(Science|Business) Data Corner: Tailored climate research for Europe’s islands

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As the effects of climate change become ever more apparent in mainland Europe, it should not be forgotten that its islands remain uniquely exposed to rising sea levels, coastal flooding and intense storms. Research on these impacts and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies must take islands’ specific characteristics into account. Solutions developed for mainland coastal areas may simply not translate.

This is recognised in Horizon Europe, with some 20 projects addressing climate change challenges in Europe’s islands. Most fall under Pillar 1 of the programme, in funding offered by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), for researcher training, and the European Research Council (ERC), which supports individual researchers carrying out basic research.

For example, the Nulacan MSCA project aims to improve the accuracy of probabilistic hazard and risk assessments for landslides and tsunamis in the Canary Islands. Worth €200,000, the project involves the Spanish National Research Council and the University of Grenoble.

Meanwhile, the Ignite ERC project, worth €1.5 million, sets out to understand how insects survive to thermal extremes, particularly heat stress, at a time of general population decline. The research, taking place at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb, plans to create a high-resolution climate model to predict future heatwaves and test the thermal plasticity of ant populations.

In Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, which covers collaborative research projects, Co-Waters aims to help waterfront cities, regions and islands implement innovative policies and plans that protect marine ecosystems. Building on the EU’s Mission to achieve clean oceanic and freshwater ecosystems, the project, worth €4.0 million, plans to provide networking, knowledge exchange and support services. It is coordinated by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and involves, among others, the islands of Crete and Reunion.

Spanish engineering company R2M is leading Iconic, a €4.9 million project working on solutions that boost climate neutrality and energy independence on several European islands. Its participants aim to test technologies from solar-powered desalination to off-grid biogas systems in Inis Mór, off the west coast of Ireland, La Graciosa, a volcanic island in the Canary Islands, and the Sardinian town of Berchidda. The community-based development cooperative on the Aran Islands, Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teo, is also contributing, along with the government of the Canary Islands.

Finally, the ReBoat project is exploiting a mobile, modular recycling and reprocessing plant onboard a boat to turn local plastic and textile waste into new products. The €5 million project, which is led by Politecnico di Milano, is intended to help islands cope with massive tourist flows, and the waste they generate, during high-season peaks. Once again, Greece has several participating organisations, including the administrative region of Periféria Ioníon Níson, which comprises major islands such as Corfu, Kefalonia and Zakynthos.

The involvement of island communities in these projects is considered important, increasing the likelihood that the solutions developed meet their needs, and encouraging the development of local innovation capabilities. These capabilities are further supported by the EU through smart specialisation strategies, which focus on transforming local strengths into competitive advantages in sectors such as the blue economy, sustainable tourism and clean energy. Backed by €10 billion over 2021-27, the Interreg programmes have dedicated cooperation frameworks in place in similar fields.