ClimaSTORY: A Dynamic Tool for Climate Adaptation Strategies

Developed by AURA-EE in 2019 and enriched through contributions from numerous partners, ClimaSTORY serves as a powerful pedagogical tool for collective reflection on climate adaptation. Designed to foster collaboration, it brings stakeholders together to co-create strategies tailored to their specific territories.

Through a fictional setting, participants engage in collaborative problem-solving across five key economic sectors: agriculture and forestry; industry; tourism; trade, and craftsmanship; Planning and biodiversity management; Resource management.

Who is it for?

This interactive tool is suited for a diverse audience, including civil society, municipal staff, elected officials, industries, and NGOs. Guided by a facilitator, groups of up to 10 participants represent different economic sectors, encouraging dialogue that bridges contrasting visions, priorities, and ambitions.

How does it work?

The process unfolds in three key stages:

1. Solution Round: Participants explore 70 solution cards to identify sector-specific strategies.
2. Conflict Resolution: Sectors work together to address potential overlaps and resolve conflicts.
3. Action Plan Creation: Groups develop a tangible action plan with up to three concrete targets tailored to their fictional territory.

More Than a Game

Beyond raising awareness, ClimaSTORY creates space for meaningful dialogue. Participants step outside their institutional roles and take on new perspectives, fostering collaboration to design climate adaptation solutions. The structured process sparks insightful discussions and demonstrates how inclusive approaches yield innovative and practical solutions.

From awareness to action

ClimaSTORY is also a powerful decision-making tool. In collaboration with the ADAPTNOW Interreg Alpine Space project, AURA-EE has developed a digital platform and a tailored training programme. These resources allow users to map real territories, analyse challenges, and design customised storylines that guide the development of Climate Adaptation and Risk Mitigation strategies.

In France, ClimaSTORY complements the Climate Adaptation Territorial Trajectory (TACCT) framework by ADAME, offering municipalities a robust, integrated approach to tackling climate challenges.

Building resilient communities

Since its launch, this initiative has demonstrated its value in fostering cooperation, creating actionable strategies, and driving measurable results. By bridging the gap between awareness and implementation, it empowers communities to transform climate adaptation goals into reality.

To date, ClimaSTORY has engaged 850 participants and trained 72 facilitators in both English and French.

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