From 13 to 15 October 2025, project partner EURADA proudly represented the CLIMAAX project at the 23rd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC). Jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission, the event brought together regional and local authorities, representatives of EU-funded projects, stakeholders, and civil-society actors to exchange best practices, network, and help shape regional policy. Over the two days, the CLIMAAX project took part in a range of climate-focused sessions.
In the session titled “Rural Proofing: Making Policies Work for Rural Areas through Data and Earth Observation”, speakers from the European Commission (DG AGRI), OECD, and the Region of Central Greece discussed how in-situ data and Earth observation can enhance policymaking for rural territories. They highlighted rural proofing as a key governance tool to ensure that policies address the specific needs of rural communities and help them respond to challenges such as depopulation, limited access to essential services, and climate adaptation and resilience.
Drawing on examples from EU projects, the panel underscored the value of data-driven decision-making, multi-level coordination, and local capacity-building. The session’s insights reaffirmed the importance of integrating territorial sensitivity and evidence-based planning into adaptation frameworks – ensuring that rural areas have access to the tools, data, and governance structures needed for effective climate resilience.
The Coastal Erosion and Climate Adaptation roundtable, led by Terra Spatium under the VALORADA sister project, focused on managing climate risks such as sea-level rise and coastal erosion through actionable data and regional collaboration. The discussion showcased how Earth observation, geospatial analytics, and multi-source data can be translated into practical adaptation tools for regional authorities in Central Greece – supporting real-time risk assessment and planning.
It also highlighted the economic urgency of early climate change adaptation preparedness and the value of replicable models that can be scaled across Europe’s coastal regions. For CLIMAAX, key takeaways included the importance of designing interoperable, data-driven toolboxes that translate climate information into concrete resilience actions for both rural and coastal territories, and of strengthening local governance and technical capacity.
The EWRC 2025 offered a strategic opportunity for CLIMAAX to connect with other Climate Adaptation Horizon Europe projects, engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, and showcase the project’s contributions to climate-risk assessment. These exchanges helped ensure that CLIMAAX’s outputs remain aligned with the broader mission of building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable regions and cities. (by Athanasia Maria Tompolidi, EURADA)