Knowledge and information for resilient cities

Climate change is a reality and it will impact human and natural systems despite the world-wide measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation to climate change is therefore an urgent task; and while climate change is a global challenge, adaptation needs to be place-based. Adapting to climate change requires a multi-level approach supported by sufficient and suitable information regarding the different stakeholders. Despite existing information gaps, a vast amount of knowledge and information related to climate change has already been generated and made available, yet in practice, only a fraction of this information is used by adaptation policy makers and decision makers. The skills and capacities of adaptation stakeholders to use existing information are constrained - at the community, local and national government level, among European policy-makers, researchers and knowledge-providers. Difficulties exist regarding identifying knowledge from a wide range of sources, analysing this information and adapting it to the local context. A collaborative approach, a common language, and continuous collaborative learning between the different stakeholders can help overcome these barriers.