Periodic Reporting for period 1 - A-AAgora (Blueprint for Atlantic-Arctic Agora on cross-sectoral cooperation for restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems and increased climate resilience through transformative innovation)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
The A-AAGORA has identified the tag line – Coastal Restoration with Nature and People - to better frame the key objective of the project. A-AAGORA builds on the successful implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) in three demonstrators (DEMOs) representing different starting points that serve as pilots of innovative actions, providing important data for global ocean science and direct research in the coastal and marine regions. Having the three selected DEMOs (Troms Arctic Archipelago Norway, Cork County Ireland and Centro Region Portugal) as core and seven crosscutting WPs as enablers, the A-AAGORA main objective is:
• To demonstrate via technological, social, business, governance innovation actions the reduction of pressures in coastal areas, through the application of ecosystem-based management (EBM) and nature-based solutions (NbS) to boost resilience to climate change and mitigate its impacts.
• To enable this lighthouse, framed in three coastal areas covering the Atlantic-Arctic region, to further move from piloting to demonstration phase by providing innovative solutions to the market (technology readiness level; TRL7) and by fostering deliberative democracy (societal readiness level; SRL7).
• To co-develop blueprints with a systemic approach for the restoration, protection and preservation of our ocean, seas and waters. This will include quantified and measurable targets for protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, for zero pollution, and for decarbonisation and net greenhouse gas emissions reduction towards climate-neutrality.
The three DEMOS act as platforms for the development and deployment of transformative innovations of all forms – technological, social, business, governance. The project will further identify areas and locations where the tested NbS can be replicated or scaled-up, funding and collaborating with Associated Regions. A Living Lab concept fosters the exchange synergies at multiple scales facilitated through a quintuple helix innovation model. The process involves researchers and users, decision-makers and local communities, industry, and SMEs, integrating existing and new knowledge, co-designing and co-implementing with citizens and stakeholders in a deliberative democracy process, towards a blueprint for the Atlantic-Arctic AGORA (Image 1). This is the basis for the creation of a community of practice (CoP) and a digital knowledge system. The project will further co-develop blueprints for the Atlantic-Arctic lighthouse for the restoration, protection and preservation of our ocean, seas, and waters.
• To demonstrate via technological, social, business, governance innovation actions the reduction of pressures in coastal areas, through the application of ecosystem-based management (EBM) and nature-based solutions (NbS) to boost resilience to climate change and mitigate its impacts.
• To enable this lighthouse, framed in three coastal areas covering the Atlantic-Arctic region, to further move from piloting to demonstration phase by providing innovative solutions to the market (technology readiness level; TRL7) and by fostering deliberative democracy (societal readiness level; SRL7).
• To co-develop blueprints with a systemic approach for the restoration, protection and preservation of our ocean, seas and waters. This will include quantified and measurable targets for protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, for zero pollution, and for decarbonisation and net greenhouse gas emissions reduction towards climate-neutrality.
The three DEMOS act as platforms for the development and deployment of transformative innovations of all forms – technological, social, business, governance. The project will further identify areas and locations where the tested NbS can be replicated or scaled-up, funding and collaborating with Associated Regions. A Living Lab concept fosters the exchange synergies at multiple scales facilitated through a quintuple helix innovation model. The process involves researchers and users, decision-makers and local communities, industry, and SMEs, integrating existing and new knowledge, co-designing and co-implementing with citizens and stakeholders in a deliberative democracy process, towards a blueprint for the Atlantic-Arctic AGORA (Image 1). This is the basis for the creation of a community of practice (CoP) and a digital knowledge system. The project will further co-develop blueprints for the Atlantic-Arctic lighthouse for the restoration, protection and preservation of our ocean, seas, and waters.
As part of the enabling conditions for sustained implementation of Coastal Restoration with Nature and People, each DEMO is following the A-AAGORA living lab approach (Image 2): i) starting by co-identifying enabling conditions for sustained implementation (set-up phase); ii) implementation through changed behaviour and technological development (implementation phase); iii) analysing integrated NbS solutions: understanding the value and limits for replication and scaling up the Atlantic-Arctic lighthouse (evaluation phase).
At the DEMOs level different NbS are being co-developed and co-implemented with the coastal communities (Image 3 A,B,C). Solutions include activities supported by EBM using a living lab approach to restore kelp, local fish stocks, halting decline in seabird populations; as well as to apply NbS for coastal erosion, including monitoring beach/dune relationships and coastal wetlands restoration. Solutions also include decarbonisation of ports and enhancement of biodiversity in port infrastructures. These solutions are aimed at being scalable and replicable, namely at A-AAGORA associated regions (ARs), and therefore, co-develop blueprints for the Atlantic-Arctic lighthouse. Seven ARs are now becoming active members of A-AAGORA CoP, a forum for the exchange of experiences and best practices (Image 4). To foster the CoP, A-AAGORA has been involved and collaborate with the Mission Ocean coordination structure, other Communities of Practice, other Mission Ocean projects, initiatives and stakeholders, including high-level events of Mission Ocean, and with other high-level and international agreements, initiatives and conferences. As well as the organisation of webinars and public outreach and awareness events to promote updates, discussions, and collaboration and the communication of the importance of ocean and water conservation.
At the DEMOs level different NbS are being co-developed and co-implemented with the coastal communities (Image 3 A,B,C). Solutions include activities supported by EBM using a living lab approach to restore kelp, local fish stocks, halting decline in seabird populations; as well as to apply NbS for coastal erosion, including monitoring beach/dune relationships and coastal wetlands restoration. Solutions also include decarbonisation of ports and enhancement of biodiversity in port infrastructures. These solutions are aimed at being scalable and replicable, namely at A-AAGORA associated regions (ARs), and therefore, co-develop blueprints for the Atlantic-Arctic lighthouse. Seven ARs are now becoming active members of A-AAGORA CoP, a forum for the exchange of experiences and best practices (Image 4). To foster the CoP, A-AAGORA has been involved and collaborate with the Mission Ocean coordination structure, other Communities of Practice, other Mission Ocean projects, initiatives and stakeholders, including high-level events of Mission Ocean, and with other high-level and international agreements, initiatives and conferences. As well as the organisation of webinars and public outreach and awareness events to promote updates, discussions, and collaboration and the communication of the importance of ocean and water conservation.
A-AAGORA results beyond the state of the art have progressed by assessing the demand for innovations and identifying the right enabling conditions that facilitate innovation, to gain the understanding of the innovations at the DEMOS level and support the conceptualisation and common understanding of the A-AAGORA Living Lab and CoP approaches, paramount for the progress of the work, for replication and scaling-up results. In more detail, for technological innovation actions, the work progressed with the initial developments of the A-AAGORA digital knowledge system (DKS) and included the analysis of integration of the A-AAGORA DKS with existing initiatives to develop Digital Twin Ocean. As well as, the elaboration of the system architecture, started from the users and stakeholders' needs and followed by the functional architecture, and the modular technological solutions for NbS. Under social innovation actions, a living lab model was developed and implemented within each DEMO. Currently, successful co-creation and co-working procedures have been established within DEMOs. A series of mini-games with co-developed demonstrator-specific story lines have been developed, and a serious game representing region-specific pressures is under development. To support business innovation actions, a detailed mapping of the different activities at a disaggregated level, and how these feedback into/from the natural environment, has been provided, as well as a range of socioeconomic, environmental, and public health indicators. Under governance/logistic innovation actions, through a broad participatory approach it was possible to delve into both the need for innovations in reaching the restoration targets and both obstacles and possible solutions in upscaling such solutions. Regarding the CoP, at the DEMOS relevant CoP are already engaged, the AR are in the engaging process and the A-AAGORA website has a dedicated area for the broader CoP, enabling exchange of interest and experiences.