European Week of Regions and Cities: Driving Twin Transition for Climate-Resilient Communities

The e-SAFE project attended the workshop Twin Transition for climate change resilience in the climate vulnerable EU regions during the European Week of Regions and Cities, which focused on how digital technologies, community engagement, and innovative policies can address climate challenges in Europe’s most vulnerable regions. As one of the projects leading the way in transforming how we approach sustainability and resilience, e-SAFE attended  the discussions, sharing synergies with the EU-funded RESIST project and other key initiatives. The workshop emphasized the concept of Twin Transition, which aligns closely with e-SAFE’s goals of combining green and digital transformations to create climate-resilient communities.

The event highlighted several regions that are leading the charge in developing innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Catalonia, Central Portugal, and Central Denmark—all regions facing the brunt of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and forest fires—showcased their efforts in using digital technologies and community-led initiatives to build resilience. These examples resonated deeply with e-SAFE’s own mission, which focuses on the deep energy and seismic renovation of buildings across Europe.

  • The Catalonia region, for instance, is dealing with frequent natural disasters such as flash floods and severe droughts, which have prompted over 20 municipalities to develop disaster management strategies. Through the strong engagement of citizens and local communities, Catalonia is implementing transformative solutions—a parallel to e-SAFE's approach, where public engagement is critical in driving sustainable renovation projects that align with both energy and seismic resilience goals.
  • Central Portugal, another region vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, is focusing on improving forest management and reducing wildfire risks through the RESIST project. This region's innovative economic models, such as village condominiums promoting sustainable land management, serve as inspiration for e-SAFE’s business model innovations aimed at transforming the building renovation market in the EU.
  • Meanwhile, Central Denmark is leveraging extended reality (XR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to simulate nature-based solutions in flood-prone coastal areas. This use of digital tools to test climate resilience strategies strongly mirrors e-SAFE’s commitment to integrating advanced digital technologies in renovation processes, creating buildings that can withstand both climate and seismic events.

The workshop further highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing among regions. The event reaffirmed the value of social perspectives, strong community involvement, and the integration of green and digital solutions in building a future resilient to the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.

In conclusion, e-SAFE’s participation in the European Week of Regions and Cities workshop underscores its ongoing commitment to driving the Twin Transition. By fostering collaboration across regions and harnessing both technological innovation and civic engagement, e-SAFE is playing a vital role in creating a resilient Europe that is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

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