New tools to accelerate Europe's climate action

How can measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions be effectively combined with climate adaptation? This has been the focus of an EU project in which IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute has played a leading role. The results of four years’ work are now being presented, including new tools and recommendations designed to make climate action more effective.

We have integrated climate models with analyses of how climate change affects different sectors of society and how adaptation measures can be designed at the local level. By linking global, national and local perspectives, we have created a more comprehensive basis for decision-making and planning, says Eskil Mattsson, project manager and researcher at IVL.

Since 2022, researchers and stakeholders from across Europe have collaborated on the project Nevermore (New Enabling Visions and tools for End-useRs and stakeholders thanks to a common MOdeling appRoach towards a climatE neutral and resilient society). The aim has been to move beyond a fragmented approach and instead analyse how climate actions interact, both in terms of emission reductions and adaptation to a changing climate.

A key result is an integrated framework that enables the analysis of impacts and risks associated with both climate change and climate policy. The study shows that coordinated measures in areas such as land use, energy and transport are crucial to achieving Europe’s climate goals.

It's not enough to tackle one sector at a time. Our findings show that a coordinated approach is more effective, says Eskil Mattsson.

Tools for local, regional and European levels

To support this work, four digital tools have been developed for use at local, regional and European levels. These include a catalogue of measures for climate adaptation and emissions reduction, a tool for climate risk analysis at case study level, and a scenario-based analysis tool that makes it possible to compare the effects of different climate policy measures over time.

Further, a game-based tool that has been developed engages users in climate decision-making and boosts understanding of the considerations involved. Together, these tools help translate research findings into practical decision-making support, and strengthen dialogue between stakeholders.

The methods have been developed and tested in five case studies – in Trentino (Italy), Norrbotten (Sweden), Murcia (Spain), the Danube Delta (Romania) and Crete (Greece). By working in areas with different conditions, the project has been able to adapt the methods to real-world needs. In Norrbotten, work was led by Energikontor Norr, focussing on regional challenges and opportunities.

The support we’ve received from expert organizations involved in the project has given us the tools to understand how climate change affects different sectors locally and how the county can prioritize measures that contribute to greater climate adaptation, says Lina Widenmo, project manager at Energikontor Norr.

Read more about the results at the project website External link, opens in new window..

The results will be presented at a final event in Luleå, Sweden on 6 May. For more information, or to register, click here External link..

Questions? Contact:
Eskil Mattsson, eskil.mattsson@ivl.se tel. +46 (0)10-788 67 34
Lina Widenmo, lina@energikontornorr.se, tel. +46 (0)70-181 63 37