Smart Climate Adaptation & Resilience
NEUROCLIMA
NeuroClima is a three-year Research and Innovation Initiative funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program (HORIZON-CL5-2023-D1-01-09) that commenced on January 1, 2024, and will run until December 31, 2026.
Our Mission
NeuroClima aims to raise awareness, provide best practices, and ensure sustainable use of climate change adaptation and resilience solutions. Using effective dissemination and communication strategies, it collaborates with other EU-funded initiatives, develops viable business models, standardises outcomes, and invests in frameworks and toolkits addressing citizen and stakeholder needs and climate change challenges. NeuroClima’s impact through the use, commercial and other, may span well over 2030.
Background
The anthropogenic impact of climate change, coupled with ongoing crises in Europe and globally, raises the critical question: “Can the EU achieve its climate goals while upholding democratic values?”. In response, the EU has initiated new strategies for climate change adaptation. Climate neutrality and resilience are gaining traction as the impacts of climate change become increasingly severe. However, scepticism regarding climate change policies among various groups presents a challenge to climate change mitigation and adaptation practices implementation. This scepticism arises from concerns about policy, budget restrictions, lack of clarity, and citizen engagement. Therefore, governing bodies and policy-makers must prioritise developing clear and inclusive climate policies at all levels, and NeuroClima assists in providing climate-change-adaptation recommendations, engaging both citizens and policymakers.
Response
The endeavour to promote climate adaptation has been increasing collaboration and synergies within the EU. Concepts such as social tipping points, where minor changes yield significant impacts, and leverage points, where targeted actions lead to lasting changes, are now pivotal in shaping effective and sustainable climate policies. The research conducted thus far has predominantly relied on qualitative and mixed methods to identify these points. We contend that integrating trusted AI-powered tools into these frameworks will elevate them from research methodologies to actionable assets in decision-making, strategy development, and policy implementation, thus fostering the nexus between science and policy-making and providing policy-makers with scientific facts and figures in a language that can be used in policy-making and engage citizens.
Approach
Do individuals acknowledge the impact of climate change on their personal and professional lives? To give clarity and advocate for new policies, reliable and verifiable data is indispensable, both within and beyond the EU. Policymakers must use data to clarify and support measures, considering citizens’ sentiments and behaviours. Monitoring citizens’ needs and the motivations behind policies can facilitate communication between policymakers and citizens, thereby fostering governance enhancements, climate resilience, and a transition towards green initiatives within a shared sustainability mindset and accountability across the EU.
Consortium
The consortium consists of 15 partners, including universities, research institutes, and companies, pooling their efforts towards innovation in climate change adaptation and striving for excellence.
