ARSINOE

Climate-resilient regions through systemic solutions and innovations

ARSINOE at a glance

The ARSINOE project will shape the pathways to resilience by bringing together SIA (Systems Innovation Approach) and CIW (Climate Innovation Window) with the purpose to build an ecosystem for climate change adaptation solutions. Within the ARSINOE ecosystem, pathways to solutions are co-created and co-designed by stakeholders, who can then select either existing CIW technologies, or technologies by new providers (or a combination) to form an innovation package.

Background: Adaptation to climate change refers to all approaches taken to adjust, prepare for, and accommodate new conditions that are created by changing climates.

For natural-resource managers, adaptation strategies also include actions taken to assist natural resources (species, habitats, forest plantations, watersheds) in accommodating new conditions imposed by climate, but also facing socio-economic impacts brought about by a worsening climate migration crisis.

As climate change is complex and interconnected with other global challenges, such as food security, water scarcity, biodiversity depletion and environmental degradation, it is insufficient to use traditional approaches to innovation that focus on one aspect of the problem.

This is why we need Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) to address the growing complexity, interdependencies and interconnectedness of modern societies and economies, focusing on the functions of the cross-sectoral system “as a whole” and on the variety of actors

To apply adaptation strategies, the ARSINOE project foresees to:

Facilitate a fundamental transformation of economic, social and financial systems that will trigger exponential change in decarbonisation rates and strengthen climate resilience through a Systems Innovation Approach;
Support recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and climate resilience through the implementation of the EU Next Generation Fund Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRP’s) in a co-integrated way;
Support communities and scientists in efficiently evaluating environmental and economic effects of climate change and understanding the impact of possible interventions by citizens and multidisciplinary scientists;
Offer advanced Environmental Intelligence services and tools, through an interactive platform allowing multiple stakeholders to collaborate;
Quantify, model and manage climate risk in a systematic way through resilience;
Facilitate knowledge transfer and exploitation for start-ups and SMEs.

Use the Systems Innovation Approach to address the growing complexity, interdependencies and interconnectedness of modern societies and economies;
Develop vulnerability indices that quantify risks resulting from the interactions of climatic hazards; vulnerabilities and exposures of humans, ecosystems, economic, social or cultural assets;
Introduce a set of Machine Learning-driven approaches to tackle and predict challenges;
Deliver regional resilience innovation packages through the Climate Innovation Window;
Promote a robust out scaling strategy allowing for the expansion of the ARSINOE innovation packages;
Develop VR experiences to elicit citizens’ preferences on interventions towards a resilient adaptation to climate change.

Meet the Partners

Project Resources

Project Web Site: https://arsinoe-project.eu/

Project Communication Material

CASE STUDY 2

Location

The ports of Piraeus (Greece), Limassol (Cyprus), and Valencia (Spain)

Key Facts

The Piraeus seaport is one of the leading European seaports (second maritime cluster globally) in terms of coastal shipping, cruise and containerized cargo. The Port is involved in 14 EU-funded projects related to its intention and target to become a “green” and financially independent seaport.

The seaport of Valencia is Spain’s leading Mediterranean port in terms of commercial traffic, and it is also the maritime gateway for various commercial activities to and from the entire Iberian Peninsula.

The seaport of Limassol handles 90% of the export and import volume of Cyprus and a lively Cyprus passenger traffic, including cruise ships and ferry connections with Greece, Israel, Egypt, and Lebanon.

Actions

Weather phenomena sharpened by climate change can cause extensive damage to the port and coastal infrastructure. Sea level rise coupled with more frequent and more intense storm waves and intense winds are a menace for seaports, their adjacent infrastructure, and waterways globally, causing submergence, flooding, and coastal erosion. ARSINOE will directly address infrastructure and maritime transportation by improving their resilience, health and well-being by avoiding cascading effects of climate change on human communities, including the risk of mortality and relocation.

Expected Impacts

With the completion of the project, the health risks associated with extreme events including summer maximum temperature, storm waves and flooding should be significantly minimized by designing tailored adaptation pathways for seaports, whereas the well-being of the adjacent communities should be enhanced. In addition, the change in the behavior of both the stakeholders and the members of the wider port society should also be visible. The perception of dealing with a problem locally and isolated will be replaced by the belief that only through creative synergies can effective solutions emerge. Besides, it is expected to increase public awareness on issues related to the smooth operation and resiliency of ports, as well as a willingness by people to get engaged in the implementation of relevant actions.

Partners Involved

http://www.olp.gr	https://www.athenarc.gr/en	https://www.aueb.gr/en
https://www.fundacion.valenciaport.com/	https://www.cut.ac.cy/	https://www.icm.csic.es/ca