User Driven Applications and Tools for Regional and Local Authorities, and Other End Users Focusing on Climate Impacts, Data and Knowledge

Projects are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Better access to, and transformation of, the already openly available climate data in the C3S Climate Data Store^[1], Climate ADAPT and relevant Horizon 2020 projects or other initiatives (such as GEOSS^[2]) into user-relevant climate change services, in combination with locally sourced data and information, where available. Long-term safeguarding of developed solutions by integration in the operational infrastructure and services of the Climate Data Store should also be explored.
• Beyond-state-of-the-art relevant information (including climate, socio-economic, demographic information) services and tools tailored to Mission users’ needs (decision makers, local and regional authorities and other end users), with customizable data-manipulation tools available for use and re-use.
• Quality-controlled climate data services that the Mission could build upon, supported and maintained as customizable, user-oriented components of operationally supported EU services (such as the C3S). Projects might want to refer to, and follow guidance, from the project under the topic on “Supporting and standardising climate services”^[3].
• Tested FAIR data governance and management mechanisms that enable the sharing, community validation and use of locally sourced data (e.g. citizen-generated data) and information, in combination with authoritative data and information as part of the European Green Deal Data Space.
• Demonstrated application in at least 5 EU regions or communities ^[4].

This topic relates to the Mission’s first and second objective: i) preparing and planning for climate resilience and the need for a better understanding of climate change related risks and ii) supporting at least 150 European regions and communities in developing their vision of a climate-resilient future and innovation pathways to reach it.

The successful proposal will develop new technologies addressing access to key climate data and information services; such technologies will use improved user-defined and user-friendly tools tailored to regional and community level applications for adaptation to climate change able to build climate resilience in all sectors/services involved; the focus will be on case-specific climatological and physical conditions critical for the areas mentioned in the Mission Implementation Plan^[5].

Therefore, proposals^[6] should address all of the following:

• Set forth improved user-defined data manipulation tools that can be used, reused and further developed, thereby contributing to an ecosystem of readily available tools and integrated information services. The tools developed should be designed as a component of decision support tool for public authorities integrating socio-economic aspects and allowing them to assess risk-reduction benefits of various adaptation solutions across several regions.
• Consider impacts of climate change on key community systems highlighted in the Mission Implementation Plan^[7], across several climate regions and how their functioning might be affected by climate change induced risks.
• Develop a gap-analysis of accessibility, usability, customization and adaptability of existing European relevant information (including climate, socio-economic, demographic information) services with respect to user needs at regional and community levels. Prepare and implement training and capacity building, adapted for non-experts local end-users (beyond the 5 regions where the tools are demonstrated) to support them in using or tailoring the tools developed by the project.
• Identify data availability and data accessibility gaps, and overcome barriers and limitations of existing approaches. In particular, proposals are encouraged to take into account: 
  • Consistency in the definition of climate risk indicators in view of the Mission objectives and projects addressing climate change risks^[8];
  • Socio-economic data at the local level and integrating it to the tools and services developed or improved for regional and local end-users;
  • The experience from the Sectoral Information System^[9] demonstrators of the Copernicus Climate Change Service and from relevant Horizon 2020 projects;
  • Access to EU digital infrastructures;
  • Destination Earth, European Open Science Cloud, Copernicus DIAS and GEOSS.
• Address the provision of user-relevant climate change indicators linked to socio-economic and demographic data to public authorities and Mission end users.
• Factor in the effect of multiple hazards (including complex, cascading and compound disasters) in support of the activities set out in the topic focused on the “Development of climate change risk assessments in European regions and communities based on a transparent and harmonised Climate Risk Assessment approach (HORIZON-MISS-2021-CLIMA-02-01).”
• Give due regard to the Commission technical guidance^[10] on the climate proofing of infrastructure in the period 2021-2027, notably as regards climate resilience, the climate vulnerability and risk assessment, as well as the identification, economic and technical appraisal, and implementation of relevant adaptation measures.
• Provide coordination between the targeted regions/communities with respect to their climate data needs, to identify overlaps, synergies and cost-sharing opportunities.
• Ensure the solutions’ long-term viability through integration within the toolbox of the Climate Data Store and/or other operationally supported technical infrastructures.
• Discuss with and engage local communities and all relevant stakeholders (e.g., experts, policy-makers etc.) in a given region, in knowledge-sharing and production, testing the technology itself and making sure all knowledge, relevant to climate resilience, is represented.

Priority should be given to regions or communities with high vulnerability^[11], limited resources and/or low adaptive capacity^[12] to climate change impacts. Demand for this type of services could be higher than what can be supplied within the limits of this action. Therefore proposals to this call should present the process and criteria how the target regions and communities are identified. These criteria will ensure that a variety of locations are represented, in as many countries as possible, reflecting the diversity in climatic risks in Europe, as well as differences in socio-economic and demographic conditions, and in approaches to mitigating such risks. Such criteria should also take into account the characteristics of the populations concerned and the vulnerability of the locations, as well as the priority attributed by national and regional governments. Consultation of national and regional governments in selecting the regions and communities is recommended (for example, by providing a letter of support by the relevant authorities as an annex to the proposal).

Dedicated activities should be included for facilitating replication in further regions/communities.

In line with the overall principles of the Mission, proposals should take in full consideration the local dimension of climate change and climate adaptation strategies, clarify how they would ensure a meaningful engagement with local communities as well as stakeholders to ensure, among others, the mobilization of local knowledge, and outline how they would contribute to achieving a just transition to climate resilience

This topic requires the effective contribution of Social Science and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

The European Commission intends to establish a network and coordination activities amongst all the projects funded for the implementation of the Climate adaptation Mission, under the Horizon 2020 European Green Deal call and under Horizon Europe relevant for adaptation, and that will be coordinated by the soon to be established Mission Implementation Platform. These networking and joint activities could, for example, involve the participation in joint workshops, the exchange of knowledge, the development and adoption of best practices, or joint communication activities. The project under this topic will be requested to contribute to this effort. Applicants should acknowledge this request and already account for these obligations in their proposal, making adequate provisions in terms of resources and budget to engage and collaborate with the Mission governance.

Digital Agenda

Social sciences and humanities

[1] https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/#!/home

[2]GEOSS: Global Earth Observation System of Systems (earthobservations.org)

[3]HORIZON-CL5-2021-D1-01-06

[4]As defined by the Mission Implementation Plan https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/research_and_innovation/funding/documents/climat_mission_implementation_plan_final_for_publication.pdf and in the FAQ published http://here:https://ec.europa.eu/info/events/information-session-mission-adaptation-climate-change-2021-nov-23_en

[5]Ecosystems and nature-based solutions, land use and food systems, water management, critical infrastructure, health and human wellbeing, and local economic systems (pages 7-9 of the Implementation Plan) https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/research_and_innovation/funding/documents/climat_mission_implementation_plan_final_for_publication.pdf

[6]Possible participants: experts from a variety of sectors (private, public, academia) with experience on the services to be provided by the topic. National, regional or local authorities are encouraged to be part of the consortium.

[7] Ecosystems and nature-based solutions, land use and food systems, water management, critical infrastructure, health and human wellbeing, and local economic systems. Implementation plan : https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/research_and_innovation/funding/documents/climat_mission_implementation_plan_final_for_publication.pdf

[8] Namely topic HORIZON-MISS-2021-CLIMA-02-01 “Development of climate change risk assessments in European regions and communities …” and HORIZON-MISS-2021-CLIMA-02-03 “Towards asset level modelling of climate risks and adaptation”

[9] The Sectoral Information System (SIS) component of C3S transforms the climate data contained in the CDS and tailors it to the requirements of users, with a specific focus on intermediaries and policy makers. C3S has engaged with various sectors and showed how the CDS infrastructures could be used to address the needs of users, see fact sheets at https://climate.copernicus.eu/c3s-multimedia.

[10]Commission Notice C(2021) 5430 final of 29.7.2021: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/default/files/adaptation/what/docs/climate_proofing_guidance_en.pdf and https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_3943

[11]Vulnerability is the propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt (IPCC, 2018 – SR Global Warming of 1.5 ºC).

[12]Adaptive capacity is the ability of systems, institutions, humans and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences (IPCC, 2018 – SR Global Warming of 1.5 ºC).