NIB

LIFE4ADAPT - Slovenia’s Strategic Integrated LIFE Project for Adaptation

LIFE4ADAPT is a strategic integrated project of the LIFE programme, aimed at strengthening Slovenia’s resilience to climate change.

It brings together 14 partners and 5 associated organizations from the scientific, administrative, non-governmental, and local spheres. The key goal of the project is to improve preparedness for climate change, protect people, nature, and infrastructure, and ensure the country’s long-term resilience.

The project also promises to strengthen intersectoral and multi-level cooperation to align policies and measures in the field of adaptation. This will include regular meetings of expert groups, supervisory bodies, senior state representatives, and local authorities. The activities of the Climate Office, operating since autumn 2024, will be expanded with training sessions and study visits showcasing best practices in project preparation for public employees and other local stakeholders. The project will also support greater involvement of Slovenian regions in the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, with 7 out of 12 regions participating.

Project presentation on the ministry’s website: https://www.gov.si/zbirke/projekti-in-programi/life4adapt/

Project partners will primarily communicate activities through the joint climate portal samo1planet.si, which, in addition to covering climate change mitigation, will now also provide information and tools for climate change adaptation. Currently, the portal hosts content from the related project LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE. Thus, Samo1planet will become the central hub for knowledge and exchange of best practices in the field of climate resilience. Project website: www.samo1planet.si

The project also enables the maintenance and upgrading of the LIFE NarcIS project databases and the enhancement of the agricultural information system with an application for recording damage in small areas. NarcIS website: https://narcis.gov.si/ords/r/narcis/narcis/vstopna-stran

The project will contribute to improved water management. Missing guidelines will be prepared to ensure greater resilience of existing hydraulic structures to climate change. The process of issuing water rights will be improved to ensure that all users have access to the necessary amount of water. This will begin with an improved analysis of water balances, providing a better understanding of the complexity of climate change-related stress and guidelines for improvements, with special emphasis on the changing role of urban watercourses within the “smart water city” paradigm.

As part of the project, the consortium of partners will also implement 14 pilot projects in the fields of agriculture, forestry, nature conservation, health, water management, and the economy. The results will serve as exemplary cases of good practice for further dissemination across Slovenia, with the aim of reducing the risks of climate extremes and improving the quality of life in communities.

Educational programmes will also be developed and implemented for teachers, students, experts, practitioners in the most affected sectors, and public administration. The focus will be on training teachers and decision-makers and transferring knowledge into practice. These programmes will support sustainable development and strengthen societal resilience to climate change. The University of Ljubljana’s portal will also be upgraded with content on climate change adaptation.

As part of the project, six communication campaigns will be carried out, along with the preparation of a glossary of terms in the field of climate change adaptation, a mobile exhibition, and a catalogue of best practices. The general public will also be able to participate in three photography competitions.

Funding: The LIFE4ADAPT project (LIFE23-IPC-SI-LIFE4ADAPT) is co-financed by the European Union through the LIFE programme, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, and project partners.