Solutions
As part of the Arsinoe project funded under the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the region of southern Denmark developed an integrated approach to climate adaptation, combining innovative governance, stakeholder engagement, advanced modelling tools and economic assessments to strengthen resilience to flooding and other climate risks.
Stakeholder engagement and participatory planning
Through Arsinoe’s systems innovation approach, local authorities, businesses, citizens and other stakeholders were actively involved in designing adaptation pathways. A digital engagement platform was developed for the Municipality of Esbjerg, while workshops explored opportunities for citizen participation in disaster risk management and climate resilience planning.
Living lab for resilience planning
A living lab brought together public and private stakeholders to co-develop long-term resilience pathways. The process increased awareness of flood risks, identified barriers to adaptation and fostered dialogue on solutions and investment opportunities.
Flood modelling supported by artificial intelligence (AI)
An AI-powered digital twin was developed to simulate coastal and pluvial flooding scenarios and assess their social, economic and environmental impacts. The tool supports evidence-based decision-making and helps target adaptation measures to areas where they can deliver the greatest benefits.
Economic risk assessment tool
An economic damage assessment tool was created to estimate potential losses from climate hazards and support adaptation planning. The tool enables authorities and businesses to better understand climate risks and prioritise cost-effective resilience investments.
Co-benefits
Economic
Advanced flood modelling and economic risk assessment help authorities and businesses anticipate climate impacts and reduce future losses from flooding and infrastructure damage. By improving risk awareness and supporting informed investment decisions, the project strengthens economic resilience and encourages proactive adaptation planning.
Social
The project promotes community resilience through extensive stakeholder engagement, bringing together citizens, businesses, researchers and local authorities. Participatory planning increases public awareness of climate risks, strengthens trust in local decision[1]making and fosters a shared sense of ownership over adaptation actions.
Environmental
An improved understanding of flood dynamics supports the design of adaptation measures that protect ecosystems and reduce environmental degradation. This is particularly important in the Wadden Sea area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where better flood management can help safeguard biodiversity, coastal habitats and natural ecosystem functions while enhancing long-term climate resilience.
Replicability
Scaling integrated flood resilience planning across Europe using a transferable model combining data, governance and stakeholder engagement for climate risk management.
Best suited for
This approach is particularly relevant for coastal and low-lying regions exposed to flooding from storm surges, sea level rise and/or extreme rainfall, especially where critical infrastructure, economic assets and/or protected natural areas are at risk. It is well suited to municipalities and regions seeking to strengthen existing climate strategies through improved risk assessment, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based decision-making.
Stakeholders' role
The model relies on collaboration between local and regional authorities, research institutions, water and infrastructure managers, emergency services, private-sector stakeholders, investors and citizens. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, stakeholders can jointly identify risks, develop resilience pathways and support the implementation of adaptation measures.
Built-in scalable tools
The approach includes several transferable tools and processes. The AI-based digital twin can be adapted to different geographic contexts using local climate and topographical data. The economic damage assessment tool provides a methodology for estimating climate-related losses and prioritising investments. In addition, the living lab methodology and stakeholder engagement processes offer a practical framework for co-designing adaptation strategies in other regions.
Funding pathways
The approach was developed through the Horizon 2020-funded ARSINOE project. Similar initiatives can be supported through EU research and innovation programmes, regional development funds, national adaptation programmes and local resilience investments. The use of economic risk assessment tools can also help attract public and private financing by demonstrating the costs of inaction and the benefits of adaptation measures.
