- Publication date
The REACHOUT project has unveiled two new policy briefs aimed at equipping European cities with the tools and strategies needed to strengthen climate resilience. The third and fourth entries in the ongoing series highlight the importance of locally tailored climate service frameworks and the shift toward user-driven adaptation approaches in urban planning.
The newly released briefs emphasize that while climate data is essential, turning it into locally relevant, actionable solutions requires robust frameworks and deep stakeholder engagement.
Turning Climate Data into Local Action
Policy Brief #3, titled “From Data to Decisions: Building Local Climate Service Hubs”, focuses on the potential of Local Frameworks for Climate Services (LFCS). These frameworks, which integrate data spaces, communities of practice, and local marketplaces, are designed to support municipalities in co-creating climate knowledge, planning with precision, and delivering targeted services.
However, the brief points out that many cities continue to face challenges in coordination and institutional capacity. It urges governments to assess their readiness, align local efforts with broader regional strategies, and actively involve community stakeholders. The REACHOUT project’s own set of climate resilience indicators is featured as a practical tool to support these efforts and guide cities toward just and evidence-based adaptation.
A User-Driven Shift in Climate Services
Policy Brief #4, titled “Redefining the Role of Climate Services for Effective Adaptation in European Cities”, calls for a paradigm shift in how climate services are developed and deployed. Moving away from data-centric approaches, the brief advocates for systems that are built around local needs and user engagement.
REACHOUT argues that more effective adaptation arises when tools are co-designed with the communities they aim to serve. The brief recommends expanding the focus of climate services beyond traditional risk data, supporting bottom-up platform development, strengthening intermediary roles, and shaping policy environments that enable innovation. It also highlights the importance of integrating resilience strategies with broader urban priorities such as public health, equity, and sustainability.
Tools like the Triple-A Toolkit and the creation of local learning environments are presented as key enablers of this transformation.
Supporting a Resilient Urban Future
As climate impacts intensify, these policy briefs underscore the urgent need for European cities to rethink how they approach adaptation. By focusing on locally led frameworks and inclusive, user-centred models, REACHOUT aims to help urban areas become more resilient, equitable, and future-ready.
The full policy briefs are available both on the REACHOUT project website and our Reachout Project description page.