagemen p ocess. Addi ionally, he e a e wo documen s au ho ed by he
Adap a ion Mission and suppo ing ac o s, as well as i e documen s au ho ed by P ojec conso ia,
mos ly Ho izon p ojec s. In e es ingly, hese epo s a e usually guidebooks o local go e nmen s
and p ac i ione s o implemen pa icipa o y planning p ocesses a he local le el bu ha e limi ed
engagemen wi h go e nance amewo ks and policy p ocesses.
While he documen s gene ally ha e a Eu opean ou look, he e is a la ge a ie y o go e nance
le els hei s a egic ac ion ecommenda ions speak o. In ac , mos documen s e e o mul iple
go e nance le els (9 ou o 17), highligh ing he mul i-le el aspec o go e ning clima e adap a ion.
Mos epo s ocus on he local (11) and/o egional le el (7) – his includes pa icula ly he
guidebooks om p ojec s and he Adap a ion Mission. Six documen s e e o he na ional le el and
wel e o he EU le el. These documen s end o ha e he s onges ocus on policy
ecommenda ions.
In e ms o opics co e ed, only se en o he documen s ocus explici ly on bo h clima e adap a ion
and ci izen engagemen /co-design. 13 documen s ha e an adap a ion ocus. An example o a key
esou ce ha ocuses on clima e adap a ion bu lacks ci izen engagemen is he Eu opean Clima e
Risk Assessmen . 9 documen s ocus speci ically on ci izen engagemen , wi h 5 addi ional sou ces
dealing wi h i as an addi ional aspec (e.g. as an aspec o jus esilience). He e, a good example is
he ou come o he epo o he Con e ence on he Fu u e o Eu ope ha does no connec ci izen
engagemen and clima e adap a ion speci ically. This shows ha he e is a gap in li e a u e explici ly
connec ing ci izen engagemen and clima e adap a ion ha he policy whi e pape can ill.
This gap becomes mo e appa en when addi ionally looking a how a documen s ocus on policy
ecommenda ions. The i e documen s wi h clea policy ecommenda ions all speak speci ically o
he EU le el. Addi ionally, he e is a numbe o documen s ha a e ma ked as ‘somewha ’ ocusing
on policy ecommenda ions – hese include pa icula ly he guidebooks ha ocus on capaci y
building o imp o e and eplica e ci izen engagemen ini ia i es a he local le el bu a e limi ed in
p o iding conc e e ecommenda ions o change in policy and mul i-le el go e nance mechanisms
o up-scale ci izen engagemen o clima e esilience.
Only h ee documen s connec clima e adap a ion, ci izen engagemen and policy
ecommenda ions and ha e hus p o en pa icula ly ui ul o his exe cise and hus also as
e e ence o he whi e pape , namely he “Biodi e Ci ies A las” by he CC-DEMOS, he echnical
epo “Lea ing no one behind in clima e esilience policy and p ac ice” by he EEA and he
“Roadmap o he up ake o he Ci izen Obse a o ies knowledge base” by he WeObse e suppo
ac ion.
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Table 7. Lis o he 19 iden i ied g ey li e a u e documen s.
ID
Ti le
Publishing
o ganisa ion
Yea
Documen
ype
Go e nance
le el
Adap a ion
ocus?
CE ocus?
Policy
ecommend
a ions?
1
Towa ds 'jus esilience': lea ing no
one behind when adap ing o clima e
change
Eu opean
En i onmen al Agency
(EEA)
2022
Backg ound
pape
EU;
na ional;
local
Yes
No
Yes
2
Fu u es o Science o Policy in Eu ope
- Scena ios and Policy implica ions
Eu opean Commission
DGRI
2023
Fo esigh
epo
EU
No
Somewha
(knowledge
o policy)
Somewha
3
S akeholde and Ci izen Engagemen
in Clima e Adap a ion: A DIY Manual
Mission on Adap a ion
2023
Guidebook
local;
egional
Yes
Yes
No
4
A Guide o he Regional Resilience
Jou ney
Pa hways2Resilience
2023
Guidebook
Regional
Yes
Somewha
?
5
Co-c ea ion o policy: Pa icipa o y
me hodologies o s uc u e mul i-
s akeholde policymaking p ocesses
EC JRC Compe ence
Cen e o
Pa icipa o y and
Delibe a i e
Democ acy (CC-
DEMOS)
2022
Guidebook
local;
egional;
na ional; EU
No
Yes
No
6
The Adap a ion Suppo Tool
Clima e Adap
con in
uous
Guidebook
EU;
na ional;
local
Yes
No
Somewha
7
Nex le el ci izen pa icipa ion in he
EU: Ins i u ionalizing Eu opean
Ci izens' Assemblies
Be elsmann S i ung
2022
Policy b ie
EU
No
Yes
No
8
Science o Policy B ie s: Pa icipa o y
and Delibe a i e Democ acy
EC JRC Compe ence
Cen e o
Pa icipa o y and
Delibe a i e
Democ acy (CC-
DEMOS)
2021
Policy b ie
EU
No
Yes
No
9
Biodi e Ci ies A las: A pa icipa o y
guide o building biodi e se u ban
u u es
EC JRC Compe ence
Cen e o
Pa icipa o y and
Delibe a i e
Democ acy (CC-
DEMOS)
2023
P ojec
epo
EU; local
Yes
Yes
Somewha
10
E ol ing Regions P ojec Repo
E ol ing egions
2023
P ojec
epo
Regional
Yes
Somewha
No
11
Building Resilience h ough
adap a ion a he local le el
Co enan o Mayo s
2024
P ojec
epo
local
Yes
No
Somewha
12
Cookbook - The MOSAIC ecipe o co-
c ea ion
MOSAIC
2023
P ojec
epo ;
Guidebook
local; EU
No
Yes
Somewha
13
Accele a ing and upscaling
ans o ma ional adap a ion in
Eu ope
T ans o mA
2023
P ojec
epo ;
Guidebook
local;
egional
Yes
Yes
No
14
Eu opean Clima e Risk Assessmen
(EUCRA)
Eu opean
En i onmen al Agency
(EEA)
2024
Repo
EU
Yes
No
Yes
15
Is Eu ope on ack wi h clima e
esilience
Eu opean
En i onmen al Agency
(EEA)
2023
Repo
na ional
Yes
No
No
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1. Main objec i e: B ie ly explains how he speci ic ecommenda ion con ibu es o he o e all
s a egic goal o he s a egic pilla .
2. Ra ionale/Challenges: Explains why he ecommenda ion is necessa y. I ou lines he
p oblem being add essed o he oppo uni y being seized, d awing connec ions om
backg ound ma e ial.
3. Examples o implemen a ion ac ions: P o ide some examples o how he ecommenda ion
could be pu in o p ac ice om backg ound ma e ial.
4. Expec ed bene i s: Desc ibes he posi i e ou comes and an icipa ed bene i s i he
ecommenda ion is success ully implemen ed.
5. Key Ac o s in ol ed: Iden i ies he main s akeholde g oups esponsible o aking ac ion o
implemen he ecommenda ion. “Who needs o do his?”
8.5. Roadmap alida ion
While he ini ial d a o his oadmap was igo ously buil upon a comp ehensi e e idence base o
academic li e a u e, p ac ical expe ience and policy analysis, we ecognized ha i s ue alue and
usabili y would depend on i s esonance wi h he expe iences o i s in ended use s.
The e o e, we unde ook a delibe a i e and mul i-s age alida ion p ocess wi h ex e nal ac o s. The
p ima y objec i e o his p ocess was o mo e he oadmap om a heo e ical and e idence-based
amewo k o a p ac ically ele an , co-shaped ool. We sough o:
1. Tes he ele ance o he iden i ied challenges and he p oposed ou -pilla s uc u e.
2. Ga he conc e e and p ac i ione -in o med insigh s on implemen a ion ac ions,
mechanisms, and po en ial pi alls ha could no be ga he ed om li e a u e alone.
3. Unde s and he p ac ical needs o end-use s, pa icula ly egional and local au ho i ies, o
ensu e he oadmap's inal ou pu s a e no jus in o ma i e bu use ul and applicable.
This alida ion was conduc ed h ough a se ies o in e ac i e sessions a h ee majo Eu opean
o ums: he G enoble Biennale o Ci ies in T ansi ion 2025, he Eu opean Clima e Change
Adap a ion Con e ence (ECCA) 2025, and he Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um (EURESFO) 2025.
Each e en p o ided a unique oppo uni y o engage wi h a di e en se o esea che s,
policymake s and p ac i ione s, allowing o an i e a i e e inemen o he oadmap.
The ich eedback ga he ed du ing hese con e ence sessions p o ides c ucial p ac i ione -in o med
knowledge and insigh s. These insigh s ha e been in eg a ed in o he oadmap pilla s’
ecommenda ions and pa icula ly he implemen a ion ac ions and mechanisms and challenges
sec ions, hus ensu ing i is obus , ele an , and g ounded in he needs o hose on he on lines
o clima e adap a ion.

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8.5.1. G enoble Biennale o Ci ies in T ansi ion 2025
This e en , held on he 16 h o May 2025 in G enoble, F ance, se ed as he ini ial public boa d and
concep ual alida ion s age o he oadmap. I was he i s oppo uni y o p esen he ounda ional
ideas and he p oposed s uc u e o a di e se audience o 8 Eu opean policymake s and
p ac i ione s ou side he p ojec eam.
Key objec i es a his e en :
1. To alida e he co e challenges: The main goal was o con i m ha he key challenges o
scaling engagemen (iden i ied h ough li e a u e e iews and ini ial esea ch) esona ed
wi h he p ac ical, on- he-g ound expe iences o p ac i ione s, local ac o s, and engaged
ci izens.
2. To es he ele ance o he 4-Pilla s uc u e: To see i he p oposed amewo k, (1)
Ins i u ionalizing engagemen , (2) S eng hening local capaci y, (3) Empowe ing ci izens, and
(4) Sha ing and applying knowledge, was pe cei ed as a logical and comp ehensi e way o
o ganize he p oblem and po en ial solu ions.
Discussions con en a ound key challenges when engaging ci izens in adap a ion:
We i s iden i ied which challenges a e mo e u gen o add ess acco ding o he session pa icipan s
using s icky do s.
Challenge p io i y
Vo e
LIMITED KNOWLEDGE / MISINFORMATION
6
LACK OF CITIZENS CAPACITY
3
LACK OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
3
ENGAGING VULNERABLE GROUPS
3
LACK OF POLITICAL SUPPORT
2
CONFLICTING INTERESTS
1
POWER IMBALANCE / DISTRUST
1
COMPLEXITIES OF PROCESS
0
LACK OF POLICY SUPPORT
0
3 challenges we e hen discussed in dep h:
1. How o Engage Vulne able/Disengaged G oups
Main poin s
De ails/Examples
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Wo k wi h communi y g oups
- Engage wi h speci ic g oups (e.g. Asian & Māo i
popula ions in New Zealand)
- P o ide aining o build local capaci y
- Challenging in F ance due o cul u al and poli ical
clashes
Use isual communica ion
- E ec i e o mul icul u al con ex s whe e
language may be a ba ie
P omo e di e si y in media and poli ical
communica ion
- Rep esen a ion ma e s
- Ensu e di e se oices a e isible in public discou se
2. How o engage / communica e wi h communi ies ha dis us / ha e a di e en
unde s anding? Especially in c isis
Main poin s
De ails/Examples
Misunde s anding o ci izen-
led echnical p ac ices
CCA (Clima e Change Adap a ion) → new echnical p ac ices
being implemen ed by ci izens a e misunde s ood.
e.g. on biodi e si y
e.g. " he mayo cu ees!" → his is wha is seen by people s.
unde s anding wha is eally being done.
Communica ion s a egy
examples
Communica ion s a egy o "Na u e en Ville" (G enoble)
→ Need o explain o ci izens wha you a e doing – and e en
hen, some people a e s ill going o be unhappy.
Engagemen inc eases a e
c ises
A e shocks/ca as ophes → inc ease in engagemen
e.g. mobilisa ion o olun ee s in Alzi a looding (Oc . 2024)
→ some ci izens eac ed p oac i ely... and c ea ed 3 associa ions
o ic ims + local commi ees ha don' include poli icians.
→ Is his men al "openness" going o las ?
Causal unde s anding and
us
Mo e unde s anding o causal ela ion / a ibu ion o lash
loods o clima e change?
→ issue o lack o us in au ho i ies/poli icians → people don'
belie e in hem.
→ bu also issue o (poli ical) ins umen aliza ion o he issue.
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Lack o pe cei ed u gency
In I eland... in some coun ies, i doesn’ seem u gen o people
→ di icul o con ince hem o need o ac now be o e
ca as ophes hi .
Di ec ci izen ac ion
Di ec ac ion om ci izens ying o make up o wha au ho i ies
a e no doing (e.g. small owns a ound Alzi a) → adap ing + ying
o a oid u u e losses.
Role o communi y g oups
COMMUNITY g oups a e KEY o each people
→ ha e knowledge + us
→ gi e budge o hese g oups and suppo hem (incl. wi h
aining, capaci y building) (example om D ama in New
Zealand)
→ in F ance, i is ha d o municipali ies o each communi y
g oups ( icky poli ical opic).
3. How o ackle mis/disin o ma ion
Main poin s
De ails/Examples
Cla i y cause-e ec
ela ionships
→ Make clea he ela ionship be ween he CAUSES and he IMPACTS
P omo e p oac i e
planning
→ Make people unde s and he need o p oac i e planning and ac ion
(No he n Eu ope)
Challenges in
communica ion
→ Challenge o each di e en communi ies, links wi h in e media ies.
Di e si y
communica ion
channels
→ Di e si y media h ough which we communica e o di e en publics
↑ mul iply ways o communica ing, hen change
Add ess pe cep ion
issues
→ WORK on ci izens’ pe cep ion o ansi ion ac ion – o en elying on
complex social-ecological p ocesses – make i easie o communica e
abou i .
8.5.2. Eu opean Clima e Change Adap a ion Con e ence 2025
wo kshop
On June 17 h, 2025, a he Eu opean Clima e Change Adap a ion Con e ence in Rimini, he
Adap a ion AGORA p ojec hos ed a highly in e ac i e wo kshop i led “Accele a ing
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ans o ma ional change in Eu ope: A oadmap o s akeholde and ci izen engagemen in clima e
adap a ion”. The session b ough oge he 33 esea che s, policymake s, and p ac i ione s o
alida e and e ine he Adap a ion AGORA policy oadmap. The aim was o b idge he gap be ween
a high-le el s a egic amewo k and he p ac ical eali ies o implemen a ion. Th ough ou
in e ac i e ound ables aligned wi h he oadmap’s pilla s, pa icipan s collabo a i ely sha ed and
discussed conc e e ac ions and measu es, suppo ing he es ablishmen o he enabling condi ions
o scale engagemen p ac ice o adap a ion ac oss Eu ope.
Key akeaways om ou in e ac i e ound ables:
➢ On ins i u ionalizing engagemen (Pilla 1): C ucial need o be e engage he p i a e sec o
in adap a ion and os e public-p i a e pa ne ships, lea ning om mi iga ion ini ia i es and
om egions whe e he p i a e sec o is mo e socially o ien ed.
➢ On s eng hening local au ho i ies’ capaci ies (Pilla 2): Need o le e age exis ing local
capaci ies and building om he g ound, a he han wai ing o op-down ins i u ional
amewo ks o guide decision and ac ions. The e is a weal h o knowledge and capabili y a
he local le el ha , wi h he igh suppo , can be a powe ul d i e o change.
➢ On empowe ing ci izens (Pilla 3): Pa icipan s epea edly s essed he need o ely on local
in e media ies and us ed communi y ep esen a i es o unde s and speci ic needs,
in e es s, and capaci ies, and o p o ide he ailo ed suppo ( ime, skills, knowledge, and
sa e spaces) equi ed o meaning ul engagemen .
➢ On sha ing knowledge and bes p ac ices (Pilla 4): Meaning ul engagemen is no ee, and
secu ing dedica ed esou ces is a p e equisi e o success and o a oiding he g owing isk
o c ea ing an ‘eco-p eca ia ’ in adap a ion planning.
De ailed indings pe pilla :
Pilla 1: Ins i u ionalizing engagemen in public and p i a e ac ions ac oss scales and sec o s
Recommenda ions
Summa y o key ac ions
1.a S eng hen EU leade ship and cul u e
o ci izen engagemen
- Es ablish manda es o public pa icipa ion.
- C ea e a code o conduc o engagemen .
- Ensu e pos -engagemen ollow-up o assess
quali y and ou comes.
- Engage ci izens ea ly and a app op ia e
momen s.
- In es in capaci y building and co-c ea ion
p ocesses.
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1.b Es ablish o mal manda es and
amewo ks o sys ema ic engagemen
- A oid one-size- i s-all app oaches; ailo me hods
o con ex .
- Empowe local ci izens as ambassado s.
- Cla i y incen i es and mo i a ions o
pa icipa ion (“Wha ’s in i o hem?”).
- Highligh and eplica e local bes p ac ices.
1.c Mains eam engagemen ac oss all
sec o s, including p i a e
- Make ci izen engagemen and clima e adap a ion
a ac i e o he p i a e sec o .
- Add ess sho - e m hinking h ough a ge ed
incen i es.
- Fos e public-p i a e pa ne ships simila o hose
in clima e mi iga ion.
- Use alue-based assessmen s beyond adi ional
cos -bene i analysis.
- Engage leade ship in ins i u ions o d i e change.
1.d Embed jus ice p inciples in policy
amewo ks
- Use app op ia e o ma s o each and empowe
ulne able g oups.
- C ea e mee ing poin s ha b ing e e ybody
oge he , e en ually be ween g oups and wi hin
g oups.
- Inc ease anspa ency and educe go e nmen
esis ance o engagemen .
Pilla 2: S eng hening local au ho i ies’ capaci y and esou ces o implemen engagemen
Recommenda ions
Summa y o key ac ions
2.a Secu e dedica ed and sus ained
unding o local engagemen
- Lea n om he Global Sou h: und ci izens di ec ly
(e.g. h ough c edi sys ems).
- Imp o e echnical capaci y a he local le el—
especially o small ci ies— o access a ailable
unding.

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2.b Es ablish obus s uc u es and
p ocesses o coo dina ed, accoun able,
and adap i e p ac ices
- C ea e "leade ship communi ies" no ied o local
go e nmen o ensu e con inui y o adap a ion
p ojec s.
- Build local clima e o ices, possibly linked di ec ly
o p og ams like TCP JOR.
2.c Enhance local capaci y, ain s a ,
access knowledge, build pa ne ships
- P o ide mo e aining in acili a ion and
adap a ion o local echnicians, po en ially unded
by p o essional bodies (e.g. a chi ec s, enginee s).
- O e inancial suppo o pa icipan s in aining
p og ams.
2.d Fos e las ing poli ical commi men
locally
- Fund exis ing local ne wo ks o ensu e eadiness
and accoun abili y, a oiding he need o c ea e new
ones.
- Alloca e mo e unds a he local le el, a he han
a na ional le els no di ec ly in ol ed in adap a ion
e o s.
Pilla 3: Empowe ing ci izens o ake an ac i e and meaning ul ole in adap a ion ac ions
Recommenda ions
Summa y o key ac ions
3.a Enhance clima e adap a ion and
ci izen ac ion li e acy and awa eness o
all
- Use local in e media ies, such as NGOs, communi y
leade s, o local igu es, as en y poin s o
communica ion.
- Engage a ec ed ci izens om he e y beginning o
p ojec s.
- Inc ease li e acy by g adually in oducing complexi y
in messages, ailo ed o di e en audiences (e.g. like
localized hea wa e messaging).
3.b Ensu e equi able access o
engagemen by emo ing ba ie s and
imp o ing ou each
- Go beyond expe communica ion—use sha ed
expe iences and na a i es o build us .
- In ol e long- e m knowledge holde s and local
in luence s.
- Take inspi a ion om o he sec o s (e.g. heal h,
cul u e).
- T ain acili a o s o handle pa icipan s wi h s ong
pe sonal agendas.
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- Use inclusi e and accessible language (e.g. ailo
e ms like “clima e isks,” “clima e change”).
- Assess communi y needs be o e budge ing and
de ining incen i es.
3.c Ensu e ulne able g oups uly
in luence decisions
- Add ess he needs and expe iences o ulne able
g oups wi h sensi i i y and awa eness o con ex .
- Recognize ha ulne abili y is dynamic and may
change a e clima e e en s.
- Include ep esen a i es o o en unhea d o
ma ginalized g oups (“speakless people”).
3.d Suppo ci izen-led and g ass oo s
adap a ion ini ia i es
- Acknowledge and suppo in o mal and non-
ins i u ional o ms o engagemen .
- Respec and p io i ize local, communi y-iden i ied
needs.
- P o ide g an s o g ass oo s ini ia i es.
- Ensu e access o necessa y ools, da a, ime, space,
and skills.
- Minimize adminis a i e bu dens o suppo
implemen a ion.
Pilla 4: Sha ing and applying knowledge and bes p ac ices o acili a e engagemen p ac ices
Recommenda ions
Summa y o key ac ions
4.a S eng hen knowledge exchange
h ough accessible pla o ms and mul i-
le el communi ies o p ac ice
- Recognize he ole o bounda y o ganisa ions in
sus aining engagemen e o s beyond he p ojec
li espan.
- De elop a po olio o engagemen - ela ed ac i i ies.
- Implemen a ge ed communica ion s a egies o
di e en audiences and le els (e.g. s a egic
documen s o policymake s, ope a ional documen s
o manage s and p ac i ione s).
- P o ide aining and capaci y-building ini ia i es o
suppo knowledge exchange and up ake.
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4.b Facili a e c oss-cul u al lea ning
and dialogue ac oss egions
- Use local b oke s and cul u ally ele an o ma s o
"cul u al ansla ion".
- Build de ailed audience p o iles o enable e ec i e
lea ning ac oss cul u es—know you audience.
- A icula e a clea alue p oposi ion o di e en
ac o s.
- Le e age exis ing ne wo ks: engage wi h commi ees,
wo king g oups, and communi y e en s whe e key
people al eady ga he .
- Demons a e he alue o c oss-cul u al lea ning o
inc ease s akeholde buy-in.
4.c P omo e di e se, inclusi e, and
ailo ed engagemen me hods
- Unde s and you audience: conside gende , social
s a us, age, e c., and choose app op ia e messenge s.
- Demons a e he impo ance and alue o e e y oice
in he p ocess.
- Conside o e ing compensa ion o pa icipa ion—
don’ assume people can a o d o olun ee hei
ime.
4.d Ensu e anspa ency,
accoun abili y, and lea ning h ough
obus eedback and e alua ion
- Build local, con ex -speci ic Moni o ing, E alua ion,
and Lea ning (MEL) app oaches.
- Use p oxy indica o s o cap u e in angible bene i s.
- Ga he da a om su eys and eedback loops o
in o m he Theo y o Change.
- Focus on measu ing wha uly ma e s.
8.5.3. Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um 2025 wo kshop
On June 26 h, he Adap a ion AGORA p ojec con ibu ed o he Eu opean U ban Resilience Fo um
(EURESFO) 2025 in Ro e dam by pa icipa ing in he session, “B idging Knowledge and P ac ice: A
Deep Di e in o Regional Clima e Resilience,” o ganized and hos ed by he Pa hways2Resilience
p ojec and ICLEI Eu ope.
Wi hin his session aimed o explo e how expe knowledge can be e ec i ely ansla ed o
egional and local go e nmen s, he Adap a ion AGORA "Roadmap o Scale Ci izen Engagemen "
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was p esen ed as a case s udy and a ca alys o discussion on how such expe knowledge should
be communica ed, deli e ed and suppo ed o be e ec i e on he g ound.
The in e ac i e discussion wi h 15 egional p ac i ione s yielded clea and in aluable insigh s o he
u u e de elopmen and dissemina ion o Adap a ion AGORA policy whi e pape .
Key messages con ened by pa icipan s:
➢ Adap , don’ add new ools o amewo ks, bu need suppo in ailo ing exis ing amewo ks
o local con ex s.
➢ To e ec i ely apply his knowledge, p ac i ione s s essed he need o p ac ical suppo such
as aining, s ong pa ne ships, and eal esou ces.
➢ Fos e ci izen engagemen in he poli ical agenda by inding he igh “en y poin ” o
na iga e he complex landscape o adap a ion go e nance.
De ailed discussion opics:
Ques ion 1: Based on he amewo k p esen ed (e.g. he oadmap), how should his in o ma ion
be sha ed so ha you can ac ually use i in you wo k?
Ca ego y
Key Insigh s
Fo ma s and
usabili y
- T ansla e language, ools, and guidelines in o accessible, plain language.
- A oid de eloping new ools—adap and euse wha 's al eady a ailable.
- Le e age he MIP4ADAPT oolki , which maps ools o RAST s eps.
- Use s anda d ools, e.g. he Sco ish ool o engagemen .
- Ensu e suppo in na ional languages.
- Add ess he o e load o amewo ks—s eamline and simpli y.
- Adap exis ing ools o local con ex s, which equi es e o and esou ces.
Access
- Focus on he needs o local au ho i ies and egions—wha a e hey ac ually
asking o ?
- Example: Valo ada egion e iews he a ailabili y o EU-le el ools and
esou ces (no e: may need cla i ica ion).
Rele ance
- Local au ho i ies ace economic cons ain s ha hinde clima e adap a ion.
- Use he "cuckoo bi d s a egy" o inse clima e adap a ion in o exis ing
p ojec s.
- F amewo ks mus be localized and simpli ied—since ac ion happens a he
local le el, make ools easy o use and di ec ly applicable.