SCORE's Key Achievements
SCORE enables a network of coastal communities to act on climate change, using a step-by-step approach. SCORE integrates nature-based solutions, living labs, and digital technologies to create scalable, locally-embedded climate adaptation techniques.
Find an overview of SCORE’s key results that address one of three climate adaptation considerations:
Co-Creation & Living Labs
Climate change and climate adaptation strategies have too long been addressed by top-down processes, creating out-of-touch and disconnected solutions. SCORE overcomes this challenge through systematic collaboration and co-creation with local stakeholders.
Contextual Information
The Coastal City Living Lab (CCLL) Framework builds on the Living Lab Integrative Framework but was developed specifically to respond to the urgent need for more inclusive and participatory approaches to strengthen climate resilience in coastal cities, particularly against threats like sea level rise, flooding, and erosion.
Description
A CCLL is an innovation intermediary which orchestrates an ecosystem of actors in a specific region to tackle specific climate change-related challenges such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, and extreme events. They address problems related to climate change, sustainability, societal behaviour, economic impact, and others. CCLLs are based on multi-stakeholder collaboration to address the identified problems by providing a set of human-centric tools and methodologies, which are crucial for developing solutions within a tailored approach city by city and their specific context.
The CCLL framework underpins all work carried out by CCLLs within SCORE and serves as a practical tool for those aiming to establish Living Labs focused on climate resilience in coastal areas. The CCLL methodology provides coastal cities with a framework that could be defined as a structured approach in setting up and running the Living Labs to build climate resilience. The CCLL methodology is based upon the Living Lab Integrative Process (LLIP), including eight steps (from the problem definition until the deployment space).
Users & Application
The primary users of the CCLL Framework are municipal authorities, community groups, researchers, and civil society organisations working in coastal areas that are interested in creating a Coastal City Living Lab. The framework has been applied across the 10 SCORE CCLLS, offering a practical model for other cities seeking to implement Living Labs in climate adaptation and resilience planning. The CCLL Framework is a structured, step-by-step methodology that guides the Living Lab co-creation process among citizens, researchers, public authorities, and businesses within a coastal city context.
Impacts
By enabling systemic collaboration and community-led innovation, the CCLL Framework strengthens local resilience, increases stakeholder ownership of climate actions, and enhances public trust in science-policy processes. The CCLL framework supports cities in building local capacity, improving decision-making, and fostering innovation through collaborative experimentation and knowledge exchange. In SCORE, it has fostered transdisciplinary knowledge exchange and accelerated the uptake of nature-based solutions in real-world urban settings
Knowledge Owners
The European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), Naider, and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
Links
- Learn how to create and implement the Coastal City Living Lab Framework here: Navigating Living Labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE’s 10 Coastal City Living Labs
- Explore our video series on the Living Lab Integrative Process
Contextual Information
The Pilot Operational Plan (POP) was developed within SCORE as a strategic tool to support the establishment of Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs). It was created in response to the need for structured, replicable frameworks that enable collaborative, community-driven innovation through Living Labs, and aligns with the broader trend of integrating co-creation and stakeholder engagement into urban climate adaptation efforts.
Description
The POP is a structured guide that provides the required instructions for the development and establishment of a Living Lab (LL). The POP breaks down the Living Lab process into four key phases, Empathise & Define, Ideate & Co-Design, Prototype & Pilot, and Test & Evaluate, each with specific activities and methods tailored to the local context.
During the characterisation and utilisation of the POP, relevant variables such as: WHEN, WHY, with WHO and HOW are explained. Originally created for use by SCORE’s CCLLs, the POP is applicable across different communities and use cases, offering templates, guidelines, and instructional materials to support both initial development and ongoing growth of Living Labs.
Users & Application
The POP was designed for use by public sector facilitators, academics, EU project partners, and other stakeholders involved in community-based innovation. It is particularly relevant for users working in municipalities, research institutions, NGOs, and civil society organisations seeking to implement or manage Living Labs. The POP can be applied by anyone with basic knowledge of co-creation methods, providing a practical, easy-to-follow approach for launching and managing a Living Lab in any geographic or thematic context.
Impacts
Future CCLLs or Living Labs can use the POP to create their own Living Labs tailored to their own contexts. The POP’s structured, accessible format make it a valuable capacity-building tool, helping to guide CCLLs throughout their activities and influence climate resilience strategies at local levels. Within SCORE, the POP enabled the successful planning and implementation of the ten CCLLs. It promoted collaboration across sectors and supported the long-term sustainability of the CCLLs beyond the project.
Knowledge Owners
Naider, the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), and Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
Links
Contextual Information
The SCORE Co-Creation Toolkit is a collection of tools developed as part of the SCORE project. It is intended to assist the facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes, primarily related to urban development, although it is designed to be generic and adaptable to other settings. The toolkit was created by collating a collection of tools from IHS and ENoLL. It mirrors the SCORE CCLL methodology, structured around four phases that align with the steps of a co-creation activity.
Description
The toolkit is structured into four categories based on the target of the co-creation activity:
- Need Identification & Analysis, to explore needs and understand the present;
- Ideation & Visioning, to stimulate creativity and find innovative ideas;
- Strategy Development, for planning concrete future actions;
- Prototyping & Testing, for experimenting with developed solutions in real-life settings.
The toolkit provides a series of selection criteria, such as the number of participants, time needed, and materials, to help users choose the most appropriate tool within each category. Individual tools are written in a highly accessible way and include methods, templates, and suggested software, with instructions allowing for amendments and personalisation.
Users & Application
The end users of the toolkit are those interested in engaging in an integrated urban development process, including practitioners, trainers, facilitators, students, and citizens across the public and private sectors, academia, research, and civil society.
Implementers or facilitators of the toolkit can be anyone within the quadruple helix (citizens, government, industry, academia). It can be used for needs assessment, ideation, strategy development, and prototyping/testing, but requires some facilitation expertise. The toolkit has been introduced to all Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs). The tools have been applied across SCORE activities, with some CCLL's extending usage beyond SCORE. Target users for dissemination also include Public Sector Facilitators (e.g., public authorities, academia, civil society) and Other EU Projects & associated academics.
Impacts
Overall, the toolkit serves as an easy-to-access, ready-to-utilize resource. Its availability as an open-source tool reduces the need for other projects or initiatives to spend resources developing similar tools from scratch. The toolkit's open-source nature reflects core values like equality, equity, social justice, and the right of people to shape their local areas. The toolkit provides a useful structure for bringing together stakeholders from the quadruple helix and can be used in various workshop or urban development contexts, even outside the specific Living Lab framework.
The potential impact of deploying the Co-Creation Toolkit is significant, with the key expected outcome being the empowerment and education of local communities. By providing a structured means to engage diverse stakeholders, the toolkit helps in developing co-created solutions that are more locally embedded.
Knowledge Owners
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies and the European Network of Living Labs
Links
Contextual Information
The Citizen Science Playbook was developed within SCORE to guide the establishment and implementation of climate adaptive Coastal City Living Labs. It focused on community engagement through co-creation and co-monitoring processes that apply Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) and low-cost, do-it-yourself (DIY) sensors to address climate and water-related hazards. Designed to support efforts for resilience in coastal cities, the Playbook draws from real experiences in SCORE’s ten CCLLs and provides practical, transferable knowledge for use across similar climate adaptation initiatives.
Description
The Citizen Science Playbook provides a structured, practical guide for engaging communities in environmental monitoring. The Playbook combines a detailed engagement strategy with short learning modules aimed at promoting climate literacy. It covers the fundamental principles of designing and running Living Labs, the co-creation of solutions with citizens, and the integration of low-cost sensors into citizen science programmes. It also includes social innovation methods, relevant SCORE project deliverables, a glossary, and links to supplementary resources such as videos and courses, making it a comprehensive reference for both new and experienced practitioners.
Users & Application
The Citizen Science Playbook was intended for a wide audience, including citizen science programme practitioners, educators, scientists, and Living Lab facilitators. Further, it serves as a resource for individuals looking to participate in or initiate citizen science activities, especially those related to climate adaptation. Its practical value lay in offering users a starting point for understanding ecosystem-based approaches, structuring engagement activities, and accessing tools and examples developed during the SCORE project.
Impacts
The Playbook fosters community ownership of climate monitoring, leading to more sustained engagement. It also builds trust between local populations and public institutions/municipalities, while also enhancing data diversity and coverage. As the playbook offers guidelines for co-creation activities, it works to make citizen engagement more accessible, transparent, and systematic and promotes inclusivity in data collection for climate change adaptation and environmental management through bottom-up citizen-led initiatives.
Knowledge Owners
ZRS
Links
Coming soon!
Contextual Information
Serious games are a class of games that transcend entertainment; they are designed with the primary intent of educating, training, or engaging players in critical thinking around real-world issues. Urban and environmental planning involve a myriad of interrelated challenges, such as land use, transportation, climate change, public health, and more. Traditional planning tools often fall short in communicating these complexities to diverse stakeholders, and serious games can be useful tools for engaging with the public. Within SCORE, two serious games were designed to support climate adaptation decision making.
Description
Within SCORE, two serious games were designed around increasing climate resilience: the SCORE GeoDesign Game and EBACraft, a custom game adaptation in Minecraft. Both were tested by the SCORE CCLLs during yearly Ecosystem Based Adaptation training schools help communities co-create Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) solutions. These unique tools improve upon traditional spatial planning by gamifying decision-making, making it more accessible, interactive, and engaging. Unlike standard GIS-based tools, which often require expert knowledge, both games simplify complex data, allowing non-specialists to contribute meaningfully, offering a structured yet creative way to develop sustainable adaptation strategies.
Users & Application
These games simplify complex climate planning by providing a visual and interactive platform that fosters informed decision-making. As such, researchers focussing on studying EBA options and climate resilience can benefit greatly from using these games to engage with diverse audiences.
Impacts
These games can be used as an introduction to climate adaptive co-creation and ecosystem-based adaptation approaches to engage effectively across the quadruple helix. This encourages inclusive decision-making and fosters innovative, community-driven solutions for sustainable development. Additionally, it supports scenario testing, enabling diverse audiences such as policymakers to explore multiple adaptation options with key stakeholders before real-world implementation.
Knowledge Owners
University College Dublin
Links
A SCORE Online Learning course on how to use these games is available at Serious Games for Participatory Planning, and instructions for the GeoDesign Game can be found at GeoDesign Gaming Instructions.
Contextual Information
The SCORE Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Platform (SIP) is designed to collect, share, and visualise data for project communities, researchers, and stakeholders of Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs). A feature of this platform are a suite of visualisation tools for use by CCLLs to communicate their activities.
Description
Explore GeoStories, GeoSurveys, Maps, and Dashboards designed by the SCORE Coastal City Living Labs. On this platform, you can visualise the data and activities that have taken place throughout the lifetime of the SCORE project.
Users & Application
The GeoStories, GeoSurveys, Maps, and Dashboards are of interest to local governments and municipalities and the general public. Web visitors can use these tools to learn about the CCLLs. Other projects and academics could utilise this resource, particularly those that might be interested in implementing similar tools in their own contexts.
Impacts
CCLLs have used these tools for various communication activities, easily sharing digital resources like links on social networks or for presentations. Municipalities and local governments can use the information and outputs for communication activities, sharing documents, maps, or datasets. This enhances local climate adaptation plans by enabling more tailored and informed communication and dissemination activities, such as sharing knowledge on EBAs. Other projects and academics can work more efficiently by centralising and visualising heterogeneous data, retrieving information quicker, and leveraging experience from CCLLs.
Knowledge Owners
UNIPI, TERO, LaMMA
Links
View the suite of visualisation tools on the SCORE ICT Platform.
Explore the GeoStories of each of the 10 SCORE CCLLs here: SCORE GeoStories.
Contextual Information
A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is an open, online course for which participants from around the world can learn about a specific topic, utilising a variety of mediums, including videos, user forums, quizzes, reading materials, links to external supplementary materials and much more. MOOCs provide an affordable and flexible way to learn new skills and deliver quality educational experiences at scale. Through the development of a central SCORE Online Learning platform, multiple MOOCs have been created to address different learning goals in line with the SCORE project's key objectives.
Description
The SCORE Online Learning platform is a user-friendly site for anyone interested in upskilling across a variety of topics. The following free courses are now available for learners:
- What are Nature-Based Solutions? (also in Spanish and Catalan): In this introductory course, explore the origins of our changing climate and discover how Nature-Based Solutions can help address environmental challenges. (Beginner)
- Ecosystem-Based Approaches: Introduction to Implementation: In this comprehensive course, learn more about the design, implementation, and evaluation of Ecosystem-Based Approaches. (Intermediate)
- Coastal Monitoring for Resilient Communities: In this comprehensive course, learn about the various methods for monitoring local coastlines in the face of a changing climate. (Advanced)
- Navigating Living labs: Lessons Learned from SCORE's 10 Coastal City Living Labs: Learn about how to create and implement a Living Lab, with insights on best practices and lessons learned from SCORE's 10 Coastal City Living Labs. (Intermediate)
- Serious Games for Participatory Planning: This course will teach you about serious games, and detail interactive tools designed to simulate urban planning scenarios, allowing participants to take on various roles and collaborate on EBA implementation strategies. (Intermediate)
Users & Application
Anyone can access the MOOC for free online, so there is no barrier to use other than access to a computer or smartphone. The courses have different target users depending on their difficulty level and key topic. In general, these courses can be utilised by a variety of audiences, and are recommended for the general public, individuals working in community climate action, public bodies interested in monitoring their coastlines, researchers or practitioners, and those with a passion for resilience and sustainability planning.
Impacts
By upskilling in any of these topics, a user will have a stronger understanding of current coastal challenges, and potential solutions to these key issues. The MOOCs provide tangible actions for implementing potential solutions, therefore increasing opportunities for target users to get involved and contribute to sustainable change.
Knowledge Owners
University College Dublin, ERINN Innovation
Links
Explore the available courses today on the SCORE Online Learning platform.
Increasing Data Availability
To create effective climate mitigation strategies, high-quality local data is essential. However, many communities lack sufficient weather data needed to do so. As such, SCORE developed a suite of tools to expand the data pool available to the CCLLs.
Contextual Information
Climate-related risks in urban coastal areas are growing in frequency and severity, yet many municipalities still lack robust tools to understand and plan for these challenges. Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Methodology addresses this gap through the development of a standardised, multi-hazard risk assessment methodology. The methodology enables city authorities to assess exposure and vulnerability to a range of climate-related hazards, such as floods, coastal erosion, heatwaves, and droughts, supporting long-term planning and resilience.
Description
Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Methodology presents a novel, indicator-based methodology for multi-hazard risk assessment in coastal urban contexts. It integrates geographic, climatic, and socio-economic data into a high-level, semi-quantitative model to produce city-specific risk scores and visual maps. The methodology was applied in all SCORE CCLLs using open-source tools (QGIS, Python) and datasets such as Copernicus and Eurostat. Hazards assessed include sea-level rise, landslides, wildfires, and coastal flooding, among others. Outputs from this tool help inform adaptation planning, funding allocation, and communication with citizens. The standardised methodology also facilitates comparison across European coastal cities, strengthening the evidence base for EU-wide resilience strategies.
Users & Application
The methodology is designed for use by city planners, environmental agencies, civil engineers, and researchers involved in climate adaptation. Municipalities can apply the tool to identify at-risk areas and prioritise investment in infrastructure or ecosystem-based solutions. Researchers and analysts can use the methodology to further study risk correlations or replicate the approach in other European cities. Policymakers may use the output to inform national adaptation strategies, especially in regions lacking baseline climate assessments. The final outputs, interactive maps and hazard tables, are accessible to non-technical audiences, helping local governments communicate risks and build public support for resilience measures.
Impacts
This methodology has immediate relevance in cities like Sligo, Samsun, Piran, and Massa, where prior data gaps hindered climate planning. For cities with existing plans, such as Dublin or Gdańsk, it provides validation and deeper analysis. Its standardised format makes it scalable across hundreds of EU cities, enabling better comparisons and coordination at both regional and EU levels. The approach can also feed directly into the development of coastal adaptation strategies, funding proposals, and stakeholder engagement efforts. By enabling data-driven decisions and identifying critical vulnerabilities, Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Methodology strengthens urban preparedness and contributes to broader climate adaptation goals.
Knowledge Owners
University College Cork (contact: Emilio Laino elaino@ucc.ie and Gregorio Iglesias gregorio.iglesias@ucc.ie)
Links
You can access relevant publications at Extreme climate change hazards and impacts on European coastal cities: A review, Scientometric review on multiple climate-related hazards indices, and D1.4 (link)
Contextual Information
The Package of downscaling analysis tools, data, and user document transforms large-scale climate data into high-resolution, locally relevant information for urban areas in CCLLs. It bridges the gap between global or regional climate models and the fine-scale data needed for local adaptation planning. Large-scale models often fail to capture local features or extreme events due to their coarse resolution. This overcomes these limitations by providing detailed data tailored to the specific contexts of each CCLL, essential for effective urban resilience strategies and modelling.
Description
This downscaling package employs innovative methods, integrating dynamic and statistical downscaling techniques, including includes unstructured grid models (SHYFEM, WWIII), hydrological model which transfers information from raw rainfall data to the local river discharge, and coupling marine and hydrological data. The process ensures accurate simulations of localised flooding, storm surges, and river discharges using RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The open-source tools and netCDF data are designed to be user-oriented and scientifically robust.
Users & Application
The primary target group is Municipalities and Local Authorities and Government bodies and policy makers within CCLLs. This includes municipal personnel, technicians, and scientists involved in environmental departments and urban planning agencies. Applications include simulating urban floods, assessing coastal erosion impacts, evaluating nature-based solutions, and supporting improved disaster preparedness and informed policy frameworks. The methods can also benefit other coastal cities.
Impacts
By providing the precise, localised data the CCLLs can develop better climate risk assessments and evaluations of adaptation strategies like nature-based solutions. Expected impacts include improved disaster preparedness, reduced economic losses from hazards, and informed policy frameworks for sustainable coastal management.
Knowledge Owners
LaMMA, CNR, ATU
- Contact Persons: Michele Sacco (sacco@lamma.toscana.it), Rossella Mocali (mocali@lamma.toscana.it), Roberta Paranunzio (roberta.paranunzio@cnr.it)
Links
Methodology and Hazard Maps for Flood Risk Mitigation Assessment
Contextual Information
Climate change, including heavy rainfall, storms, and rising sea levels can cause significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and businesses and can displace populations. Urban areas are particularly susceptible due to dense populations and impermeable surfaces. Effective flood modelling aids in urban planning, supports the development of flood-resistant infrastructure, and helps in creating adaptation strategies like levees and drainage systems to reduce disaster impacts.
Description
Methodology and Hazard Maps for Flood Risk Mitigation Assessment are the tools and procedures for developing short-term flood hazard models, where the primary outputs are hazard maps. Flood modelling is identified as crucial due to climate change, which is leading to more extreme weather, increased risk of riverine and coastal flooding, and rising sea levels. Accurate modelling is seen as essential for predicting and mitigating these impacts, especially in vulnerable urban areas. This outputs produces high-resolution flood simulations, referred to as the "last mile" hydraulic model, to detail localised impacts in urban areas. The methodology integrates outputs from various downscaling procedures, including wave modelling (WW3), hydrological modelling (LISFLOOD), and circulation and sea-level simulations (SHYFEM). Speciifc results are available for Massa, Oarsoaldea, Vilanova and Samsun CCLL.
Users & Application
The target users for this KO include municipalities, policy makers within Massa, Oarsoaldea, Vilanova and Samsun CCLL.
Impacts
Municipalities and local authorities can use the hazard maps to identify high-risk areas, prioritise infrastructure investments, implement zoning regulations, and guide urban development away from vulnerable zones. The short-term flood models can be applied to enhance or develop early warning systems tailored to specific local conditions, improving preparedness and potentially reducing the economic and social impacts of flooding.. The results are essential for risk assessment and evaluating adaptation strategies.
Knowledge Owners
LaMMA, CNR, ATU, SAMU
Contacts: Rossella Mocali (mocali@lamma.toscana.it) and Michele Sacco (sacco@lamma.toscana.it).
Links
Package of Statistical Tools & User Document for Coastal Erosion
Contextual Information
Given increasing climate change effects, understanding long-term sea dynamics for planning and managing coastal areas is increasingly important. Shoreline retreat poses threats to economies, landscapes, and public safety, especially on beaches with high seasonal populations. Coastal areas face multiple climate risks, including sea level rise, extreme weather, and changes in water quality. Sandy coasts are noted as being especially vulnerable. Degradation of natural buffers like dunes and backshore vegetation has heightened vulnerability to erosion and storm damage, making assessment of long-term coastal erosion challenging.
Description
The Package of Statistical Tools & User Document for Coastal Erosion specifically addressing shoreline evolution (both erosion and accretion) and identifies coastal erosion hotspots. This output addresses long-term coastal morpho-dynamic evolution, including erosion, using models that incorporate climate change scenarios generated through downscaling methodologies. The methodology uses downscaled wave data related to different IPCC scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) as input to coastal evolution models. Shoreline long-term evolution is used as a key indicator from the present to 2100. The software selected for this purpose is the COSMOS-COAST model developed by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Speciifc results are available for Benidorm, Massa and Dublin CCLL.
Users & Application
The target users are primarily local authorities within Benidorm, Massa and Dublin CCLL, including municipal and regional administrations responsible for land management and coastal risk protection.
Impacts
This output provides an analysis of future coastal erosion trends, aiding local authorities in identifying vulnerable areas and prioritising investments. The data and analysis provide critical insight into coastal erosion risk, helping local authorities prioritise infrastructure investments in vulnerable areas under present and future scenarios. It allows evaluation of shoreline changes considering factors like sediment transport, river supplies, and sea-level rise, utilising historical shoreline datasets. It can also evaluate the long-term effectiveness of planned coastal erosion management measures.
Knowledge Owners
LaMMA, CNR, ATU, SAMU
Contacts: Rossella Mocali (mocali@lamma.toscana.it) and Michele Sacco (sacco@lamma.toscana.it).
Links
Contextual Information
A key pillar of the SCORE project is increasing data availability to improve decision making for climate action. Citizen science can play a major role in this, but barriers to accessing sensing technologies can prevent these activities from taking place. The Low-Cost Sensors Catalogue addresses this issue by providing a number of options that are more easily accessible to users and filtered by different parameters, thereby increasing the possibility of citizen science programmes using these technologies.
Description
The SCORE Low-cost Sensors Catalogue is an online platform that collects information about a variety of low-cost sensors designed to measure crucial environmental factors relevant to numerous coastal cities worldwide. The platform displays sensing technologies that have been chosen for their affordability and simplicity in assembly and deployment, making them accessible for public involvement. The sensors can complement data from institutional sensors by engaging local stakeholders in monitoring efforts, which makes the catalogue useful for those interested in citizen science and co-monitoring activities.
Users & Application
The catalogue is designed for use by practitioners of citizen science programmes focussing on monitoring climate changes, specifically those working within academia. The catalogue can facilitate a wide range of applications, such as academic research within citizen science, smart cities, low-cost sensing technology, and environmental science. Ultimately, using the catalogue to purchase sensors has the potential to increase data availability, and subsequently improve decision-making, and advance understanding of environmental issues in both urban and rural settings.
Impacts
Data from low-cost sensors can contribute to the development of smart cities by providing real-time information for city management and improving the quality of life for residents. Involving local residents in data collection and analysis can raise awareness about environmental issues and build a sense of community ownership in sustainability efforts. Further, researchers can use this tool to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of low-cost sensing technology in real-world settings, contributing to the advancement of sensor technology. Data from these sensors can be integrated with other datasets, such as satellite imagery or official monitoring station data, to enhance the scope and accuracy of research in environmental science, climate change, and urban studies.
Knowledge Owners
University College Dublin, Atlantic Technological University Sligo
Links
Contextual Information
Europe is the fastest-warming continent, yet the effects of climate risks on human lives are under-researched due to assumptions about high adaptive capacity. This gap in understanding hampers effective policymaking, as statistical models alone cannot capture the lived experiences of vulnerable populations. This research addresses that gap through participatory, community-based research in two SCORE Coastal City Living Labs (Sligo, Ireland and Oarsoaldea, Spain).
Description
This research investigates public perceptions of climate risks and adaptation strategies using surveys, interviews, and Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping. Participants' experiences and attitudes were analysed to uncover key socioeconomic trends influencing climate vulnerability and willingness to engage in climate action. The study offers a systems-based understanding of how personal, social, and policy factors interact to shape adaptation outcomes in coastal communities.
Users & Application
This knowledge output is designed for policymakers, local authorities, researchers, and facilitators working in climate adaptation, social policy, and urban planning. It can support the development of more inclusive, effective, and participatory climate strategies. The data and insights can also be adopted by other EU projects and Living Labs to better understand public climate experiences and improve adaptation efforts.
Impacts
The study demonstrates that climate risk perceptions and vulnerabilities vary significantly by socioeconomic factors, even in wealthy regions, and highlights the need for localised, people-focused adaptation planning. It emphasises that empirical, community-based knowledge is critical for effective policymaking and should complement large-scale climate models. By capturing the complex relationships between identity, risk, and action, the findings can inform just, equitable, and co-beneficial adaptation strategies across Europe.
Knowledge Owners
ATU, with collaboration of ENT
Links
Open Access Publication available online: Public Perceptions of Climate Risks, Vulnerability, and Adaptation Strategies: Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping in Irish and Spanish Living Labs - ScienceDirect
Contextual Information
The SCORE Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Platform (SIP) is designed to collect, share, and visualise data for project communities, researchers, and stakeholders of Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs). It is closely integrated with complementary components: the SensorThings API and Data Harvesters for data collection, the Visualisation Suite for generating outputs such as GeoStories, and the Sensor Data Uploader App, which supports user-friendly data submission, especially from citizen scientists. Together, these elements enable the SIP’s full functionality. The platform also supports knowledge integration on Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and underpins Digital Twin applications.
Description
The SIP is a digital platform with three core functions: a data repository with enriched metadata and access controls; a data collection hub standardising sensor inputs for interoperability; and a visualisation space offering tools like GeoStories, dashboards, and maps. Built on a modern cloud server using open-source, industry-standard software, the SIP is freely adaptable. The Sensor Data Uploader App further simplifies data submission for non-technical users. Altogether, the SIP offers a secure, open-source infrastructure for environmental data management and visualisation.
Users & Application
The SIP serves diverse users both within and outside the SCORE project. Academics, researchers, and other initiatives can use it for managing and visualising climate or urban sustainability data. Public authorities, particularly in planning or climate action roles, can leverage it for data-driven policymaking. Outputs such as GeoStories, maps, and dashboards are accessible to the public and embeddable in external websites. Citizen scientists and environmental NGOs can contribute data and monitor environmental trends, while urban planners can utilise spatial data for development strategies. The open-source nature allows technical users to replicate the platform, and authorised third-party access to the API is available.
Impacts
The SIP ensures long-term data storage and offers effective tools for visualisation and communication, serving as a model for similar platforms. It supports informed planning and decision-making, enables municipalities and CCLLs to communicate their work visually, and strengthens climate adaptation efforts. By lowering barriers to data contribution, it broadens participation and improves dataset diversity, enhancing advocacy. Public authorities gain tools for evidence-based policy and emergency response, while urban planners benefit from data to support sustainable development.
Knowledge Owners
UniPi, TERO, and LaMMA
Links
You can visit the platform here SCORE ICT Platform, where you can view the various elements present on the platform, including GeoStories, GeoSurveys, and Dashboards.
Green & Technological Tools for Climate Adaptation Strategies
Effective climate adaptation strategies must integrate green approaches with innovative technology. Relying on outdated grey infrastructure is merely a temporary fix and won't address the root of climate challenges. Instead, we need comprehensive solutions like those in SCORE that blend nature-based solutions, with tools to help us visualize and understand our adaptation options.
Contextual Information
Coastal areas are among the regions most vulnerable to climate change, facing increasing threats from sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and extreme weather events. As a result, decision-makers and planners urgently require reliable methods to assess and compare the socio-economic value of different adaptation strategies to inform policy and investment choices in a sustainable way.
Description
This systematic literature review analysed 51 scientific studies assessing the socio-economic performance of climate adaptation strategies in coastal areas. It examined commonly used methods such as Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), and others, across hard, soft, Ecosystem-based (EbA), and hybrid solutions. The publication reflects the findings of this literature review.
Users & Application
The findings of this study are intended for policy-makers, municipal planners, and EbA professionals who need to assess the viability, cost-efficiency, and co-benefits of different climate adaptation strategies. This offers a comparative understanding of assessment tools, helping users identify methods best suited to their local context, stakeholder needs, and targeted climate hazards.
Impacts
This research increases the understanding of the effectiveness and socio-economic dimensions of coastal adaptation strategies, particularly EbA, and highlights gaps where further research is needed. By summarising the strengths, limitations, and results of various methods, the study supports better-informed decision-making and contributes to more sustainable, participatory, and cost-effective adaptation planning.
Knowledge Owners
ENT, IHS, EnoLL, TERO, ATU
Links
Open-access publication published in MDPI and available on Zenodo
Contextual Information
As coastal cities face increasing climate risks, there is a growing need for inclusive, transparent tools to support local adaptation planning. Ecosystem-Based Approaches (EBAs) offer promising solutions, but their selection and prioritisation can be complex due to varying stakeholder values, local contexts, and implementation readiness. The SCORE project applied a participatory Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) across ten Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs) to guide local communities and decision-makers in identifying the most suitable EBA strategies.
Description
This result presents the key findings and lessons learned from the application of MCA to evaluate EBAs within the SCORE CCLLs. MCA is a structured, iterative method that allows stakeholders, including citizens, experts, and local authorities, to assess adaptation options against diverse qualitative and quantitative criteria. The process encourages inclusive decision-making by integrating technical knowledge with local perspectives, resulting in ranked or shortlisted adaptation solutions that reflect shared priorities.
Users & Application
City planners, local authorities, decision-makers, and community groups can apply MCA to inform climate adaptation planning by evaluating and comparing the potential of EBA options. The method supports both expert-driven and participatory planning processes and is adaptable to various geographic and policy contexts. It can also be used in workshops, awareness campaigns, and academic or technical settings to guide investment and implementation choices for adaptation.
Impacts
Applying MCA within the CCLLs increased stakeholder engagement and improved the evaluation of EBAs at different stages of implementation. It enabled communities to recognise additional co-benefits of green infrastructure, such as biodiversity enhancement and social cohesion. The results helped shape a shared understanding of adaptation needs and stimulated collaboration among public, private, and civil society actors. This method also provides replicable insights for future adaptation planning in similar coastal settings.
Knowledge Owners
ENT, Naider, IHS, ZRS, TERO, ATU, and ENoLL, with collaboration from from the CCLLs
Links
Both reports D7.2 Methodological framework for the socio-economic assessment of adaptation measures to climate change and D7.3 Results from the participatory socio-economic assessment of EBA interventions are available as open-access documents, and available on CORDIS (Link)
Contextual Information
As climate change intensifies, local governments need robust evidence to guide the selection of effective and efficient adaptation strategies. While Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) offers promising, multifunctional solutions, its comparative costs and benefits remain under-assessed in real-world settings. This KO addresses this gap through expert-led Cost-Benefit Analysis across four SCORE Coastal City Living Labs (CCLLs).
Description
The findings from Cost-Benefit Analyses (CBA) of EbA interventions were collected in four frontrunner CCLLs: Oarsoaldea, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Piran, and Sligo. Each case study assessed the monetary value of EBA measures (such as park flood mitigation, river restoration, cistern reuse, and dune/beach ecosystem services) using context-specific data and the methodological framework. The results demonstrate the viability and value of nature-based solutions in local adaptation strategies, providing both economic and non-monetary benefits.
Users & Application
Both the methodology and the results of the CBA are aimed at local authorities, adaptation planners, environmental economists, and project designers who seek practical methods to evaluate and justify EBA investments. It offers actionable insights into the costs and benefits of nature-based solutions and provides a flexible, replicable methodology that can be applied in diverse local contexts.
Impacts
The analyses highlight that EBA solutions are economically viable and provide co-benefits beyond risk reduction, including recreation, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. By documenting flexible, real-world applications of CBA in different European cities, this KO strengthens the evidence base for integrating nature-based strategies into mainstream climate adaptation planning. It also advances understanding of how hybrid approaches—combining green and grey infrastructure—can enhance local climate resilience.
Knowledge Owners
ENT, ATU, ZRS, Naider, TERO
Links
The methodology is included in D7.2 Methodological framework for the socio-economic assessment of adaptation measures to climate change and the results of the CBAs of each CCLL is available in D7.4.
Contextual Information
Coastal areas are facing increasing risks from climate change hazards such as flooding, sea-level rise, and erosion. Nature-based solutions like Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) offer sustainable and multifunctional responses to these threats. However, identifying and accessing relevant EbA examples tailored to specific hazards and landscapes remains a challenge. The SCORE EbA Catalogue addresses this need by providing an accessible, interactive tool that highlights adaptation options specifically for coastal environments.
Description
The SCORE EbA Catalogue is an online platform showcasing a wide range of EbA measures that address various climate hazards in both urban and natural coastal settings. Users can explore case studies via an interactive map or apply filters by hazard type and landscape typology to find relevant examples. Each entry includes a description, benefits, visuals, and links to additional sources, offering both introductory and detailed information. Its design makes it easy to navigate, even for users without prior knowledge of EbA.
Users & Application
The catalogue is designed for a broad audience, including citizens, students, educators, facilitators, and policymakers. It serves as an educational and inspirational tool, supporting engagement activities, lesson planning, policy development, and local adaptation discussions. It is particularly useful for those seeking positive, nature-based solutions to climate threats and can be applied across formal education, public outreach, and professional planning contexts.
Impacts
By making EbA options easily accessible and understandable, the catalogue empowers users to identify and advocate for nature-based solutions in their communities. It supports awareness-raising, climate education, and early-stage planning by linking hazards to appropriate adaptation strategies. As a unique and practical tool focusing specifically on coastal adaptation, it fills a gap in existing resources and encourages greater uptake of sustainable, ecosystem-based measures across Europe.
Knowledge Owners
ENT, ZRS, UCD
Links
Risk Profiles and Decision Support Tools for (cost)-Effective Risk Management, with a focus on Oarsoaldea, Massa, and Vilanova CCLLs
Contextual Information
The SCORE project aims to increase climate resilience in European coastal cities, addressing challenges such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise. As such, the development of risk profiles & risk assessment tools are a key as part of an integrated coastal zone management framework.
Description
Risk profiles were created for coastal and fluvial flooding in the Massa, Oarsoaldea, and Vilanova CCLLs. This is based on a state-of-the-art methodology combining hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data, assessing risks to population, buildings, roads, and railways across different climate scenarios and with/without Ecosystem-Based Approaches (EBAs). Building upon this, "as-if" cash flow diagrams and a Decision Support System (DSS) tool, an interactive software developed in Python, is designed to help users visualise and select optimal layered financial strategies (reserve funds, insurance) for managing flood risk, based on simulations that balance cost and residual losses.
Users & Application
The primary target users for these tools are Municipal and Regional Public Bodies, including departments responsible for climate change adaptation, planning, civil protection, finance, urban development, and infrastructure. They can use the outputs to understand the magnitude of risks they face and the potential impact of adaptation measures. The DSS tool enables users to explore, compare, and select financial strategies for flood risk management, helping them to optimise budget allocations and enhance their decision-making and planning processes. While the tools are powerful, users may require technical support or training, especially concerning the Python requirement for the DSS.
Impacts
These outputs are expected to significantly improve flood risk management in coastal cities by providing quantitative, data-driven insights. The results are seen as "very useful" and "key" tools for convincing policymakers of the need for climate adaptation measures and can demonstrate the "harm avoided" by implementing strategies. By enabling cities to better plan financial strategies and optimise budget allocation for disaster risk management, the KOs enhance decision-making capacity and facilitate faster analysis. Ultimately, the aim is to maximise the effectiveness of financial resources dedicated to risk management and reduce the costs of uncovered damages
Knowledge Owners
Red Risk, Contact – Paola Ceresa: paola.ceresa@redrisk.com
Links
Risk Characterisation Methodology For The Development Of Semi-Quantitative, Comparable Indices
Contextual Information
Cities are exposed to multiple natural hazards with different characteristics, intensities and frequencies, which makes it difficult to assess and compare the risk and impact associated with the various hazards. This addresses the need for comprehensive, yet easily understood risk assessment frameworks capable of handling the complexities of these urban environments, which are exposed to a range of natural hazards. The objective is to define a methodology to be used for a quick assessment of the impacts of risks in coastal cities and to provide a classification of the SCORE CCLLs in terms of their exposure to natural risks.
Description
The methodology combines different sources of information on hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities to create semi-quantitative indices. Specifically, the indices are derived from the combination of several variables, notably the hazards, their probability and intensity, the assets they affect, and the locality's vulnerability to the hazard. The output is semi-quantitative indices that allow for comparative analysis among the cities (e.g., which CCLL/city has a high likelihood for heat waves), as well as an understanding as to why certain risks are prevalent (e.g., why is coast flood risk significant in this city). Index-based approaches are not new, but the novelty here is the comparability between cities and the ease through which they can be understood by both scientific and non-technical stakeholders.
Open Data Sources: One of the significant strengths of this methodology and indices is the utilisation of openly available data sources, making the methodology replicable and accessible.
Value: The methodology is relatively quick and straightforward, thus being suitable for a light, non-data-intensive risk assessment whose purposes are to define priorities and identify critical situations worthy of a deeper, more detailed assessment. This then can lead to more effective and tailored risk reduction strategies or resource (re)allocation.
Users & Application
Key target users include the Public Sector / Policymakers (local/regional authorities), Insurance Companies and Financial Institutions, and Academic and Research Institutions. Public authorities can use it to understand risks, make data-driven decisions for mitigation and resource allocation, and develop detailed risk assessments. Insurance and financial institutions can assess the risk landscape for coverage and pricing. Academics and researchers are interested in the methodology and findings for further study and advancing scientific knowledge.
Impacts
The methodology provides valuable insights for public sector decision-making, helping to enhance risk management strategies by identifying high-risk areas and vulnerable assets. It enables efficient resource allocation by focusing efforts on areas with the highest risk profiles. For the financial sector, it aids in assessing risks and determining insurance/financial products. This supports building a bridge between research and implementation by providing understandable risk information.
Knowledge Owners
RED Risk, Contacts - Rui Figueiredo and Paola Ceresa
Links
Available in the publication A semi-quantitative multi-hazard risk assessment framework for European coastal urban areas
Contextual Information
The SCORE Digital Twin and Early Warning Support System (DT-EWS) was designed to help municipalities monitor real-time conditions, simulate extreme weather events, and assess potential flood impacts. A Digital Twin in this context is a virtual model or representation of a city, and the system integrates real-time data, environmental models, and risk assessments to support urban resilience and adaptation efforts. The SCORE DT-EWS was developed through a collaborative process involving municipalities, stakeholders, and citizens in CCLLs.
Description
The DT-EWS combines two main subsystems: the User Scenario Evaluation (USE) for running simulations based on real and hypothetical data, and the Early Warning Support (EWS) subsystem, which continuously monitors real-time sensor data and weather forecasts to project flooding risks and issue alerts. Equipped with a user-friendly interface, it allows for scenario testing, impact visualization, and supports decision-making by simulating Ecosystem Based Adaptations (EBAs) tailored to local ecosystems.
Users & Application
The DT-EWS system was designed to help decisionmakers within municipalities monitor real-time conditions, simulate extreme weather events, and assess potential flood impacts. The aim is to improve urban resilience by providing an integrated platform that combined predictive modelling with real-time sensor data from sensors and weather forecasts. The primary users include municipalities, government bodies, civil protection agencies, environmental managers, and industry stakeholders. They use the system to visualize the impacts of extreme weather events, test mitigation strategies, improve early warning capabilities, and inform urban planning and climate adaptation policies.
Impacts
By providing detailed, location-specific projections of flood risks and potential economic damages, the DT-EWS enhances preparedness and resilience of coastal cities. It supports evidence-based decision-making, encourages the adoption of nature-based solutions, fosters stakeholder engagement, and promotes science communication and citizen awareness around climate risks, ultimately contributing to safer and more sustainable urban environments.
Knowledge Owners
MBI, with collaboration from ATU, TERO, UCD, and UniPi
Links
Contact our team to learn more.