I4C Roadshow becomes a reality at ECCA 2025
From 16-18 June, I4C participated in ECCA 2025, the 7th European Climate Change Adaptation Conference. This year’s edition brought together around 645 climate adaptation stakeholders and was jointly organised by JPI Climate, the MAGICA project, and CMCC. The 3-day event took place at the Palacongressi in the picturesque city of Rimini, located on Italy’s Adriatic Sea coast. The choice of Rimini was far from coincidental—Emilia-Romagna, the surrounding region, has been severely affected by extreme weather events in recent years, particularly devastating floods. These events make clear that climate change adaptation is no longer a distant objective but a pressing necessity.
ECCA brought together 645 participants in Rimini and 407 online from 69 countries worldwide, highlighting its truly international reach.
For I4C, this year’s edition was special for many reasons: not just because ECCA only happens every 2 years, but this year’s theme – Living with Climate Extremes – is the driving focus of our work.
What’s our take on ECCA 2025? Find out more about the kick-off of the I4C Roadshow, key takeaways from the event, and what’s next.
A perfect starting point
Given its reputation, ECCA 2025 was an ideal venue to jumpstart a multi-city roadshow promoting transformative climate information for cities tackling climate extremes. At ECCA2025, the I4C team officially launched the #MakeItReal Roadshow with an interactive booth.
At the IMPETUS Pit Stop) passers-by could learn more about the project and ask their most pressing questions or share their climate adaptation concerns with I4C experts. The booth also featured hands-on activities: the ‘Test your climate knowledge’ quiz and a serious game involving extreme urban climate scenarios and decision-making.

Why ‘Make It Real’? The effects of climate change are not abstract – they are happening now, all around us. Real challenges require evidence-based, data-driven solutions that incorporate near-term climate predictions and other analyses. The Roadshow will showcase the work of I4C, in parallel with other EU-funded research projects, bringing climate information, mapping, and analysis tools directly to the people shaping the resilient futures of our cities.
Turning science into action: I4C’s presence at ECCA 2025
Aside from the Roadshow launch, I4C researchers took part in thought-provoking sessions throughout the conference.
On June 17, Dragana Bojović (Barcelona Supercomputing Center) presented how physical climate storylines can enhance our understanding of future climate extremes such as droughts and floods. She explored approaches ranging from physical climate models to discourse analysis and stakeholder mapping.

The session reinforced a critical insight: how we talk about climate futures matters. Our narratives – whether grounded in past experiences or future projections – are powerful tools in driving just and effective climate action.
On June 18, I4C partnered with one of its sister projects ASPECT for a joint session on the role of knowledge brokers in delivering effective climate services. Chaired by Dragana Bojović, the session saw the contribution of Marta Bruno Soares and Stefan Sobolowski from NORCE research centre, emphasising the importance of turning scientific evidence into real-world climate adaptation solutions, especially at the local level.

Participants took part in a hands-on user design activity and broke out in four different tables, where they discussed how knowledge brokers serve as vital links between science, society, and business. As climate extremes intensify, these “translators” are essential in making science accessible and actionable. Encouraging examples are already taking shape: Norwegian municipalities and industries like winemaking are beginning to apply prediction tools and impact assessments to adapt to climate risks. The researchers also stressed that co-development and cross-disciplinary collaboration are essential for designing services that truly meet users’ needs. Yet, despite progress, a major hurdle remains: consistent, reliable access to credible climate information is still lacking, and must be addressed as a priority.
What are we taking away from ECCA2025?
Several key priorities emerged as essential for accelerating climate action. Climate information was recognised as needing to become more actionable, particularly to support urban planning and adaptation strategies. Strengthened collaboration among Horizon Europe sister projects was also highlighted, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts and shared learning. Most significantly, the goals of the EU Mission for Climate Adaptation were reaffirmed, with a strong call to embed science-informed policy frameworks across local, regional, and European levels.
As announced during the closing plenary, ECCA 2027 will be held in Oslo, Norway, hosted by the Research Council of Norway. This isn’t too far from one of our Demonstrator Cities, where project researchers are co-developing climate solutions with the municipality to manage extreme flooding.Arrivederci, Rimini…and onward with the I4C Roadshow
A special thanks to all our I4C partners whose insights and support helped turn dialogue into momentous, contributing to make the launch of the #MakeItReal Roadshow such a success.
But, Rimini is just the beginning. We’re setting out across Europe to highlight how trusted climate information can strengthen urban resilience and empower local action. Whether you’re a policymaker, city planner, community organiser, or simply curious about how data can drive climate action, engage, explore, and help us make evidence-based climate adaptation a reality.
Couldn’t join us for the Roadshow kick-off? You can still take part in our quiz. Test your climate knowledge!
Join us in Bologna in November 2025! We will be co-organising, along with ASPECT and EXPECT, for a workshop on multi-decadal climate variations. Online participation will also be available.
Where can you find the next IMPETUS Pit Stop? Stay tuned for more updates coming later this year!
