The RegioClima Project

On June 2007, the Commission adopted its first policy document on adapting to the impacts of climate change and launched a Europe-wide debate and consultation exercise, inviting every EU citizen to participate. The EC Green paper on Adaptation to Climate change, highlights the important role that regional and local authorities have to play in climate change adaptation and acknowledges the need to enhance the expertise and sharing of experience on designing and implementing adaptation strategies at regional and local level.

A few weeks later, following a particularly hot and dry summer season in the Mediterranean region, with forest fires, landslides and other severe phenomena catching media attention and affecting the life of millions of people - both the local population and visitors - the Local Authorities governing the Larnaca District Development Agency (ANETEL) in Cyprus expressed their interest to lead an initiative that would bring together regional and local authorities from all over Europe to work on common strategies on sustainable living in a changing climate.

In response to this request, ANETEL staff elaborated on an idea for a project proposal on regional cooperation in adaptation to climate change and contacted the Agency’s EU wide network of partners. The project concept, being in line with the Interreg IVC Programme and addressing the priorities and objectives set in the 1st call for proposals, immediately attracted the interest of a large number of regional institutions from across the EU. Taking into consideration relevant guidance provided by JTS at the Interreg IVC information day in Cyprus, a balanced partnership was formed, comprising 5 Regional Authorities (in Spain, Italy, Greece, France & Slovakia), one academic/research institution (in Estonia), a regional agency for entrepreneurship and innovation (in Bulgaria) and a Local Development Agency (in Cyprus). Making best use of e-tools, the eight partners collaborated closely in the development of the project and the timely submission of the application.