On 28–29 September 2026, nine partners from eight countries gathered in Athens, Greece, for the kick-off meeting of the LIFE-RENEW project, co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. The meeting marked the start of a joint effort to develop solutions that will help municipalities and regions rebuild more safely, sustainably and resiliently following natural disasters. Latvia is represented in the project by the Kurzeme Planning Region.
During the two-day meeting, partners from Greece, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Latvia, Austria, Italy and Ukraine shared their experience in climate change and environmental issues, discussed the project’s objectives and planned activities, and agreed on arrangements for future cooperation.
The LIFE-RENEW project is based on the internationally recognised principle of “Build Back Better – and Greener”. This approach emphasises that recovery following natural disasters and other critical events should go beyond repairing damage and restoring infrastructure. It should also provide an opportunity to reduce future risks and strengthen long-term resilience. The project will review existing reconstruction experience, develop a Public Policy Handbook for Sustainable Post-disaster Reconstruction and practical tools, and prepare and pilot Local Sustainable Reconstruction Plans.
On the first day of the meeting, partners focused on the project’s main activities, including reviewing previous experience of post-disaster reconstruction, developing practical policy guidance, planning pilot activities and establishing an international knowledge-sharing network. The Kurzeme Planning Region presented the work package it will lead, covering the pilot application of project solutions, the development of Local Sustainable Reconstruction Plans and the delivery of training programmes. The day concluded with a joint workshop in which partners discussed how to ensure that the project’s outputs would be practical and applicable to the work of municipalities and regions.
On the second day, discussions focused on the scientific validation of project results, communication and opportunities to replicate the developed approaches in other European regions. Partners also addressed project management, financial matters and coordination between activities. The meeting concluded with discussions on a concrete action plan for the first six months, identifying priority tasks, partner responsibilities and the next steps for cooperation.
Participation in LIFE-RENEW will enable the Kurzeme Planning Region to learn from the experience of other European countries and work with international partners to identify solutions that can also be applied in Kurzeme. Throughout the project, the Kurzeme Planning Region will cooperate with municipalities, local communities and sectoral experts to test the developed approaches in practice and strengthen the region’s preparedness for climate-related risks.
The project is coordinated by the Greek organisation ENA Institute for Alternative Policies. LIFE-RENEW runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029 and is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme.
For further information about the project:
Viktorija Reine
Project Manager, Kurzeme Planning Region
+371 28232978
viktorija.reine@kurzemesregions.lv
This article has been prepared as part of the LIFE-RENEW project, co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
