The Sustainable Development Solutions Network is excited to announce the launch of several projects geared toward tackling climate change adaptation. Among these, the EU-funded CARMINE project and the Pathfinder Initiative stand out for their innovative and ambitious approaches. These projects share the goal of improving climate resilience and promoting sustainable development across Europe and beyond.
Climate-Resilient Development Pathways in Metropolitan Regions of Europe, or CARMINE, is a project that aims to support metropolitan communities in becoming more climate resilient by co-developing a knowledge-based framework for climate adaptation and mitigation actions. It narrows its focus on eight diverse regions across Europe, aligning with the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change by 2030, with a long-term perspective extending to 2050. The CARMINE project integrates advanced methodologies like Living Labs, Digital Twins, nature-based solutions, artificial intelligence, modeling, and machine learning. Designed to bridge the gap between science and practice, the co-creation of actionable tools, products, and services is expected to strengthen local communities and support decision-making at the European level.
A consortium of leading institutions from academia, industry, and public organizations supports the CARMINE project. Among them are the SDSN Association, Meteo Romania, Athena Research Center, World Meteorological Organization, and ICLEI Europe. The consortium, which includes 32 partner organizations from 11 countries, held its first kick-off meeting in Bucharest on March 12. This meeting laid the foundation for the project’s objectives and next steps. Key priorities for the first six months included the establishment of communication activities and the development of a dissemination strategy, which the SDSN Networks has been proud to take the lead on. The project, funded by the EU with a budget of over 10€ million, aims to make ambitious goals a reality through this collaborative effort.
The CARMINE website, launched in April 2024, is the central hub for information dissemination and stakeholder engagement. Social media channels, managed by SDSN Networks, will complement the website to maximize the project’s visibility and outreach.
In addition, the Pathfinder Initiative, led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), assesses and synthesizes lessons from implementing evidence-based pathways to zero-carbon societies. By addressing knowledge gaps and overcoming implementation challenges across diverse settings, this initiative supports evidence-informed decision-making.
The Lancet Pathfinder Commission, which the SDSN forms a part of, is an international group of experts from diverse sectors and disciplines that provides scientific oversight of the initiative. As the project moved on to phase two, a new Coalition was launched to bring together key actors from local and national governments, academia, business and civil society to accelerate the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of climate solutions that boost health and society.
The Pathfinder Initiative benefits from the expertise and collaborative spirit of organizations like SDSN, the OECD, C40 Cities, and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, hosted by the WHO.
Each new project represents significant strides towards a sustainable, climate-resilient future. By combining the latest technology with collaborative, community-focused approaches, these initiatives are poised to create lasting impacts that will help cities and societies adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Stay tuned for more updates and join us in this journey towards a sustainable future.
For more information, visit the CARMINE website and follow our social media channels. To learn more about the Pathfinder Initiative, visit the Pathfinder website and the Coalition on Climate Action for Health.
