GRACE

GRACE aims to address the specific needs of rural and small/medium communities localised in remote rural areas of Europe to adapt and build resilience against CC by strengthening their capacities and empower them to become actors of change and take transformative action. CC affects rural communities and causes impacts that threaten regional economies, e.g., less water availability hampers agricultural production, lack of snow in winter decreases tourism activities in alpine regions. GRACE will develop and demonstrate a multidimensional portfolio of innovative multifunctional CCA solutions tailored for RRA, increase the institutional adaptation, address climate risks, and contribute to several policy objectives such as the European Green Deal, the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the EU’s long-term vision for rural areas.

At the same time, the project will strengthen local social- economic activities, foster new opportunities for businesses, leverage the valorization of natural capital, and contribute to counterbalancing the phenomena of depopulation and ageing in RRA. Through this initiative, rural areas and small and medium-size communities will become more resilient and be better prepared for the anticipated effects of CC, providing a model for other regions to follow and setting examples for reapplication across Europe.