From climate data to user-centered climate education: Stakeholder consultation in the development of the adaptation AGORA digital academy

Abstract

Climate change education and citizen engagement are essential for advancing towards a climate-resilient society, promoting institutional, regulatory and policy transformation. Informal learning tools, particularly digital environments, play a crucial role in addressing this challenge. However, the current climate service landscape is characterized by fragmented tools, limited accessibility, and strong orientation towards expert users. This work investigates how climate services can incorporate educational and participatory components that enhance usability, strengthen users' capacity to interpret climate information, and facilitate the exchange of climate knowledge, using the EU-funded Adaptation AGORA Digital Academy as a case study. The Digital Academy equips citizens and stakeholders with open-source climate data, accessible tools and practical knowledge to support climate adaptation, counter climate-related misinformation and enable the use of climate data for monitoring climate risks. By fostering collaboration among data providers, educators, and policymakers, the Digital Academy translates climate knowledge into practical educational tools, integrating real-world data, adaptation and risk hubs, learning modules, and usage guidelines to promote scientific inquiry and critical thinking.