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COP30 | Carlo Carraro: A new climate finance model to reward those who protect tropical forests

According to the economist and climate scientist, TFFF might mark a pivotal moment in climate policies. “This is a turning point: for the first time, the Global South is leading a major climate finance initiative, which increases its legitimacy and political relevance.” Carlo Carraro highlights that the fund “reverses the economic logic that has historically favored clearing trees for agriculture and timber,” and comments on the role of the World Bank to ensure transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.

COP30 | Riccardo Valentini: Forests, from carbon sinks to engines of a Green Economy

As COP30 opens in Brazil, attention turns once again to the world’s forests – not only as carbon sinks, but as living systems vital for the planet’s health and for sustainable development. According to IPCC author and forest ecology expert Prof. Riccardo Valentini, stopping deforestation is no longer enough – we need a new global paradigm for more sustainable forest management, agriculture, and land use. “Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) could open a new phase for the green economy, linking forest protection with real economic returns through carbon markets and sustainable business investments,” he says. “But without political will, it risks becoming another empty pledge.”

COP30 | Manuela Balzarolo: Forests, satellite data, and TFFF on the way to reaching climate goals

“To track progress toward the Paris Agreement and the implementation of effective policies, accurate estimates of carbon sinks and sources are fundamental,” says Manuela Balzarolo, scientific leader of the EU’s flagship carbon cycle project, as she explains why accurate data on the carbon cycle is the key to successful climate negotiations. Initiatives such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility will require more information on ecosystems and the carbon cycle.

Climate u-turn? What happens if we exceed 1.5°C and then go back

What will the world look like if we are unable to stay below the 1.5°C threshold? And, assuming we are able to reverse temperature increases, will the world simply return to how it was before? Andy Reisinger’s CMCC Lecture outlines a series of possible future scenarios, highlighting how climate risks will differ between a world that remains above the 1.5°C threshold and one that chooses to bring temperatures back down.

What extreme heat means for cities today

Europe’s cities are heating up fast, with urban areas becoming risk hotspots as heatwaves grow more frequent and intense. Across Europe, exposure to heatwaves jumped by 57% in just one decade, and without urgent adaptation, annual fatalities could rise from today’s 2,700 to as many as 50,000 by 2050. Urban heat islands can make cities up to 9°C warmer than surrounding areas, disproportionately affecting the elderly, low-income, and marginalized communities. Without urgent adaptation, rising urban temperatures could take a heavy toll on labour, GDP, and human life.

Putting out the blaze: Wildfire risk management begins well before fire season

As of July 2025, almost 300,000 hectares of forest – an area larger than Luxembourg – has gone up in flames in Europe. What is more, the number of wildfire events could increase by 50% globally by the end of the century due to a combination of changes in climate and land use and management. These threats will tend to concentrate in hotspots such as the Mediterranean, where over 80% of European wildfires occur and which experienced upwards of 2.5 billion euros in wildfire related damages in 2022 alone.

The hidden costs of air conditioning in a warming world

Cooling poverty is a growing challenge at the intersection of climate change, social equity, and energy access. As global temperatures continue to rise and extreme heat events become a common feature of everyday life, a new form of energy poverty is emerging – one that affects millions of people worldwide who cannot afford to stay cool during the hottest moments of the summer months.

From forecast to action: The Mediterranean’s rising climate challenge

Home to over 500 million people across 22 countries whose lives are closely shaped by its waters, the Mediterranean Sea is not only a vital marine ecosystem but also one of the world’s most vulnerable climate hotspots, currently warming 20% faster than the global average. July 8th marks the International Day of the Mediterranean Sea — a moment to reflect on its importance and the urgent challenges it faces.

Climate adaptation is a collaborative effort

Day three at ECCA 2025 was all about collaboration and coordinated effort among institutions, public authorities, and stakeholders at all levels, towards the common good of enhancing resilience in our communities and cities. Adapting to climate change means aligning scientific insight with governance, finance, urban planning, and community voices. It also requires collaboration among different disciplines, with climate scientists collaborating with designers, architects, health experts, biologists, and even artists to bridge the gap between science and communities.

No adaptation without community engagement

The key takeaway from day two at ECCA2025 is simple: communities need to be involved in the entire adaptation process. Not just as recipients of information, but as active partners that help shape solutions. “This is all about people,” says Philippe Tulkens of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. It’s not about top-down strategies, but about building trust, enabling dialogue, and overcoming barriers together. Engagement is a two-way process that involves listening, adapting, and co-creating. The second day of ECCA was rich with discussions on engagement, trust, and resilience.

European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025_day one

The time is now: the European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2025 has begun

Adaptation to climate change is not an issue of the future, it’s an imminent need that requires an effective action plan. Day one at ECCA2025 laid the groundwork for finding the most innovative solutions to tackle climate change – and how to implement them with effective policies. High-level representatives from European institutions, the business community, and the scientific world engaged in conversations on adaptation and plenary panels outlining the strategies, challenges and hopes for future adaptation before a crowd of 600+ people from all over the world.

From research to climate solutions: Lessons from the Sahel drought

What are the causes of drought in the American dust belt or the Sahelian savanna? Are local practices to blame or should we be looking at broader climatic factors? Through an exploration of the causes and consequences of the Sahelian drought of the late 20th-century, Professor Alessandra Giannini explores the interplay between local and global factors and how attribution studies can have profound implications for adaptation efforts in the Sahel and beyond.

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