Climate Adaptation on Reersø – A Co-creative Democratic Process for Local Resilience

This project establishes a "living laboratory" on the peninsula of Reersø, experimenting with citizen-driven co-creation in climate adaptation. Initiated by a local citizen group and supported by 18 local associations, the project partners with Kalundborg Municipality and Gate 21 to bridge technical coastal protection with social legitimacy. Reersø faces significant threats from storm surges and rising sea levels. While technical solutions are being planned, this project focuses on the "human factor"—ensuring that adaptation measures reflect local values, history, and identity. Through a two-pronged approach, the project builds local capacity for democratic facilitation and executes a four-phase co-creation process: from shared history to concrete recommendations. The goal is to create a model for democratic climate adaptation that ensures social sustainability and local ownership. By transforming citizens from passive stakeholders to active co-creators, the project aims to strengthe