The sixth Communities of Practice session focused on the PESTEL–COM-B Matrix, a core analytical tool developed under the SOTERIA project to map both tangible system-level conditions and behavioural factors shaping climate adaptation outcomes. The session included a presentation by Milena Nikolova (BES) and Mia Ebeltoft (CRA), followed by an open discussion.

Context and key challenges

The discussion addressed the persistent challenge of fragmented and underused climate-related risk and loss data across Europe. As highlighted by Mia Ebeltoft, data are often inconsistent, privately held, and insufficiently accessible to public authorities, limiting the ability of cities and municipalities to conduct robust risk assessments and design effective climate adaptation measures.

While granular data are increasingly required under the EU Floods Directive and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, technical availability alone does not ensure effective use. Behavioural and institutional factors strongly influence whether data are shared, understood, and applied in practice.

Case study: Norway

The Norwegian Knowledge Bank was presented as a case study illustrating how data sharing between insurers and public authorities can be institutionalised at the national level. The initiative aimed to establish a centralised data hub combining insurance loss data with public authority datasets.

The case highlighted that the primary barriers were behavioural rather than technological, including differing perceptions of data ownership, concerns over competitive advantage, limited trust between actors, and low awareness of the public value of shared data.

Key enabling factors included sustained dialogue between insurers and municipalities, often driven by a motivated individual acting as a broker, securing a formal mandate, and anchoring the initiative at the senior management level. Clearly communicating benefits to all stakeholders was identified as critical for motivation. Remaining challenges include limited awareness among municipalities that the data are available, funding constraints, and technical and capacity limitations affecting data integration.

The PESTEL–COM-B framework

Milena Nikolova presented the PESTEL–COM-B Matrix as a structured framework integrating the PESTEL and COM-B models to assess readiness for change across political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, legal, and behavioural dimensions.

The framework was discussed as being applicable beyond data sharing, with relevance for a wide range of climate adaptation solutions that require new decision making processes, collaboration patterns, and behavioural change.