The goal of this topic is to accelerate the implementation of solutions that increase resilience to extreme heat and protect the health and well-being of the citizens, particularly in the built environment.

Solutions sought

Proposals should test and demonstrate effective solutions against the effects of extreme heat in the territories of regional / local authorities by addressing all of the following areas:

• Develop, demonstrate and evaluate systemic measures to reduce and manage heat stresses in public and private spaces and in the built environment also while avoiding maladaptation. This could include, but is not limited to, renovating/improving the design of buildings, redesigning the public spaces and/or implementing nature-based solutions (in line with the Nature Restoration Law).
• Develop and demonstrate ready-to-go actions for emergency services, public transport and utilities (water and energy) in case of extreme heat events, as well as support disaster preparedness and prevention planning (e.g., civil protection agencies).
• Explore and evaluate options for innovative funding schemes to implement the proposed heat resilience solutions for regions/local authorities, which are all operating in different contexts (e.g. jurisdiction, governance and local stakeholders).

Associated challenges, such as institutional and political bottlenecks, multi-level governance challenges, and the politics and justice dimensions of implementing innovative solutions all fall within the remit of this topic. As a result, this topic requires the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

For the successful implementation of the solutions and to ensure their sustainability beyond the duration of the project, the development and testing of the proposed solutions should be embedded, as much as possible in the adaptation planning of the regional or local authority participating in the project and/or in national plans.

Demonstration sites and related activities

The Mission encourages collaborations between regional and local authorities facing similar challenges and considers this to be a very efficient approach to secure a large impact. Therefore, the demonstration activities of the proposals:

• Must take place in the territory of at least 3 different regional or local authorities, each established in a different Member States or Associated Country, with the involvement of these regional or local authorities (preferably participating in the consortium as a beneficiary or associated partner).
• Should already identify at least 3 “replicating” regional or local authorities from 3 different Member States or Associated Countries, interested in reapplying the lessons learnt (totally, partially or with the required adjustments) in their territories. For the replication, the consortium could include one or more partners that would provide support for the technical exchanges and the knowledge uptake in the “replicating” regions or local authorities. Replicating regions are not expected to conduct a demonstration or carry out on the ground activities already in the course of the project. However, replicating regions should at least prepare the theoretical framework for replicating the successful solutions (through exchanges with the demonstration regions), and explore means to fund the implementation of those solutions.