At ECCA2023, the Piazza, cinema and digital posters were used as a a space to present and to communicate climate adaptation science and innovation. It facilitated knowledge exchange and enabled the dissemination of cutting-edge research, ideas, and solutions to address the urgent challenges of climate change adaptation.

As well, ECCA2023 gave room to creative arts as they have a profound impact on raising awareness about climate change due to their unique ability to engage emotions, provoke thought, and inspire action. Artistic expressions provided a visual and sensory experience that captivated the public and created a connection with the climate crisis on a personal level. Through creative interpretations at different locations in the Dublin castle, art bypassed language barriers and stimulated interesting dialogs among participants, with the aim to mobilize collective efforts towards a sustainable future.

Piazza

During ECCA2023, the Piazza served as a platform for a diverse range of activities over the course of two days. On Day 1, the focus was on supporting agri-food projects in implementing climate change adaptation, utilizing the interactive online tool and knowledge base known as 'CRISP.' They also explored resilient energy systems from a heterodox perspective and discussed the typology of municipal goals in relation to climate adaptation. Additionally, participants engaged in interactive experiences such as a board game called ‘Learning to Adapt!’ and learned about using business games to enhance resilience to extreme weather events. Demonstrations included the iAdapt Serious Game Demo. In addition, the Met Office gave a preview of its Climate Data Portal.

On Day 2, the Piazza continued to provide valuable insights into climate change adaptation. Sessions covered topics such as the increasing differences between the north and south of Europe in the face of changing climate conditions, as well as the opportunities and costs of considering temperature overshoot pathways in adaptation planning. Participants were also introduced to tools such as the PROVIDE Climate Risk Dashboard, designed to include the risks of overshooting the 1.5°C target. The operational organisation and challenges of Climate Pact Ambassadors in the European Union were discussed, and the CRAFT-MY-STREET Project highlighted youth participation for climate adaptation solutions using Minecraft. Another important topic addressed was anticipating and addressing compound effects in complex systems, specifically in relation to climate risks and shocks.

Posters and Cinema

ECCA2023 was not only about parallel sessions: the conference included a robust poster selection. More than 140 e-posters submitted under a specific conference theme were displayed and presented by their authors at the venue. You can view all the posters here.

Cinema also played a significant role at ECCA2023, with around 15 movies and documentaries on climate change and climate adaptation playing non-stop in a dedicated room.

Creative Arts

ECCA2023 also had its fair share of artists, who brought a unique perspective to the climate change discussions. Claire Anne Tobin's Cabaret Group brought distinctive creativity through a Coral Reef Installation, audience interaction by a junk food loving giant Seagull, and a Climate Change Table Quiz. A captivating handwoven tapestry called ‘‘Timelines on the Edge’’ depicting climate change, made its way to ECCA on its journey to inspire and redefine the significance of textile art. An exhibition by Gaëtan Robillard and Victor Guichard debunked climate change misinformation with soundscapes and ecological performances. A science-art collaboration "Weather extremes are going to 'hit' you" immersed attendees in personal stories. "Staging EWS stories" is a science-art collaboration between The Human-Tech Nexus project and the Full Circle Playback Theatre in Dublin, presenting and exploring personal stories behind early warning systems for extreme weather events. Finally, "We Catch Our Breath," an original and powerful choral performance by Dublin-based Mellow Tonics, celebrated the world's beauty and fragility, and marked the closing of ECCA2023.

Participants had the opportunity to unleash their inner artists through drawings and paintings on an ECCA2023 cloth to share their expectations about the conference. During the session “Climate Adaptation and Arts”, chared by Elena Lopez Gunn, from ICATALIST, participants shared through poem, stories and drawings their ideas about climate change and social transformations to visualize a better future.   

Authors: Kanika Singh, Kasia Fantoni and Monserrat Budding-Polo Ballinas