EU project ARSINOE: Innovative solutions for climate resilience in Europe

Extreme weather events such as the floods in the Ahr Valley in the summer of 2021, but also recent droughts, have show that climate change has arrived in Europe. Adapting to its consequences is one of the most important challenges for the future. The EU project ARSINOE will develop innovative climate resilience strategies and tools.

Over the last 100 years, the average global surface temperature has risen by 0.77 degrees Celsius, while sea level has risen by 16 centimetres. These trends are expected to continue to accelerate in the coming decades. Europe will increasingly be confronted with the effects of climate change, however with strong regional differences.

ARSINOE aims to develop system-innovative solutions in nine particularly vulnerable model regions of Europe, which will enable entire economic sectors to better adapt to the expected consequences of climate change. On the one hand, the consortium wants to model and analyse the effects of climate change on these regions, and on the other, it wants to identify possible cascade effects on surrounding areas and contribute to the development of effective prevention and adaptation strategies.

The Bavarian partners in ARSINOE (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Bavarian local office of the Verband kommunaler Unternehmen e. V) will be investigating the Main region where a strong accumulation of summer drought and heat can be expected in the future. At the same time, the risk of winter flooding is significantly increased in this region due to heavier precipitation. The consequences for almost all stakeholders in the agricultural, forestry, water and energy sectors are not sufficiently secured by the management measures that are currently available. These require a forward-looking revision in order to ensure climate change-resilient development in the region. Relevant innovations arise from close cooperation between science, authorities, municipal companies in the energy and water supply sectors, stakeholders in the fields of agriculture and forestry, as well as nature and environmental protection associations. The methods developed from this should enable adapted resource management to ensure energy and water security. The ecosystem functions and services should also be secured in the process.

In ARSINOE, 41 partners from 15 countries are working together to develop novel model technologies, social innovation and governance issues in order to inform policy decisions. The findings will be used by all those who need to make decisions concerning adaptation to climate change.

BayFOR@Work

"Once again, BayFOR played a significant role in the procurement of a major EU project. In addition to the usual professional support in submitting applications, I would like to highlight the great help that was given in advising and networking the Bavarian partners LMU and VKU (Bavarian local office). Thanks to the strong joint presence, it has been possible to establish the Main catchment area as a model region in ARSINOE. Thank you very much!"
Prof. Dr. Ralf Ludwig, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich)