From Local Action to Global Resilience: Community-Based Climate Adaptation in Ukraine and Beyond

The event aims to demonstrate that effective climate adaptation begins at the local level and that community-driven approaches can offer valuable lessons for climate action worldwide.

As climate change intensifies, local communities are increasingly becoming key actors in developing and implementing adaptation solutions. In Ukraine, the challenges of climate change are compounded by the ongoing war, which puts additional pressure on local infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities. Nevertheless, Ukrainian civil society organisations and municipalities continue to develop innovative approaches to strengthening climate resilience.

This event will showcase practical examples of local climate adaptation initiatives in Ukraine, highlighting community-led solutions, nature-based approaches, and the integration of climate considerations into local planning and recovery processes.

Representatives of Ukrainian civil society organisations, including Ecoaction, Plato and Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine, will share their experiences of implementing adaptation measures and working with local communities. The discussion will also feature findings from a research “What Counts? The State of Evidence of Outcomes of Locally Led Adaptation” conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), providing a broader analytical perspective on climate adaptation challenges and opportunities.

The discussion will focus on how locally developed adaptation solutions can inform national climate policies, contribute to sustainable recovery, and strengthen international cooperation on climate resilience.