The University of Latvia (UL), in cooperation with the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC), has begun implementing the European Commission-funded climate education project “H-Extremes-LV: From Classroom to Community, Adapting to Hydrometeorological Extremes in Latvia”. Its aim is to help schools, students, municipalities, and society better understand climate change and use climate data in practical decision-making. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), or the Copernicus climate change programme.
Copernicus is the European Union’s Earth observation programme. It collects and provides freely accessible environmental and climate data, helping people better understand climate change and make data-driven decisions. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, C3S, provides reliable climate data about the past, present, and future projections, while also promoting public understanding of climate issues.
The project coordinator, University of Latvia leading researcher Dr. geogr. Gunta Kalvāne, emphasises:
“It is highly gratifying that Latvia is represented in one of the world’s most important climate data and observation programmes. In cooperation with LEGMC, we will develop and put into practice teaching and study materials, as well as simple guidelines for working with climate data. They will be based on C3S data and adapted to Latvia’s situation and users’ needs. The fact that we have been selected as one of five supported climate education projects is significant recognition.”
The aim of the project is to create climate education materials suited to Latvia and practical guidelines for the use of climate data by various groups in society – from schools and universities to municipalities and the wider public.
The project includes activities for four main target groups:
- University of Latvia students,
- STEM teachers,
- specialists from Latvian municipalities, particularly spatial planners,
- society as a whole.
Appropriate materials and activities will be developed for each of these groups in order to strengthen understanding of climate change and the ability to use climate data in everyday life and decision-making.
At the project information day on 22 May, Stijn Vermoote, Head of the User Engagement Section at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), emphasised that the selected projects are the first participants in an initiative of this kind and demonstrate high quality, readiness for action, and a significant contribution to promoting the accessibility and use of climate data among the wider public.
The project implementation period is 18 months: 1 May 2026 – 31 October 2027. The total project budget is EUR 193,341.
This document has been prepared with funding from the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Commission or ECMWF. Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF can be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained in this document.
