Powerful Key Messages and Inspiring Passion Open ECCA2025
ECCA2025 got underway today (Monday, June 16th) with insights into climate adaptation challenges, needs and action examples from civic climate leaders, European Commission policy-makers, financiers and research organisations.
Crowds filled the Palacongressi di Rimini’s main auditorium to hear opening plenary speakers at the start of the three-day European Climate Change Adaptation conference – the 7th to be held.
Speakers were direct in giving powerful messages, stressing the urgency of the need for climate adaptation underpinned by scientific research and engagement with municipal government at every level, communities and citizens. Those particularly highlighted were the vulnerable groups and young people.
The inspiring opening was a passionate video message from Jan Dusík, European Commission Deputy Director-General, DG Climate Action (CLIMA). He said: “The future of climate adaptation is not about reacting better but it is about anticipating more widely.” He went on to explain that building resilience must be applied not only to infrastructure but also building resilient people, empowering people, stressing that what is needed is “foresight, not fear”. The DG Clima added: “The Mission is our compass, the adaptation plan is our map, our people … are our reason… let’s act with vision, unity but above all purpose!”
Delegates were warmly welcomed by local and regional civic leaders. Anna Montini, Councillor for Ecological Transition and Blue Economy for the Municipality of Rimini, thanked the conference organisers – JPI Climate, CMCC and the MAGICA Climate Project - for choosing Rimini as the 2025 venue and later went on to discuss how the popular tourist destination has worked to improve the quality of its bathing waters.
Morena Diazzi, Director-General for Knowledge, Research, Labour, and Enterprises, Emilia-Romagna Region, said ECCA2025 will connect institutions, research laboratories and companies that can together promote relevant climate adaptation initiatives for the present and the future. She described the regional municipality as ‘very, very strongly committed to climate adaptation’ and to integrating it into its policy.
Antonio Navarra, Chair of co-organisers JPI Climate and President CMCC Foundation, said that successful climate adaptation relies on an ensemble of communities and building a consensus, and spoke about the legacy of ECCA2025. He said: “I am looking forward to three days of fruitful discussions and results that will inform our work over the next few years.”
CINEA Head of Green Research and Innovation Department, Matthias Langemeyer, shared his excitement at meeting such a ‘vibrant community’ at ECCA2025. He highlighted the increase in funding for European climate research through the European Commission and the EU Horizon programme. On behalf of the EC he told delegates: “We are excited to work closely with you… raising visibility of the results of your projects.”
He encouraged the climate research community to identify and make use of complementarities and synergies between the many different types of funded programmes, taking stock of learnings to better target and fill gaps, speaking of cross fertilisation and added value. He went on to praise all delegates and speakers, saying: “Thank you for being the best ambassadors for what a more resilient Europe will look like.”
Carlo Buontempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service, ECMWF, described the ECCA conference as ‘more vital than ever, as we face the consequences of climate change in real time’. Bringing the challenges back to their impacts on people, he added: “Behind every headline are communities that are struggling to adapt… Adaptation is no longer an option for the future, it is an urgent task now!”
This theme was picked up by Susanne Mecklenburg, Head of the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Office, which is the major partner of ECCA2025, when she said: “Climate adaptation is becoming more and more important to address, given our failure to limit global warming.”
She highlighted the role of data from space in informing adaptation and climate mitigation and the value of datasets are consistent over 40 to 50 years but also said ESA is aware of the need for higher resolution Earth Observation data.
Two of the leading co-organisers, Giulia Galluccio, of CMCC and MAGICA, and Petra Manderscheid of JPI Climate, closed the opening day, thanking VIPs, speakers and delegates in person and online. They said more than 600 had registered for ECCA2025, coming from all corners of the globe, as well as Europe. Petra added: "I am delighted to see so many people here today and online, so many familar faces and new faces to integrate into the Adaptation family."
Giuilia added: "Palacongressi di Rimini wil become more than a venue, it will be a catalyst for action, dialogue, deep listening and inspiration."
They highlighted that this is the first time ECCA has encompassed legal and human dimensions of climate adaptation.
Thank you to all who played such an important role in the opening of ECCA2025, including our expert Master of Ceremonies, Karen Coleman.
For more from the opening day, read our posts on X @ecc_conference and on LinkedIn – MAGICA Climate Project. Engage with us on social media and let us know your reactions to the speakers and the messages that stood out for you!
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