Bridging Physical Risk and Human Impacts: The CROSSEU Decision Support System for Climate Resilience in Europe

Climate adaptation strategies must go beyond identifying physical hazards to address socio-economic vulnerabilities and human impacts. The CROSSEU project exemplifies this approach by integrating climate science, socio-economic analysis, and participatory methods to develop actionable insights for resilience planning. A core outcome of the project is the CROSSEU Decision Support System (DSS), designed to translate complex climate risk information into insights for policymakers and other stakeholders. Hosted on the Data Analysis for National Infrastructure (DAFNI) platform and integrating the World Energy & Meteorology Council (WEMC) Teal visualisation tool, the CROSSEU DSS is designed to enable interactive exploration of regional climate risks by combining geophysical data with demographic and economic indicators to inform equitable adaptation strategies. 

A beta version of the CROSSEU DSS is now operational, featuring an initial case study on heat-related mortality in the Czech Republic. This first version of the application illustrates how rising temperatures combined with demographic trends amplify health risks, particularly for vulnerable urban populations. To ensure the DSS meets practical needs, its functionality and user experience are being co-produced through stakeholder engagement. 

By integrating multi-sectoral data and visualisations, the CROSSEU DSS will support evidence-based decision-making aligned with the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Ongoing work is expanding the DSS to include further case studies across multiple regions and sectors with enhanced interactive features, all refined through direct stakeholder feedback via participatory approaches. This tool demonstrates how interdisciplinary, user friendly resources can help bridge the gap between raw hazard data and practical, equity-focused adaptation strategies, promoting more climate-resilient policymaking across Europe.