Videos

On 12 May 2026, TiCCA4DANU and the EU Strategy for the Danube Region brought together experts, researchers, and city representatives for the live online event “Shaping Climate-Ready Cities and Regions.”

The session explored how cities and regions can better respond to climate risks such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and pressure on infrastructure. Speakers discussed climate risk modelling, just adaptation, Local Green Deals, adaptation financing, and real-life experiences from Debrecen.

The event highlighted one clear message: climate adaptation must be coordinated, place-based, and fair by connecting science, policy, finance, and local action to build more resilient cities and regions across the Danube Region.

In this interview, Niklas S. Mischkowski and Nina Mia Čikeš explain how Local Green Deals can support cities and regions in moving from climate and sustainability strategies to concrete implementation. They describe Local Green Deals as governance instruments developed in response to the European Green Deal, helping cities work with local stakeholders, especially companies, to define clear actions, responsibilities, timelines, and financing models.

The speakers highlight that Local Green Deals are more than agreements. They can act as a movement and an accelerator for implementation, supporting practical action across key transition areas such as energy, mobility, food, and climate adaptation.

The interview also explores the connection between Local Green Deals and transformative innovation policies. Within TiCCA4DANU, this approach is being adapted from the city level to city-regions and regional governance levels, where climate adaptation measures can often have a stronger and more lasting impact.

By linking Local Green Deals with the Open Discovery Process, TiCCA4DANU aims to support cities and regions in identifying concrete adaptation actions and moving quickly towards implementation across the Danube Region.

In this interview, Celal İnal shares the perspective of Uzunköprü Municipality on why climate change requires cooperation across cities, countries, and communities. He explains that climate change is not only a local issue, but a global challenge affecting all regions and future generations.

Celal highlights why Uzunköprü Municipality values its participation in TiCCA4DANU and how the project supports the city in exploring practical climate adaptation solutions. Through cooperation with partner cities and regions, the municipality is learning from good practices in areas such as sustainable mobility, carbon emission reduction, wastewater reuse, efficient water management, energy solutions, and cooperation between public institutions and private companies.

The interview underlines the importance of working together to identify solutions that can be adapted locally and contribute to a better, more resilient future for communities and future generations.

Smart Specialisation and Climate Adaptation: Martin Eichler on Place-Based Innovation Strategies

In this interview, Martin Eichler explains how smart specialisation can support climate adaptation by helping regions develop strategies that are tailored to their specific economic, social, and environmental conditions. He describes smart specialisation as an innovation policy approach that enables structural change, strengthens regional competitiveness, and supports regions in moving towards more resilient and productive futures.

Martin also highlights why this approach is highly relevant for climate adaptation. Since adaptation requires transformation not only in the economy, but also in society, combining smart specialisation with climate policy can help regions identify practical, place-based solutions. Through TiCCA4DANU, this methodology is being applied in close cooperation with cities, regions, and local stakeholders to co-create adaptation strategies that reflect local challenges, capacities, and resources — and that can be realistically implemented in practice.

Miha Škrokov explains why stronger private sector involvement is essential for climate adaptation, from helping industries respond to growing climate risks to supporting more resilient food systems. He also highlights the need for greater private financing, especially from banks and investors, to help move adaptation solutions from publicly funded projects into long-term implementation.

Mariann Andorkó on Climate Adaptation in Debrecen | TiCCA4DANU

In this interview, Mariann Andorkó shares the Pilot City Perspective from Debrecen as one of the four pilot cities/regions in TiCCA4DANU – Transformative Innovation & Climate Change Adaptation for the Danube Region.

Recorded during the TiCCA4DANU General Assembly on 26–27 June 2025 at the University of Vienna, this conversation highlights the importance of expert support, peer learning, and cross-city collaboration in addressing climate adaptation challenges.

Mariann explains why Debrecen joined the project, how the city is working to improve its response to climate change, and why this exchange with partners is so valuable for identifying knowledge gaps, building on existing strengths, and creating new cooperation opportunities. She also reflects on the importance of learning not only from international peers, but also from inspiring examples within Hungary, such as Szombathely.