Recommendations for the future sustainability and improvement of the network and community, and the development of new forums based on lessons learnt

Climateurope2 (CE2) aims to build a more connected and equitable European climate services community. This deliverable analyses how the CE2 network developed between September 2022 and August 2026 and identifies lessons and recommendations for sustaining the network and the wider climate services community beyond the project. The analysis draws on the network's registration data, event participation, website statistics, a network member survey, a project partner survey and a project partner workshop. By August 2026 the network had 578 registered individuals. Members come from 72 countries, mostly in Europe. Women make up 52% of members and men 44%. Academia (33%), the private sector (28%) and the public sector (27%) are roughly balanced, while NGOs (11%) and the media (0.2%) are much less represented. The network expanded its geographical reach during the project, while the participation of women, NGOs and private-sector actors increased. Targeted engagement in Southeastern Europe also increased the region’s representation to 22.8% of the network. Engagement with the network was supported through a range of formats. The relevance of the events’ topic was the main motivation for participation, followed by networking. Events helped members establish new contacts, strengthen existing relationships and, in around one-third of cases, identify potential opportunities for collaboration. The experience also confirmed that different formats serve different purposes: in-person events support trust-building and longer-term connections; online formats broaden access; sectoral events enable focused exchange and co-creation; and locally supported activities can help reach actors who are otherwise less accessible. Representation and diversity have improved throughout the project, although some gaps remain. Gender balance is relatively strong, but further attention is needed to ensure the inclusion of all gender identities and to better understand representation in positions of influence. Geographical engagement has expanded, particularly in Southeastern Europe. Further outreach could strengthen participation in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe and in some Southeastern European countries. Sectoral diversity has also increased, but private-sector, NGO, media and other stakeholder groups remain unevenly represented. The long-term sustainability of the CE2 community will depend on clear ownership, adequate resources and a clear value proposition for continued participation. Rather than creating a new permanent structure, the network and its resources could be integrated into existing European and international organisations and initiatives. A combination of complementary communication and engagement formats, together with a flexible and bottom-up approach that responds to community needs, can help maintain participation and connections beyond the project.