From October 16-18, 2023, the ILCA consortium contributed to discussions at the World Conference on Climate Change & Sustainability by presenting its perspectives. The event, themed “Advancing Nature and Positive Solutions for Net Zero and Sustainable Future,” attracted representatives from academia, business, public and nonprofit sectors across Australia, the USA, Arab Emirates, South Africa, Singapore, China, Mexico, Peru, Switzerland, and EU countries.
Representing the ILCA consortium, Ana Aleknaviciene from Vilnius College of Technologies and Design, Lithuania, shared insights into ILCA’s ecosystem stakeholders’ engagement approach. Ana conveyed the EIT Climate-KIC point of view, shared by the ILCA consortium, asserting that systemic transformation is achievable only through collaborative endeavors, emphasizing the principles of co-creation and interdisciplinary action as essential to success.
A highlight of the presentation was Ana’s discussion of the ILCA consortium’s adoption of Savonia UAS’s (Finland) best practice—the PRIA method (Prospective Rapid Impact Assessment). This method, exemplified in Ukraine and Lithuania, helps answer the crucial question: “Are we doing the right things and how can we improve?”
Ana illustrated the three pillars of the PRIA method using practical examples from Ukraine and Lithuania. The framework, participative process fostering mutual understanding, and portfolio analysis with interdependencies were explained in the context of Ukraine’s climate roadmap development and ongoing discussions with Taurage city (European Mission City) in Lithuania. This aims to identify a set of viable solutions for climate change adaptation.
The presentation garnered considerable attention, leading to engaging informal discussions afterward. Some participants expressed interest in exploring the specifics of both the Ukrainian and Lithuanian cases. Notably, there was a willingness to investigate whether the PRIA method could be adapted to develop university green transition strategies.
