Abstract ID: 3.12664 | Accepted as Talk | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Adaptation readiness at the local level is crucial for effective climate risk management, particularly in the context of multi-hazards, due to their spatially explicit and localised nature. Natural hazards such as floods, debris flows, landslides, or avalanches tend to have geographically distinct impacts, and their risks are often intensified by local climate variations. In mountainous regions, where climate change manifests itself in diverse location-specific ways, due to high geo and cultural diversity, the importance of localised adaptation is even more pronounced. In Austria, municipalities have primary responsibility for civil protection and spatial planning decisions, making them key actors in managing climate risks and natural hazards. Based on the CAUTION project, funded by the Austrian Climate Research Programme, this contribution highlights the need to adapt climate risk management (CRM) strategies, policies, and initiatives from the international or national level to the regional and local contexts, where they are actually implemented and where tangible changes can occur. A comprehensive understanding of the local multi-risk situation, including how it is embedded in governance structures, is therefore crucial for the effective implementation of CRM and subsequently for enhancing the resilience of mountain communities.