ClimaResponse - Responsive Local Action for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

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.

UBC SCC & ClimaResponse

The Union of the Baltic Cities Sustainable Cities Commission is the leader of the WP3 transfer and uptake activities of the project. UBC SCC also coordinates the activity focusing on reaching out to the local authorities with cascading promotional and informational campaigns - this will be done with a series of webinars, regional roadshow events and the social media campaign.

Background

ClimaResponse is rooted in previous initiatives of the CBSS - Council of the Baltic Sea States, 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. UBC Sustainable Cities Commission was following this project as an associated partner.

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. UBC Sustainable Cities Commission was a partner in this project, implementing project communications.

Project partners

1. Council of the Baltic Sea States Secretariat (lead partner)
2. Association Klaipeda Region
3. Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments
4. Mid Sweden University
5. “Pomorskie in the European Union Association”
6. Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre
7. Åbo Akademi University
8. Union of the Baltic Cities Sustainable Cities Commission c/o City of Turku
9. Municipality of Kristiansand
10. Lääne-Harju Municipality
11. Gävle municipality
12. The Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities (AECM)

Associated organisations:

1. Kurzeme planning region
2. Peak Innovation AB
3. Union of the Baltic Cities
4. Ustka town municipality
5. The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
6. Saulkrasti Municipality
7. Administration of Skuodas District Municipality
8. University of Agder