The twin digital and green transition lies at the core of the European Green Deal, yet in the Mediterranean region, a diverse climate hotspot, achieving a nature-positive and climate-resilient society is a challenge. The variety of regional development and vulnerability levels, the challenges of social engagement and digital literacy, as well as the repercussions of low institutional readiness, constitute barriers. Even though Nature-based Solutions (NBS) are globally recognised as significant climate-change toolkits, uptake by governments, communities and professionals remains low. Lack of on-the-ground evidence leads to low NBS literacy and limited receptivity.

CARDIMED will investigate systemic transformations in Climate Resilience (CR) in the Mediterranean region, by unifying and mainstreaming all initiatives addressing climate adaptation and mitigation through NBS and other engineered infrastructure. It will develop a digital framework to assess NBS impacts and support stakeholder engagement, alongside modelling tools for decision-making in climate risk mitigation. Through nine Demonstrator clusters across urban, rural, and peri-urban areas, CARDIMED will showcase NBS effectiveness and promote circular, digital, and community-led solutions. By 2030, it aims to connect 28 regions and 70 communities, scaling up resilience via co-creation, knowledge translation, and a sustainable network for wider NBS adoption and impact.