Blaž Barborič, Director of the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia, participated as an invited panellist in the discussion “Climate Resilience by Design” at the 15th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) in Sofia.

Representing the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia and the NONA project, he explained how municipalities, regions and national institutions can work together and use thoughtful spatial planning to reduce climate risks. This means taking hazards such as floods, droughts and heatwaves into account when deciding where and how to build and invest in local and regional development.

The discussion also explored how European climate adaptation priorities can be translated into the everyday work of municipalities, institutions and businesses. The NONA project actively contributes to EUSDR Priority Area 10, which focuses on strengthening institutional capacity and cooperation. It connects institutions and organisations across different levels of governance and supports local communities in planning sustainable development.

Better preparedness for climate change requires cooperation among organisations at all levels and the involvement of local communities. This helps create solutions that meet local needs and take the most vulnerable groups into account.

Thank you to the TiCCA4DANU project and the organisers for the invitation, and to the moderators and fellow panellists Vasileios Latinos, László Balatonyi and Silke Schmidt for sharing their experiences and perspectives.