From vulnerability to resilience: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes at the forefront of climate action

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is experiencing rapid and intensified climate impacts: accelerated warming, retreating glaciers, declining snow cover, unstable water cycles, and thawing permafrost that destabilise mountain slopes. These changes threaten ecosystems and biodiversity, with knock‑on effects for tourism, agriculture, forestry, and hydropower.

To address these challenges, the region has strengthened its adaptation efforts through the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Energy and Environment Agency (AURA EE). AURA EE brings together more than 70 members, including local authorities, NGOs, energy producers, and research organisations, to coordinate regional action on climate adaptation, mitigation, sustainable energy, and the circular economy. Its role is to connect stakeholders, provide technical expertise, and support evidence‑based decision‑making.

European cooperation has been instrumental in this progress. EU-funded projects such as ADAPTNOW, X RISK CC, and NACAO have enhanced regional capacities, enabled knowledge exchange, and supported the development of new tools and methodologies.

TerriSTORY®, for example, gives decision makers access to local data on energy, emissions, and climate impacts, while ClimaSTORY® uses role play and storytelling to co-design adaptation pathways rooted in local realities. Together, these tools help bridge scientific knowledge and local experience, ensuring that strategies are both technically sound and socially grounded.

Driving impact through European collaboration

The ADAPTNOW project (2021–2027) has transformed ClimaSTORY® from an engagement tool into a decision-support platform, adding indicators from TerriSTORY®, creating a digital interface, and training facilitators. Tested in highly affected and exposed territories such as Baronnies en Drôme Provençale, it has already engaged more than 700 participants and trained 75 facilitators. “The ADAPTNOW project has significantly advanced climate adaptation in our region. It provided a platform for testing the ClimaSTORY® ‘support’ formula in the Baronnies, which led to the creation of a new training module for local facilitators,” explains Laurence Monet, Project Manager at AURA EE.

In parallel, the X RISK CC project (2021–2027) addresses compound and cascading risks such as droughts, wildfires, and rainfall-triggered landslides that can disrupt local economies. By developing harmonised data on climate extremes and working with practitioners in cross-border areas, the project translates insights into local action and regional policy in collaboration with networks like EUSALP and the Alpine Convention.

Complementing these efforts, the NACAO project (2023–2027) focuses on mitigation through nature-based solutions, enhancing carbon sinks in ecosystems such as forests and wetlands. It brings together six European regions to promote governance models and market mechanisms that scale carbon offsetting in ways that are environmentally sound and socially fair. Together, these initiatives deliver multiple benefits: stronger risk management systems, improved community engagement, and nature-based measures that preserve biodiversity. They also generate positive economic effects by safeguarding tourism and agriculture, supporting local capacities, and fostering competitiveness across the Alpine region.

Building on success: lessons and next steps

The region’s experience shows the importance of strong governance, stakeholder collaboration, and tools that combine scientific data with local knowledge. Integrated approaches linking adaptation to local hazards with mitigation, such as enhancing natural carbon sinks, have proved effective and replicable. Programmes like the ADAPTNOW Promoting Organisation Programme further support replication through training, peer visits, and tailored coaching.

While territorial diversity remains a challenge, facilitation and co‑creation have helped ensure that solutions remain adaptable to different local contexts. Looking ahead to 2027, the region aims to expand replication, strengthen cross‑border cooperation, and scale nature‑based offsetting, continuing to build resilience across the Alpine area.

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!