European researchers and local communities are collaborating to deploy a wide range of climate adaptation solutions to combat increasing risks from wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.
- The EU-funded RESIST project is testing and refining more than 100 adaptation strategies across Europe.
- A “twinning regions” model matches territories with similar environmental challenges to share and transfer effective solutions.
- Initiatives range from nature-based fire breaks in Spain to digital twins and early-warning sensor networks in Denmark.
Combatting Megafires with Productive Fire Breaks
In Extremadura, Spain, ecologist Fernando Pulido of the University of Extremadura is developing “productive fire breaks” to slow the spread of wildfires. This strategy involves managing vegetation to create areas that are harder for fires to penetrate.
The urgency is driven by increasing temperatures; in the summer of 2025, fires destroyed more than 45,000 hectares of land in the region. Pulido argues that water and helicopters alone are insufficient to stop these destructive megafires.
The approach focuses on replacing monocultures, such as eucalyptus or pine, with native, mixed-species plantings. To ensure these landscapes are maintained, the project integrates economic activities like grazing or the cultivation of fire-resistant olive crops.
Technological Climate Adaptation Solutions for Flooding
In central Denmark, researchers are utilizing a combination of digital tools to improve flood preparedness. This includes the use of extended reality to help residents and planners visualize building adaptations before they are implemented.
To improve early warning systems, a network of underground sensors is being installed to monitor groundwater levels. This data is transmitted to an app that alerts authorities and residents before flooding becomes visible on the surface.
Additionally, the project is creating “digital twins”—virtual replicas of local landscapes. These models allow decision-makers to test various flood scenarios virtually to determine the most effective physical infrastructure investments.
The Twinning Regions Strategy
The RESIST project, coordinated by Vilija Balionyte-Merle of the Norwegian research organization SINTEF, uses a “twinning” model to scale these efforts. This involves pairing geographically distant regions that share similar climate risks.
For example, the flood-management tools developed in Denmark are being applied to similarly affected areas in Blekinge, Sweden, and Zemgale, Latvia. Similarly, the heat and drought challenges in Catalonia are mirrored in parts of southern Italy.
This effort is part of the broader EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. Many of the developed tools, including the planning models and early warning systems, are expected to be ready for broader use by 2027.
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