GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

1st Action- Development and beta testing of the climate risk and vulnerability assessment framework tool

The multi-risk and multi sector assessment framework tool should be developed for broad application to all European regions and communities. The harmonised framework and the methodology and guidelines to assess the climate change risks and impacts should be designed to be accessed by non-experts users and the relevant stakeholders, with user-friendly features. While a large amount of data and information is available, there are still significant knowledge gaps when it comes to mid-and long term projections of frequency and severity of extreme events at regional and local level, specific impacts within various types of territories (urban, rural, geographic specificities) and land use, cascading and spill-over effects, and the integration of socio-economic (including vulnerability and the impacts/effectiveness of the adaptation solutions) and in-situ data. (further details in the call document p. 21-23)

2nd Action- Using the climate risk assessments framework tool in regions and communities, to conduct climate risks, vulnerabilities and impacts assessments as a basis for development or revision of local emergency and risk management plans

The proposal should also highlight opportunities for adjustments of existing community early warning systems, where they exist, to consider changing patterns of climate extreme events and ensure rapid responses and the protection of the concerned people, in particular those at high risk such as children, senior citizens, people with chronic diseases and socially disadvantaged groups. It should support local administrations and local businesses (in particular SMEs) to develop or revise community-based emergency and risk management plans to ensure critical infrastructure is safe and essential services operable and accessible under critical conditions and to prepare resilience strategies to minimise the economic impact (e.g. temporary or permanent shutdown) from climate events resulting in further negative impacts for the wider community through loss of income, employment and livelihoods. Citizens and civil society organisations will be encouraged to provide inputs towards the risk assessments.

(further details in the call document p. 23-25)