Across Europe, local and regional authorities are expected to deliver climate adaptation plans while also advancing innovation and regional development. Many face the challenge of limited time, staff and resources, and must balance different policy goals that are often treated separately. As a result, adaptation efforts can be delayed, disconnected from social and economic priorities, or risk creating new inequalities.
JustREACH was created to help bridge these gaps. The project supports authorities, businesses and citizens in turning plans into action that strengthens both resilience and fairness. It develops practical tools and guidance that make it easier to design adaptation measures which protect people, ecosystems and local economies.
Through cooperation and knowledge sharing across Europe, JustREACH promotes a new way of working on climate adaptation that links local action with broader regional goals for social justice, innovation and sustainable growth.
Objectives
JustREACH aims to make climate adaptation fair, practical and achievable for regions across Europe. The project builds on four main objectives that together form its pathway to just climate resilience.
1
A new understanding of just resilience
JustREACH develops a framework that helps authorities and communities understand how climate strategies influence people, economies and ecosystems. This framework highlights how adaptation and regional innovation can reinforce each other and provides indicators to track fairness, inclusion and long-term resilience.
2
Improved tools and models for planning and assessment
Local and regional authorities often need better tools to understand how adaptation measures affect people, economies and ecosystems. The project develops impact assessment models and data resources that show the wider effects of adaptation actions on equity, jobs and the environment, supporting more balanced and informed decision-making.
3
Tailored knowledge for local action
JustREACH connects multiple existing European knowledge platforms on climate adaptation and regional development through a single, user-friendly tool called the JustREACH Prism. It allows users to find information relevant to their specific context, enabling them to design solutions that match local conditions and priorities.
4
Capacity to act and share knowledge
Resilience grows when people and institutions work together. Through the JustREACH Transformation Bootcamp and a series of social learning videos, the project equips local authorities, community leaders and citizens with the skills and examples they need to put adaptation measures into practice and inspire others to follow.
JustREACH is part of the EU Mission: Adaptation to Climate Change, one of five European Commission missions designed to tackle the continent’s most urgent societal challenges.
The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, launched in 2021, accelerates the deployment of solutions to enhance climate resilience. It supports regions, cities, and local authorities in preparing for risks like heatwaves, floods, and droughts and fosters collaboration among local governments, researchers, businesses, and citizens to implement adaptation measures, including Nature-Based Solutions and early warning systems.