Innovative solutions for climate-resilient European regions

As climate change accelerates, regions across Europe are facing more frequent and severe impacts: from floods and droughts to wildfires and heatwaves. Each region and city face different risks, which is why the EU Mission Climate Adaptation-funded RESIST project is taking a systemic, place-based approach to resilience by combining scientific expertise, digital tools, and citizen engagement.

Launched in 2023, RESIST brings together 60 partners across 12 climate-vulnerable EU regions, with four large-scale demonstrators (Southwest Finland, Central Denmark, Central Portugal, and Catalonia) working closely with eight “twin” regions to promote the transfer of know-how and innovative solutions.

Each demonstrator is already delivering impact. Central Portugal is supporting wildfire recovery and ecosystem restoration, Catalonia is piloting early warning systems and incorporates the needs and perspectives of vulnerable groups and civil protection, while Southwest Finland is exploring modelling, valuation and promotion of nature-based solutions and stakeholder engagement frameworks. 

A recent milestone comes from the Central Denmark region affected by coastal, river and pluvial flooding, along with sea-level rise and salt-water intrusion. Here RESIST is helping adapt to the climate pressures with three innovative climate change adaptation solutions. The first is a warning application that alerts homeowners in coastal areas about potential groundwater flooding. The second solution leverages augmented reality visualisations to enhance stakeholder understanding and engagement with climate change adaptation measures—such as the interaction between groundwater and seawater in flood dynamics, and nature-based solutions like green walls. The third solution comprises demo houses designed to reduce carbon footprint and then, test and validate adaptable materials and flood-protective designs to withstand flooding. 

By enabling regions to learn from one another and adapt tested innovations to their local context, RESIST is helping to mainstream adaptation across Europe. With over 100 solutions in development and transfer, the project is proving the efforts to the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. From local pilots to long-term planning, RESIST is showing how science, technology and citizen participation can come together to create climate-smart regions that are ready for the future.

For more information, please see the EU factsheet.