The objective of the project, financed by the EU, is to improve the resilience of rural areas of the Atlantic
The Atlantic area is highly exposed to climate change. The increase in the intensity and frequency of storms, the alteration of the hydrological cycle and the changes in the patterns of temperature and precipitation have implications for the agricultural sector. But there are still large uncertainties in how climate change will directly and indirectly affect agricultural and food systems. The project RiskAquaSoil has as purpose develop a comprehensive soil and water risk management plan to improve the resilience of rural areas of the Atlantic.
through the transnational cooperationproject partners fight since 2017 against the adverse effects of climate change, especially on agricultural land. This comprehensive plan involves three stages linked to the three specific objectives:
1) Early warning and diagnosis: consists of testing new low-cost techniques to measure and forecast the local impact of different meteorological phenomena. These techniques provide accurate data resulting in a better early detection system in rural areas. The diagnostic activity is expanded with climate scenarios and forecasts and the improvement of climate information services for farmers.
2) Implementation and adaptation: consists of developing several pilot actions on agricultural land that allow better soil and water management, taking into account the risks associated with climate change.
3) Capacity building and outreach: consists of the training and commitment of local communities and farmers to increase capacity building, information and cooperation in risk management and damage compensation systems.
Rehabilitation of rural territories
In summary, RiskAquaSoil, which will last until May 2023, will contribute to a better coordination for the detection, risk management and rehabilitation of rural territories (sea and land areas), associated with risks of natural, climatic and human origin, especially for agricultural purposes. It will also guarantee coordination with national, regional and local policies.
RiskAquaSoil is structured around three axes: land management, water management and damage compensation systemsand is primarily directed at three target groups:
1) Farmers and associations and institutions related to rural development and climate change. Farmers are one of the key elements of Risk-AquaSoil. During the extension of the project, they will be involved in the technical activities after the citizen science actions.
two) Political leaders. RiskAquaSoil wishes to establish a flexible socio-institutional analysis framework on constant monitoring and evaluation of action-oriented knowledge to adapt policy strategies to the regional impacts of climate change.
3) General public. RiskAquaSoil aims to spread general knowledge and raise public awareness about the importance of strengthening the resilience and planning of the Atlantic regions in the face of natural disasters and the consequences of climate change in rural and agricultural areas. An editorial publication is issued and public events are held among the non-scientific public, to disseminate the findings and results of Risk-AquaSoil among a non-technical audience.
The role of the media, in question
An example of the studies carried out was the study on the media coverage of climate changein which the content of news articles published in the countries involved in the project was analyzed in depth.
It was concluded that the media tend to report on climate change using distant frames (for example, focused on the future) and results (for example, threatening messages), based on non-resilient political and scientific narrativeswhile overlooking the role of civil society in adapting to that change.
Instead of promoting societal climate action, the media may be contributing to a “widespread social apathy regarding climate change & rdquor; and the disconnection of people with issues related to the environment. “There is no emphasis on the role of civil society in the fight against climate change & rdquor ;, reveals the study.
RiskAquaSoil is made up of 14 partners from five different countries, Portugal, Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Ireland, among which are the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Environment and Water Agency of Andalusia, the Spanish Meteorology Agency (Aemet), CajaMar Caja Rural and the Institute of Natural Resources and Land Management (Indurot) of the University of Oviedo. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Project website: https://www.riskaquasoil.eu/en/