The European Climate Change Adaptation Conference (ECCA) 2015 is the second of its kind, following the first ECCA held in Hamburg 2013 which was attended by more than 700 participants.

It is an initiative of a number of major European research projects and other stakeholders. The conference will cover a broad range of issues related to climate change adaptation and follows international adaptation conferences in Australia (Gold Coast, Queensland) in 2010 and in the United States (Tucson, Arizona) in 2012. This European conference will place a greater emphasis on understanding and assessing adaptation in action under the theme:

Integrating climate adaptation action in science, policy, practice and business

Different types of sessions have been designed to combine scientific and practical knowledge, policy making processes and business cases.

1. Knowledge: sessions presenting and discussing the latest research results

2. Policy: background information on European, national and local adaptation strategies, policy integration and effectiveness

3. Practice: dialogues on costs and benefits, strategies, governance, tools, and implementation

4. Business: sessions on facilitating public-private partnerships and identifying business opportunities and solutions

Two sessions will be featuring the European Commission’s policy initiatives on climate services and nature-based solutions and their funding in Horizon 2020.

Other sessions and workshops will cover a vast array of topics such as:
· Risk assessment
· Economics of adaptation
· Governance of adaptation
· Adaptation strategies and planning
· Innovations for climate safe developments
· Transitioning to decarbonized societies
· Reconciling mitigation, adaptation and sustainable development
· Practical experiences and lessons from adaptation efforts
· Adaptation in cities and strategic economic sectors
· Smart cities of the future
· Business opportunities and Public-Private Partnerships for adaptation
· Adaptation technologies
· Climate-proofing of infrastructures and investments
· Examples of adaptation (Case studies) and involvement of citizens and civil society
· Site visits of adaptation demonstration projects in Copenhagen
· Science, policy, practitioners and business interaction

The three scientific projects behind ECCA 2015

Base
The EU research project "Bottom-Up Climate Adaptation Strategies for a Sustainable Europe" (BASE) supports action for sustainable climate change adaptation in Europe. BASE makes experiential and scientific information on adaptation meaningful, transferable and easily accessible to decision-makers at all levels. The project is funded under the EUs 7th Research Framework Programme (FP7). Read more at http://base-adaptation.eu/

Ramses
The main aim of this research project is to deliver much needed quantified evidence of the impacts of climate change and the costs and benefits of a wide range of adaptation measures, focusing on cities. RAMSES will engage with stakeholders to ensure this information is policy relevant and ultimately enables the design and implementation of adaptation strategies in the EU and beyond.The project will focus on climate impacts and adaptation strategies pertinent to urban areas due to their high social and economic importance.Read more at: http://www.ramses-cities.eu/

ToPDad
The Tool-supported policy development for regional adaptation (ToPDAd) is a €4.5 million research project funded by the European Commission.  The objective is to find the best strategies for businesses and regional governments to adapt to the expected short term and long term changes in climate. The consultancy VTT in Finland is the lead organisation, with participation from leading research communities across Europe. Read more at http://www.topdad.eu/
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