As part of its ongoing activities, the European project PRO-CLIMATE organised an online workshop on 14 January 2026 with the Association of Local Employment and Development Agents of Extremadura, aiming to reinforce the role of local actors in advancing climate change adaptation through social and behavioural transformation.

The event brought together representatives from local and regional administrations to reflect on the growing impacts of climate change in Extremadura and their implications for employment, entrepreneurship and territorial development. The session opened with an introduction to the PRO-CLIMATE project and its citizen-centred approach to climate adaptation, underlining the complementary role of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Key regional climate challenges were highlighted, including increasing temperatures, reduced and more irregular rainfall, and the rising risk of droughts and wildfires. Examples of good and transferable practices related to green jobs, local development and climate adaptation were also presented.

A participatory workshop followed around three thematic blocks. Participants first discussed how climate change is already affecting their daily professional activities and identified behaviours and practices with potential for change. In a second step, they proposed concrete adaptation actions, assessed the resources required for their implementation and identified key actors for collaboration, including public administrations, universities, research centres and local networks. Finally, the actions were prioritised according to short-, medium- and long-term timeframes.

The workshop highlighted a strong shared understanding of the links between climate change, local development and employment. Training, capacity building and awareness-raising were identified as key drivers for enabling climate adaptation at local level, together with the need for coordinated governance and strengthened public–private cooperation. The session also confirmed the strategic role of local employment and development agents as facilitators of behavioural change and territorial resilience. Overall, the event demonstrated that climate adaptation can act as a catalyst for local economic development, job creation and social cohesion in Extremadura.