Improving understanding of interactions in climate change mitigation and adaptation: Insights from three EU projects DISTENDER, KNOWING and NEVERMORE.

Three Horizon Europe projects - DISTENDER, KNOWING and NEVERMORE - have been launched to improve the understanding of the complex interactions between climate change impacts, risks and the design and implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies. These projects aim to develop methodologies and tools that support the formulation of effective climate strategies, thereby improving decision-making processes. Together, they will generate: (1) new knowledge on earth system dynamics and improved climate prediction capabilities; (2) a better understanding of how socio-economic factors interact with climate factors to shape future scenarios; (3) innovative methods and context-specific knowledge for integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies; (4) sector-specific guidelines for implementing climate actions; and (5) policy recommendations relevant to multiple scales of governance. DISTENDER (DevelopIng STratEgies by integratIng mitigatioN, aDaptation, and participation to climate changE Risks) focuses on the co-development of integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies by combining local knowledge with global and regional data through participatory approaches. Its Decision Support System (DSS) will provide guidelines, tools and policy recommendations to promote adaptive and resilient climate strategies. KNOWING (Framework for defining climate change mitigation pathways based on integrated understanding and assessment of climate impacts, adaptation strategies and societal transformation) aims to develop a holistic modelling framework that quantifies the interaction between climate impacts, risks, mitigation and adaptation, providing critical support to region-specific policies and actions. NEVERMORE (New Enabling Visions and tools for End-useRs and stakeholders thanks to a common MOdeling fRamework towards a climatE neutral and resilient society) focuses on physical modelling and assessment of climate impacts and risk while maintaining coherence at National, EU and local levels. Its integrated modelling framework, supported by practical ICT tools, will facilitate decision-making to improve climate resilience. The three projects contribute to a comprehensive analysis of the local climate situation through risk and vulnerability assessments including also the adaptive capacity. Local-scale climate and socio-economic projections are used to estimate future impacts and emissions, helping to identify region-specific adaptation and mitigation actions. These actions are assessed and prioritised based on costs, co-benefits and trade-offs between multiple objectives.