The CLIMAAX Virtual Regions Forum brought together regional authorities, researchers and technical experts from across Europe for two days of exchange on one of the most pressing challenges in climate adaptation: translating complex climate data into actionable, local-scale risk assessments.
Held online on 10 and 12 March 2026, the forum built on the momentum of previous in-person exchanges, reaffirming the importance of collaboration among regions navigating similar climate risks under different territorial, institutional and socio-economic conditions.
Moderated across the two days by Athanasia Maria Tompolidi from EURADA, the event combined strategic updates with concrete regional experiences, offering a detailed snapshot of how the CLIMAAX methodological framework is being implemented on the ground.
From European frameworks to local realities
Opening the forum, project coordinator Frederiek Berna-Veiland (Deltares) provided an overview of the project’s progress, highlighting the advancement of the two cohorts of regions. While the first cohort is approaching the finalisation of its climate risk assessments, expected by mid-2026, the second cohort is actively refining methodologies and integrating local data. Across both groups, a key message emerged: the added value of CLIMAAX lies in its ability to bridge the gap between European-scale climate information and decision-making at regional and local level.
Regional experiences: from data to decision-making
The core of the forum focused on regional case studies, illustrating how different territories are applying the CLIMAAX framework to assess and prioritise climate risks.
From Hungary, Emese Décsi, project manager at Green Office, Hegyvidék at the Municipality of District 12 of Budapest (MARCAdapt project) presented a detailed assessment of heavy rainfall, heatwaves and urban drought. By combining high-resolution spatial data with stakeholder input, the region was able to identify risk hotspots at neighbourhood scale, revealing how multiple hazards overlap in dense urban areas. This approach supported the prioritisation of targeted adaptation measures, including urban greening and improved stormwater management, while also addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure.
From Portugal Liliana De Sousa, project manager at GeoAtributo, Consultancy in Spatial and Land-Use Planning, Emergency Planning, and Climate Change for the Municipality of Viana do Castelo (VC_Climaax project), showcased a methodology aimed at overcoming one of the most common challenges in climate risk assessment: the “utility gap” between large-scale datasets and local planning needs. By integrating historical records, advanced modelling techniques and locally calibrated data, the team identified priority hotspots for flooding, extreme rainfall and wildfires. The analysis also enabled the quantification of potential impacts, including economic losses and population exposure, strengthening the basis for adaptation planning.
Northern Europe was represented by Otto Lappalainen, project specialist at Valonia, the expert organization for sustainable development in the municipalities of Southwest Finland where the CLIVAS project is focusing on agricultural drought and increasing precipitation extremes. The assessment highlighted a complex risk landscape: while climate change may extend the growing season and create opportunities for new crops, it is also expected to reduce yields for key agricultural products and significantly increase the frequency of heavy rainfall events. A distinctive feature of the Finnish approach is the strong reliance on in-house expertise and stakeholder collaboration, which enhances local ownership but also requires careful handling of uncertainty and technical complexity.
In Ireland, Tipperary County Council presented its work on developing a semi-quantitative climate risk assessment, building on existing national frameworks, thanks to Clare Lee – Climate Action Coordinator, Environment and Climate Action Office at the Tipperary County – and James Fitton – climate risk scientist that works in the area of climate change risk and adaptation, spatial analysis and earth observation. The analysis covered a wide range of hazards, including flooding, storms, heatwaves and droughts, identifying river flooding, wind and heavy rainfall as current priority risks, alongside emerging long-term threats such as extreme heat and wildfire. The case demonstrated how the CLIMAAX methodology can complement established approaches while improving spatial detail and analytical robustness.
Shared challenges, common directions
Despite the diversity of regional contexts, the forum highlighted a set of common challenges and priorities across Europe. First, the localisation of climate data remains a critical bottleneck. While European datasets provide a strong foundation, their resolution often limits direct applicability at municipal scale, requiring additional processing, calibration and interpretation. Second, there is a clear shift from qualitative to semi-quantitative and quantitative approaches, reflecting the need for more robust, evidence-based decision-making. However, this transition also increases the complexity of analyses and the need for technical capacity within regional administrations.
Third, stakeholder engagement emerged as a cornerstone of effective climate risk assessment. Involving local actors—from public authorities to sectoral stakeholders—not only improves data quality but also ensures that results are relevant, understandable and actionable. Finally, the importance of communication was repeatedly emphasised. Translating complex modelling outputs into clear, policy-relevant insights remains a major challenge, particularly when addressing non-technical audiences and supporting real-world decision-making.
Strengthening a European community of practice
Beyond the technical discussions, the CLIMAAX Virtual Regions Forum confirmed the value of building a community of practice around climate risk assessment. By sharing methodologies, challenges and solutions, participating regions are accelerating mutual learning and contributing to a more coherent European approach to climate adaptation.
As the project moves towards its final phase, the experiences presented during the forum underline a key takeaway: effective climate risk assessment is not only a technical exercise, but a collaborative process that connects data, expertise and local knowledge to support informed and timely action.