SMARTER

AML is part of the European SMARTER project

What is the SMARTER project?

The acronym SMARTER comes from the project's main objective: "SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS LOCAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE".

In fact, the SMARTER project aims to strengthen climate resilience at local and regional level by adopting a holistic approach to problems that allows for the design and implementation of nature-basedsolutions(NBS).

SMARTER will make optimum use of the different regional characteristics - such as landscapes, economies and cultures - and mobilize networks of local and regional partners, focusing on developing NBS and strengthening regional "comparative advantages".

The aim is to create a network of 10 regions and cities - organized into six Climate Adaptation Laboratories (CAL, see Figure below) - to develop and test this holistic approach and its potential for replication.

The CALs (Climate Action Labs) defined in SMARTER and the characteristics of the regions.

What role does AML play in the SMARTER project?

The project, coordinated by Belgium, has a total of 18 participants. Portugal is a partner, through the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML), with the specific case of the Metropolitan Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (PMAAC AML). It should be remembered that the PMAAC-AML includes a set of actions to be developed in order to adapt the territory to vulnerabilities and risks, favoring climate resilience.

Kick-off meeting in Ostend (Belgium)

AML took part in the kick-off meeting of the SMARTER project - "SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS LOCAL AND REGIONAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE". The event took place from June 10 to 12 in the coastal city of Ostend, Belgium. Around 50 people from different European regions and cities took part. Portugal was also represented by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

The objectives of the event were: 1) to develop a common and shared vision on systemic climate adaptation, 2) to present and discuss the needs of the various regions and 3) informal exchanges between partners.

On the first day, the six Climate Action Labs (cities and regions acting as demonstrators or replicators) presented the different challenges and opportunities for climate adaptation and resilience.

The second day was devoted to comparing the available tools and approaches, taking into account the needs of the regions.

On the third day - which was optional - there were visits, on foot and/or by bicycle, to the Vuurtorenwijk area, also in Ostend, dedicated to the issues of urban planning and the challenges posed by climate change. This was followed by group discussions on the possibility of implementing nature-basedsolutions(NBS). A game was also developed which illustrated how all the issues and decisions related to accessibility have an impact on various aspects of city design.

The event was considered a great success in identifying the priorities and challenges for the first year of the project. Based on the presentations, the interactions with the participants, the group discussion sessions and the field visit, some important decisions were made about the development of the project.

This meeting was preceded by a week of short preliminary digital presentations covering the various work packages, which was much appreciated by all the participants as it made it easier to get to grips with the project.

It should be remembered that the Lisbon metropolitan area and its 18 municipalities will be one of the six CALs that are part of the SMARTER project, and will focus on estuarine and coastal resilience in a densely populated and socio-economically diverse area. The main challenges of this CAL include flooding, rising sea levels and the protection of the most vulnerable groups.

Each CAL can thus offer an opportunity to demonstrate how systemic approaches and stakeholder engagement can unite divergent agendas for large-scale urban resilience.

Work development phase

Work on SMARTER began in June 2025 and is scheduled to end in May 2029.