From October 27 to 29, the kick-off meeting of the Horizon Europe project GRACE took place in Venice, Italy, bringing together 26 partners from across Europe. Among them was the Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR), participating as one of the project partners. The project’s overarching goal is to strengthen the ability of European regions—particularly remote rural areas—to adapt to climate change through community engagement, data and knowledge sharing, capacity building, and interregional cooperation.
The meeting opened with presentations from the project coordinators — the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC, Italy) — who introduced the project’s objectives, work structure, and expected outcomes. Their presentation was complemented by contributions from European Commission representatives, who highlighted the project’s strong alignment with the EU Green Deal and the EU Climate Resilience Strategy.
After introductory sessions, participants joined thematic discussions focusing on three key areas of the project: community engagement and adaptation pilots in rural regions, development of data and knowledge-sharing platforms and tools, and skills development and interregional exchange. The sessions explored practical ways to involve local communities — for example, in water management or agriculture — and how to use digital tools to gather data on climate risks and assess the impact of adaptation measures.
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to hands-on experience sharing, with field visits to the Venetian Lagoon and the Cavallino-Treporti area to explore their ecosystems and planned project activities. Special attention was given to the implementation of nature-based climate adaptation solutions. Participants visited the coastal dune protection system and the local farm “La Valleri”, which cultivates and processes various crops. The visit showcased best practices in climate adaptation and revealed an interesting fact — the unique environment near the lagoon, where fresh and saltwater mix, affects the soil and air, giving locally grown vegetables a particularly distinctive flavor and aroma. Participants also met with representatives of the Cavallino-Treporti municipality, who shared their experience of fostering community involvement in building climate resilience.
In the afternoon, project partners presented the climate challenges and planned pilot activities in their respective regions, including the Vidzeme Planning Region, which outlined the main climate risks and adaptation priorities in Vidzeme.
During the final day, discussions focused on shared challenges faced by all partners — including flood risks, soil degradation, public awareness, and the strengthening of local government capacities. Attention was also given to project management and the planning of future activities, as well as knowledge transfer and community skill-building. The day concluded with interactive workshops, where partners actively developed skills, strengthened collaboration, and exchanged experiences between regions.
The GRACE kick-off meeting became an important platform for cooperation, fostering knowledge exchange and idea sharing among partners and paving the way toward the common goal — enhancing the ability of regions to adapt and respond to climate change.
About the project
The project “Growing Climate Resilience in Remote rural Areas through Community Empowerment (GRACE)” is implemented with the financial support of the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme (2021–2027).
Its aim is to help remote rural regions in Europe adapt to climate change and strengthen their resilience by promoting community participation, local capacity building, and the implementation of innovative solutions. The project seeks to develop and demonstrate multidimensional climate adaptation measures that enhance social and economic vitality, promote nature-based solutions, and improve local governance.
