Last month, the EFFECTIVE project proudly supported a crucial workshop hosted by our partner, Ocean Ecostructures, that brought together a diverse group of scientists to advance the concept of Good Environmental Status (GES) within selected Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Held on July 2nd at the Biblioteca Municipal de L’Estartit in Girona, Spain, the session was highly productive. It marked a significant first step in downscaling GES to specific MPAs, a critical task for the project. We convened a robust panel of experts, each bringing invaluable knowledge to the table. Specialists in marine ecology, fisheries science, oceanography, biodiversity conservation, and environmental monitoring were all represented, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the relevant fields.

Key outcomes from the discussions include the foundation for a pressure matrix, which will be vital for next year’s decision-making tool for the Ecosystem Based Management System, and the initial groundwork for a scientific paper. This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to strengthening the robustness of future work within the EFFECTIVE project!

The post Bridging science and conservation at Ocean Ecostructures Workshop first appeared on EFFECTIVE.

From June 26 to 28, the 11th edition of the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO) brought together 450+ participants from 35 countries in Valencia, the European Green Capital for 2024.

This annual event has established itself as a vital platform for urban resilience, drawing city leaders, climate experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond to collaborate on strategies for building resilient cities in response to climate change and other urban challenges.

2024’s edition of EURESFO centered around three main thematic areas and a fourth special focus stream: 

1. Multilevel governance, cooperation and just transition;

2. Water resilience and promotion of the Blue Economy within and beyond the Mediterranean region;

3. Enabling the transformation towards resilient, adaptive, and climate-neutral cities and regions;

4. Humanitarian response to post-conflict resilience and recovery.

 

A comprehensive track programme

Over the course of this 3-day event, attendees participated in interactive sessions, workshops, and study visits with the goal of encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing. Key topics addressed include:

• Adaptation finance: practical and sustainable solutions to bridge the gap between financiers and cities striving for climate neutrality;
• Multi-level governance: effective approaches to enhancing climate resilience through multi-level governance for regional and national adaptation efforts;
• Climate adaptation and mitigation: innovative methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adjusting to climate impacts;
• Resilient infrastructure: strategies for designing and maintaining infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather and other stressors;
• Community engagement: best practices for involving local communities in resilience planning and decision-making;
• Digital resilience: leveraging digital tools, platforms, and technologies to boost urban resilience.

The discussions emphasized the importance of collective action in transforming cities into sustainable and livable environments for all.

The post EURESFO 2024 recap: advancing urban resilience first appeared on EFFECTIVE.