Co-Adapt: Climate adaptation through co-creation | 2 Mers Seas Zeeën

Co-Adapt

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Co-Adapt: Climate adaptation through co-creation

Priority Axis

Adaptation to Climate Change

Specific objective

Adaptation to Climate Change

Lead partner

Somerset County Council

Contact

Start Date

01/02/2019

End Date

30/09/2022

Project budget

7 347 117

ERDF amount

4 408 270

ERDF rate

60%

    About

    Common challenge

    Co-Adapt identifies 3 barriers to climate adaptation:
    1. we need to move beyond existing actors and empower stakeholders to take practical action through a more open policy process;
    2. unsustainable development & land management practices have degraded ecosystems and the natural water management processes, increasing flooding and exacerbating the effects of drought;
    3. the effects of climate change are very uncertain, yet we need to make adaptation decisions now and need to find flexible, adaptive strategies that do not create high future costs.

    New solutions need to be developed and applied to improve resilience. In a context of reduced public financing, better, more robust and cost-effective measures are needed. In response, Co-Adapt’s unique contribution is a strong focus on co-creation of nature based and natural process solutions, in the framework of adaptation pathways – three pillars supporting each other to deliver highly durable results.

    Main Achievements

    The adoption of co-creation tools and approaches, including Stakeholder Engagement Plans, has been informed by cross-border learning with project partners, led by the Open University. Partners have worked together to discuss shared audiences, approach to engagement and co-creation, and opportunities to learn from each other’s projects and teams. A seminar on Nature Based Solutions was delivered to over 70 international stakeholders

    FWAG, SCC and SWT worked together to hold a series of workshops with local politicians in each target area, and an all day, public drop-in event in each of the 2 target areas. The information from these was compiled and made publicly available, and received local media coverage.

    The National Trust have worked with key project partners, regional and national stakeholders and the local community to develop a suite of approaches to implement ground-breaking projects. There has been excellent media coverage of the beaver release and the First Stage 0 stream restoration project. Site monitoring has been installed to monitor and evaluate the work.

    Technical work on the Culm Catchment project has progressed significantly. DCC have innovated and adapted their engagement activities to overcome the challenges presented by the covid pandemic. This has involved many digital, visual, video, and interactive elements to engage the public online – bringing people on a journey to develop understanding and become active in the project. Their website - https://connectingtheculm.com/ has been the main backbone of this

    The Province of Antwerp has initiated a steering group for the coordination of the investment at the Laak river, begun the co-creation process, and installed 2 water level measuring systems.

    Work in the West Brabant pilot area has started with the joint development of a cooperation plan for all relevant parties in the area (village councils, waterboard, municipality and province).

    The SYMSAGEB and the CIPE are working on solutions to continue begin the co-creation process in Carly and to continue the one initiated in Echinghen.

    Vlissingen has applied an innovative approach to allow non-experts and experts to jointly develop climate adaptive measures in an area that is prone to flooding

    VLM worked together with local bodies (local communities, waterboards, farmers, nature organisations( in 4 regions to develop test or sites. They set up local coalitions which have developed a plan of action and stakeholder engagement plans.

    Partnership

    Partners

    Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW)

    National Trust

    Somerset Wildlife Trust

    Devon County Council

    Open University

    Province of North Brabant (PNB)

    Municipality of Vlissingen

    Flemish Land Agency

    Province of Antwerp

    Permanent Centre for Environment Initiatives (CPIE)

    Boulogne Water Board

    Outputs

    Type
    Target
    URL / Download
    31/12/2021

    Co-Adapt

    Theme: Ecosystem resilienceClimate change
    Type: Method/service
    Target: Environmental agencies