CARDIMED actively participated in the Climate Chance Europe-Africa Summit on Adaptation, held from March 31 to April 1, 2025, in Marseille, France. This key event brought together stakeholders to discuss local-level climate adaptation in Europe and strengthen cooperation between Europe and Africa.
At the conference pitch corner, CARDIMED showcased its work in enhancing resilience across the Mediterranean region, highlighting opportunities for cities and regions beyond the consortium to engage with partners and learn from best practices implemented in CARDIMED DEMO regions.
A major highlight of the summit was CARDIMED’s contribution to the session “Transformational Adaptation for Cities and Regions,” organized by ICLEI Europe. This session explored the critical shift from incremental to transformational adaptation, featuring insights from leading experts and real-world initiatives.
Three CARDIMED partners played a key role in the discussion: Tadej Stepišnik Perdih (NTUA) shared experiences from the project’s coordination team; Marie-Caroline Vallon (Région Sud – Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur) presented challenges and best practices from CARDIMED’s transformative actions; and Luca Arbau (ICLEI Europe) moderated the discussion.
The session underscored the urgent need for transformational adaptation, as incremental, short-term actions are insufficient to address climate challenges. Key takeaways included:
- Financial and regulatory incentives are essential to prioritize transformative actions over “business-as-usual” approaches.
- Inclusive engagement at the local level is crucial—adaptation must involve all stakeholders from the ground up.
- Stronger coordination and collaboration across governance levels and sectors are necessary to address adaptation as a cross-cutting issue.
By bringing its expertise and fostering dialogue, CARDIMED reaffirmed its commitment to driving transformative climate adaptation across the Mediterranean and beyond.
