The number of users of the joint European Environment Agency (EEA) – European Commission Climate-ADAPT online knowledge hub has increased fivefold since its launch in 2012, according to an EEA report published today. The assessment confirms the increasing value of the web platform for users such as policy makers, city planners, and other experts who are looking to share and make use of information and best practices in adapting to climate change.

The EEA report “Sharing adaptation information across Europe“ is a first evaluation of the Climate-ADAPT portal, which has steadily grown in content over the past six years. The evaluation is complemented by two other publications:

• a brochure, which presents selected examples of the platform’s use at various governance levels and sectors,
• a technical study providing details on the methodology and the outcomes of the evaluation.

The number of users increased from 2800 monthly users to over 14000 between 2013 and 2017, reflecting the value of the information system which is seen as a practical ‘first-stop-shop’ for experts dealing with adaptation. Climate-ADAPT has also successfully involved many information providers who have shared their knowledge, although the evaluation notes the scope to engage more providers in the future.

The outcome of the evaluation will feed into the European Commission’s evaluation of the EU’s climate adaptation strategy currently taking place. It will help the Commission and the EEA in their work to update the platform ensuring it reflects changing policies and information demands at national, European and global level.

The report suggests that there is also potential to grow the use of the platform by improving its reach, especially to users in eastern and central Europe and users with less experience of adaptation. It explains that increasingly countries are moving from developing adaptation strategies to implementing action plans, which requires other information, for example, on indicators of progress and effectiveness of policies and actions – areas where Climate-ADAPT can help inform users.

The CMCC Foundation provided significant contributions to the report and the two accompanying documents, including support to work coordination (Valentina Giannini, CMCC Research Division ECIP – Economic analysis of Climate Impacts and Policy Division) and writing of key sections (Valentina Giannini; Eleni Karali, RAAS – Risk assessment and adaptation strategies; Serena Marras, IAFES – Impacts on Agriculture, Forests and Ecosystem Services and Silvia Medri, CSP – Climate Simulation and Prediction Division).
The work was carried out in the framework of the European Topic Centre on Climate Change impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA) of the European Environment Agency (EEA), which is coordinated by the CMCC Foundation (Silvia Medri).

Read the integral version of the report “Sharing information adaptation across Europe” (EEA Report No 3/2018)
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Source: EEA press release.

Read also the news “Informing and supporting climate policy: the European Topic Centre on Climate Change impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA)“.