Vasileios Latinos, Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI Europe, joined the panel “Rethinking, Planning and Mainstreaming Resilience Considerations”, a topic closely linked to the CARMINE project’s mission. As climate change intensifies, the growing frequency and severity of weather extremes pose major challenges for local adaptation strategies. In this context, CARMINE supports cities and regions in strengthening resilience by providing impact-based decision tools and fostering multi-level climate governance. Through co-creation, science-driven innovation, and nature-based solutions, the project helps communities align their adaptation strategies with the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change by 2030.
Luca Arbau, Senior Expert in ICLEI Europe’s Resilience and Climate Adaptation team, presented the EU Covenant of Mayors’ “Cities Refresh” Campaign during the session “Scaling Preparedness and Resilience Across the Mediterranean.” As Europe remains the fastest-warming continent, safeguarding quality of life begins in cities and towns. The campaign encourages municipalities to reimagine urban spaces through nature-based solutions, heat-resilient design, and community-centred policies, creating cooler, safer, and more liveable environments.
Several CARMINE cities, including Athens, Barcelona, Birmingham, Brașov, and Odense, are Covenant of Mayors signatories. Notably, Athens has published a case study on reducing urban heat stress, illustrating how local innovation can drive Europe’s collective resilience goals.
The Mediterranean Forum once again underscored the urgent need for coordinated climate adaptation across cities and regions. By connecting research, governance, and on-the-ground action, CARMINE demonstrates the value of collaborative resilience efforts and directly contributes to this mission.
