| Description: |
Climate change impacts in Europe are intensifying and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. While adaptation strategies increasingly acknowledge the value of public participation and citizen science, there remains a gap in inclusive, evidence-based approaches that engage diverse citizen groups in shaping soft adaptation measures. This study examines a staged co-creation process implemented across four pilot regions (Aragón, Dresden, Malmö, Rome). Using a structured, adaptable sequence (stakeholder mapping, inception workshops, target-group focus groups, and multi-stakeholder co-creation) it engaged youth, working populations, multicultural communities, and citizens experiencing vulnerabilities to generate locally relevant, feasible, and just solutions. Thereafter, a cross-case synthesis of outputs across pilots and target groups was conducted. Results from cross-case analysis showed that participants converged on a recurrent suite of four soft adaptation measure typologies across sites and target groups: (1) inclusive, barrier-free, multilingual risk communication via trusted intermediaries and with non-alarmist framing; (2) education and capacity-building, embedding climate hazard literacy in schools and community venues (often through hands-on/citizen-science activities); (3) workplace adaptations, shifting from individual coping to shared responsibility; and (4) accessible cooling and warning services (climate shelters, hydration points, participatory cooling maps, early-warning and tailored alerts). These typologies reappeared across sites and target groups, but participants also specified context-dependent design features shaped by local climatic, physical, socio-cultural, and institutional conditions. Regarding the process, three features enabled effective outcomes: continuity (to build trust and iterate), socio-culturally tailored formats, and facilitation that lowered participation barriers. Key constraints were time and resource limits, coordination and responsibility gaps, communication ... |