ClimaResponse – Responsive Local Action for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction
Project overview
Climate change is intensifying the severity and frequency of extreme weather events across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), putting local and regional authorities under growing pressure to enhance their disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate adaptation strategies.
ClimaResponse – or Responsive Local Action for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, its full name – is a project that supports municipalities and regions in the BSR in strengthening their climate resilience (CR) by providing practical solutions, evidence-based approaches, and innovative tools to address climate risks effectively.
Through collaboration with key stakeholders, the project develops and pilots social and technological innovations, equipping local authorities with the knowledge and resources to implement long-term climate adaptation strategies.
Central to the initiative is the Digital Planning Platform for Climate Resilience, an interactive online resource designed to guide local governments in integrating climate adaptation and DRR into municipal planning and operations.
The ClimaResponse project is led by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme. It brings together twelve project partners, including municipalities and their associations, research institutions, and regional organisations to ensure a holistic and pan-Baltic, transnational approach to climate resilience.
Goals
ClimaResponse aims to:
- Strengthen local climate resilience by improving the ability of municipalities and regional authorities to plan, implement and sustain climate adaptation measures.
- Provide municipalities with practical tools to integrate climate risk reduction into governance structures and decision-making processes.
- Enhance knowledge-sharing and cooperation between local, regional and national authorities to promote a cohesive, cross-border response to climate risks.
- Develop a digital knowledge-sharing platform that offers best practices, guidance, and step-by-step support for municipalities working on climate adaptation and DRR.
- Support the implementation of transnationally validated solutions, ensuring the sustainability and scalability of innovative climate adaptation strategies.
Activities
To achieve its objectives, ClimaResponse implements a range of activities, including:
- Piloting climate adaptation solutions in municipalities across the Baltic Sea Region, testing innovative methods for risk reduction, climate resilience planning, and governance models.
- Developing the Digital Planning Platform for Climate Resilience, a comprehensive online tool that provides structured guidance on creating and implementing municipal adaptation plans.
- Launching cascading campaigns to raise awareness and support municipalities in localising and implementing climate adaptation strategies.
- Facilitating capacity-building workshops and training sessions, equipping municipal decision-makers and practitioners with actionable strategies for improving climate resilience.
- Strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration through transnational exchanges, networking events, and partnerships between local governments, researchers, and civil society organisations.
“Pomorskie in the European Union” Association & ClimaResponse
As the project partner of ClimaResponse, the “Pomorskie in the European Union” Association responsibilities include:
- Participation in elaboration of pilot concept, tools and measures.
- Participation in developing the Digital Planning Platform.
- Implementing the pilot activities in Ustka Municipality (for municipal authorities, response services and citizens).
- Implementing national & international dissemination activities & supporting the dialogue with policy makers
Background
ClimaResponse is rooted in previous CBSS initiatives and builds on existing resources and structures within the project consortium, the BSR and the EU that have contributed to enhancing municipal climate resilience. Three key references in this context are the ClimaLoc project, the Handbook on Local Climate Adaptation and Resilience, and the CASCADE project.
The CliMaLoc project (2021–2023) laid the groundwork for municipal climate resilience by integrating climate adaptation strategies into local governance and spatial planning. Through ClimaLoc, municipalities in the BSR gained access to case studies, training materials, and local adaptation strategies, which now inform the methodologies and approaches used in ClimaResponse.
Developed within the ClimaLoc framework, the Handbook on Local Climate Adaptation and Resilience provides municipalities with practical guidance on implementing climate adaptation strategies. It covers key topics such as risk assessment, cross-sectoral collaboration, and financing adaptation measures, making it a valuable resource for ClimaResponse participants.
The CASCADE project (2019–2022) strengthened disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate adaptation capacities in the Baltic Sea Region by integrating risk assessment methodologies into local governance. It supported municipalities in developing cross-sectoral cooperation models and practical tools to enhance preparedness for climate-related hazards.
Project partners
- Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (lead partner)
- Åbo Akademi University
- Association Klaipeda Region
- Gävle municipality
- Lääne-Harju Municipality
- Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments
- Mid Sweden University
- Municipality of Kristiansand
- “Pomorskie in the European Union Association”
- Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre
- The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM)
- Union of the Baltic Cities Sustainable Cities Commission c/o City of Turku
Associated organisations
- Administration of Skuodas District Municipality
- Kurzeme planning region
- Peak Innovation AB
- Saulkrasti Municipality
- The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
- Union of the Baltic Cities
- University of Agder
- Ustka town municipality
Funding
ClimaResponse is funded by the EU-funded Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.
Duration
March 2025 – February 2028
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