Participatory planning guidelines to create pathways for climate adaptation

Involving local experts and representatives from various sectors in decision making enables the development of solutions that best match the needs and conditions of specific regions. This approach helps to consider the interests of different areas - from the environment and health to infrastructure and business. The engagement process promotes public participation, improves the quality of decisions, and strengthen understanding of climate change adaptation issues. “Participatory planning guidelines to create pathways for climate adaptation” reflect the approach and practical experience for stakeholder involvement in the planning process for climate change adaptation in Zemgale Planning Region (Latvia). Stakeholder involvement has been implemented through several stages, including consultation, prioritisation, co-creation, co-design, and empowerment, ensuring that the guidelines are useful both for preparing planning documents and for any municipal activity that requires stakeholder involvement. As the result of the stakeholder engagement process Zemgale regional climate change adaptation plan 2030 and adaptation pathways have been developed. The Guidelines are prepared within the frame of the project “Dynamic information management approach for the implementation of climate resilient adaptation packages in European regions” (2021 – 2025). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the call LC-GD-1-3-2020 – Climate-resilient Innovation Packages for EU regions (grant agreement No 101037084).