In a world facing accelerating climate risks, turning data into actionable resilience strategies has never been more urgent. This CODATA FAIR DRR Working Group webinar series explored how high-quality, accessible, and interoperable data can inform and drive climate adaptation across diverse contexts—from melting glaciers to vulnerable urban heat island and ocean ecosystems. Global experts, practitioners, and policymakers discussed real-world case studies, innovative financing models, and FAIR data principles in action, building a more resilient and equitable future for all.
Webinar Title: Addressing Urban Heat Islands for Equitable Climate Resilience
Date: 2nd September 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 9:45 am
Moderator : Shaily Gandhi
Speakers: Verginia Murray, Thanasis Sfetsos, Juma Rahman, Bapon Fakhruddin
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Webinar Recording:
Webinar Description:
Cities, with their concrete landscapes and limited green cover, can become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas, intensifying health risks, energy demands, and social vulnerabilities. These impacts are often concentrated in low-income or marginalized communities, exacerbating existing inequalities.
This webinar explored how data, governance, and climate finance can converge to combat urban heat. Through high-resolution environmental data and community-level assessments, cities can identify hotspots and prioritize interventions such as nature-based solutions, reflective infrastructure, and improved urban planning. The discussion highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and equitable financing mechanisms to ensure that adaptation efforts serve all urban residents—especially the most vulnerable.
The webinar demonstrated how actionable data, inclusive strategies, and innovative funding can transform urban heat islands into cooler, more resilient, and more equitable cities for the future.
Webinar Title: Harnessing Ocean Data for Coastal Resilience and Blue Economies
Date: 3rd October 2025
Time: 9:00 am to 9:45 am (CET)
Moderator : Shaily Gandhi
Speakers: Steve Diggs, Bapon Fakhurddin, Pier Luigi Buttigieg, Alberto Azevedo
Webinar recording and presentations.
Webinar Description:
Oceans are the planet’s largest climate regulator, a source of livelihood for billions, and home to rich biodiversity. Yet they are under increasing pressure from climate change, pollution, overfishing, and rising sea levels. In coastal and island regions, the vulnerability is especially acute, threatening communities, ecosystems, and the sustainability of blue economies.
This webinar spotlighted the transformative potential of open, FAIR, and integrated ocean data in building resilient coastal systems. From real-time marine observations and early warning systems to ecosystem modeling and ocean-based climate finance, effective data use is key to informing smart policy and sustainable development. The session also addressed the importance of making ocean data more accessible and usable for coastal planners, communities, and the private sector.
The speakers explored how data can guide coastal adaptation, protect marine ecosystems, and unlock the potential of the blue economy in an era of climate uncertainty.
Webinar Title: Glacier Adaptation and financing
Date: 3rd March 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 9:45 am CEST
Moderator: Shaily Gandhi
Webinar summary and blog post.
Webinar Description:
As we celebrate 2025 as the “Year of the Glacier,” the urgency to tackle the rapid retreat of these vital ice reserves has never been more critical. Glaciers are the lifeblood of water security, ecosystems, and millions of livelihoods, yet climate change is accelerating their decline, leading to dire consequences like water scarcity and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
This webinar delved into the pivotal role of innovative financing in supporting glacier adaptation efforts. Speakers demonstrated how, by leveraging comprehensive data and fostering cross-border collaboration through regional climate knowledge platforms, we can transform data into actionable insights for policymakers, communities, and investors. Understanding the diverse impacts on communities from those directly dependent on glacial water to those at risk from GLOFs is crucial. Inclusive approaches that consider these varied perspectives are essential for enhancing resilience.
The webinar explored how data and innovative financing can safeguard the future of our planet’s cryosphere and the communities that depend on it.