© TiCCA4DANU – Vienna, Austria — 27 June 2025
In the context of the General Assembly of the TiCCA4DANU — held on 26–27 June at the University of Vienna — representatives from project partner regions gathered to reflect on early lessons, shared challenges, and the value of collaborative climate action.
As one of the four pilot city-regions in the Danube Macro-Region, Podravje-Maribor (Slovenia) is working hand-in-hand with the TiCCA4DANU consortium to strengthen climate adaptation pathways through transformative innovation and cross-regional learning. During a dedicated interview, Tanja Senekovic, Senior Consultant at the Regional Development Agency for Podravje‑Maribor, shared the city-region’s perspective on this ongoing journey.
Podravje-Maribor joined TiCCA4DANU upon invitation from the project coordinator, recognising the relevance of transformative innovation and climate adaptation for both the city and its surrounding region. Tanja emphasised that being part of this partnership — with its diverse network of experts and practitioners — provides a unique opportunity to enrich local efforts on climate adaptation.
“We are already on the right path in introducing climate adaptation measures, but we are still at the beginning of this process. The knowledge and mutual learning opportunities provided by the project are invaluable for accelerating our work.”
During the General Assembly, mutual learning sessions brought together knowledge from both research and practice, allowing participants to reflect on varying stages of climate adaptation across regions. According to Tanja, this exchange revealed that while some regions may be further ahead in certain areas, others hold valuable insights in different domains — creating a collaborative environment where all partners benefit.
A key focus of the assembly was the role of Local Green Deals (LGDs) — place-based, collaborative strategies designed to translate climate ambition into concrete local action. Podravje-Maribor actively engaged in a workshop on LGDs, exploring how these frameworks can be co-designed with partners such as ICLEI Europe and integrated into broader climate adaptation planning.
Tanja shared the region’s enthusiasm about preparing a Local Green Deal that will leverage stakeholder knowledge and facilitate long-term cooperation within the city-region. For her, LGDs represent both a practical tool and a catalyst for sustained local transformation.
As the TiCCA4DANU project progresses, Podravje-Maribor looks forward to deepening its collaboration with expert partners and fellow pilot regions. The region sees its involvement not only as a learning opportunity but also as a chance to contribute local experience to a wider European dialogue on climate resilience.
This pilot experience reinforces TiCCA4DANU’s broader mission of fostering transformative innovation, systemic collaboration, and place-based climate action across the Danube Region — ultimately enabling cities and regions to co-develop adaptable and equitable solutions to climate change challenges.
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