Expertise migrants central to ‘heat’ approach in Rotterdam and Antwerp

Migrants as climate researchers

Across Europe, more than half of the population lives in urban areas, where climate change impacts—especially extreme heat—are intensifying. The 2022 European heatwave claimed more than 61,000 lives. Migrant communities faced triple the risk due to inadequate housing and limited access to cooling infrastructure, while often being left out of climate policy discussions.

HARARA aims to address this inequality by studying actual and perceived experience of heat among migrant populations in Antwerp and Rotterdam. It also seeks to draw on their existing knowledge of how to cope with heat and adapt to climate change—insights that are often overlooked in climate research and policymaking.

Co-creating inclusive climate strategies

HARARA does not stop at data. The transdisciplinary consortium will co-develop adaptation strategies rooted in evidence, community expertise, and cultural relevance. Central to this approach is the leadership of trained citizen scientists—community ambassadors from migrant backgrounds—who will guide data collection within households of migrant populations living in Borgerhout (Antwerp, Belgium) and Tarwewijk (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). 

To ensure long-term impact, the project introduces an innovative role: the ‘Gluon researcher’ – a transdisciplinary expert who bridges scientific disciplines and translates knowledge between universities and civil society. These specialists will help embed inclusive thinking into climate policy and practice. The innovations will inform practical solutions such as improving building insulation, launching targeted awareness campaigns, and developing communication tools tailored to specific cultural contexts.

Lore Van Praag: “When focusing on climate adaptation experiences, initiatives and strategies, one easily gets lost in translation, as people use different wording, concepts and ideas in different disciplines, policy domains and cultures. This often results in overlooking the lived experiences, expertise and interests of migrant populations in cities, but also creates boundaries between experts from different disciplines. The use of Gluon researchers has recently been applied in academic settings, but we aim to expand knowledge exchange beyond the walls of universities."

An Horizon Europe project

HARARA aims to create a lasting blueprint for inclusive, transdisciplinary climate adaptation, driven by local knowledge and supported by cutting-edge research. By working with, not just for, communities, HARARA paves the way for more just, resilient urban futures.

It directly contributes to the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Climate Action (SDG 13).

HARARA is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme with a grant of €2 million. In its official evaluation, the European Commission awarded HARARA a score of 14 out of 15, praising its clear methodology, strong impact potential, and meaningful engagement with marginalized communities. Particular strengths highlighted include its transdisciplinary design and the depth of its citizen science approach.

HARARA will officially start on 1 January 2026 and will run for a period of three years, supporting sustained collaboration between researchers, civil society, and local communities.

"People are often tired of being surveyed without seeing any real impact. Too often, their knowledge – and especially their interest – in major social issues like climate change is underestimated. By involving communities with diverse backgrounds as equal partners in long-term research, we not only build mutual understanding, but also create broader support in the areas where climate action is most urgently needed."

- Cultuurwerkplaats Tarwewijk

“Climate policy is still too often imposed from the top down, with little regard for the expertise and lived experiences within diaspora communities. Decisions are made about those who are hit hardest locally by heatwaves and air pollution, but rarely with them. At Empact, we hear growing resistance to climate measures, as they tend to place a disproportionate burden on people in vulnerable positions. At the same time, we witness powerful and justice-driven climate initiatives emerging from within our member organizations—bottom-up, and rooted in the communities themselves.”

- EMPACT vwz