Enhancing climate resilience in the AGORA project: A digital academy for improved access and use of climate, risk and adaptation information

The AGORA project supports climate-resilient communities in Europe by engaging various stakeholders, including citizens, policymakers, experts, and marginalized groups. It aims to accelerate societal transformation by sharing innovative climate adaptation solutions, recognizing the need for diverse approaches. Through pilot regions in Italy, Sweden, Germany, and Spain, AGORA facilitates co-production activities to design and implement context-specific adaptation strategies. Other regions can participate as followers, learning from and replicating AGORA's actions. The project aims to empower citizens and promote proactive decision-making. A key component is the Digital AGORA, an online platform facilitating citizen engagement and decision-making processes. It includes digital academies focusing on climate data access, climate risk monitoring, and combating climate disinformation, with the goal of enhancing adaptation efforts through education and peer networking. Capacity-building events ensure user-centred design and address existing barriers to climate data utilization, as demonstrated through collaborative efforts showcased at the 2023 ECCA and SISC conferences.

This contribution presents three comprehensive inventories that highlight a variety of international (European-focused) and national tools encompassing climate, climate risk, and climate adaptation themes. These inventories compile web-based resources such as tools, atlases, portals, and platforms, which have seen a notable increase in publication in recent years. They serve as valuable repositories capable of disseminating climate data, derived climate insights, and tailored climate services to a diverse audience. The selection process involved thorough screenings of scientific literature, web resources, and expert consultations. The tools are systematically evaluated and compared through a detailed spreadsheet analysis, which examines their content, temporal and spatial relevance, language, style, functionalities, and included variables. Additionally, the spreadsheet provides direct links to the tools, tutorials, data sources, metadata, methodologies, and associated scientific publications, ensuring accessibility and transparency for users.

A digital academy guides users by leveraging the developed inventories to provide accessible climate resources. This fosters transparency and empowers a diverse set of stakeholders. The academy features eight modular learning pathways tailored to basic, intermediate, and advanced skill levels. Each module integrates general topical knowledge, links to relevant tools, and utilizes engaging elements like quizzes, questionnaires, videos, and tutorials. This innovative digital academy seamlessly integrates with the broader Digital AGORA platform.