From September 29 to October 1, 2025, Belgrade hosted the second Climateurope2 Festival, under the slogan “Empowering Communities through Climate Services,” three days dedicated to collaboration, knowledge exchange and creativity.

It was organized by the Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN) within the framework of the EU-funded Climateurope2 project, and brought together participants from across Europe, including scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, artists, and communicators, to explore how climate services can drive resilience and support adaptation to an ever-changing climate.

Strengthening the climate community in Southeast Europe

Serbia was chosen as the host country to expand connections within the community of experts in Southeast Europe and to promote the market of climate services in a region particularly affected by climate change, where this field is still emerging.

“In Eastern Europe, the public and private climate services markets have not had the same opportunities to grow as in Western Europe,” explained Prof. ICREA Francisco J. Doblas-Reyes, Climateurope2 coordinator and director of Barcelona Supercomputing Center’s Earth Sciences Department. “Holding the Festival in Belgrade was a way of showing that the climate services community values being present there and a chance to demonstrate how the climate services market in the region can develop.”

Throughout the three days, lively discussions, workshops, and a marketplace fostered dialogue on topics such as climate services for agriculture, health, and regional adaptation strategies. The event not only deepened cooperation among European experts but also achieved significant participation from regional experts and institutions, providing a unique platform for dialogue on the development and standardisation of climate services and enhancing cross-border collaboration across countries and sectors. These interactions added new members from Eastern Europe to the Climateurope2 Network, making it more inclusive and representative.

“It’s extremely valuable that we can now take part in panels like these—discussions that weren’t possible before because people were unfamiliar with the concept of climate services,” said Dr. Vladimir Đurđević, climatologist and professor at the Institute of Meteorology in the Faculty of Physics at the University of Belgrade, and Climateurope2 project collaborator. “The main challenges in our region, similar to other countries, still revolve around finding the best ways to use climate data to address complex issues in infrastructure, agriculture, and industry.”

Dr. Marjana Brkić from CPN and local coordinator of the Climateurope2 Festival added: "The festival was particularly important because it addressed climate services — a concept that, until recently, was almost unknown in Serbia and the wider region. It covered the design, use, quality, and standardisation of climate services, promoting an open, engaged, and collaborative environment. At the same time, it enabled the entire Southeast European region to take part in the international dialogue on climate services and their applications.”

Art + Science: turning data into emotion

The Festival was not just about dialogue and workshops, it was also a celebration of creativity. Its Art + Science programme invited participants to see climate change through a new lens, one that connects knowledge and emotion. The festival’s artistic program featured exhibitions, performances and presentations, including those developed by the winning projects from the previous Climateurope2 art+science open calls. The selected artists, in collaboration with scientists, transformed climate data into creative artworks that invite reflection on humanity’s relationship with the planet.

Highlights included M1L3NΛ, a digital installation by artist Ana Pinter, and Breathing, a multimedia piece by Arnaud Laffond. Visitors also experienced the interactive installation “Climate Capsule” and the exhibition “See the Weather,” both exploring the connection between nature, science, and human perception.

M1L3NΛ and Climate Capsule were part of the Traveling Climate Action – Roadshow, a Climateurope2 initiative led by CPN that toured five cities across Southeast Europe, raising awareness about the role of climate services, bringing climate science closer to the public, and fostering regional collaboration. The Belgrade Festival marked the culmination of this tour, bringing together many of the creators, scientists, and organizations involved. Next year, the Roadshow will return with a new edition, visiting another five locations in the region and featuring Climate Capsule once again, and Breathing.

As Arnaud Laffond, artist and creator of “Breathing”, reflected: “Navigating toward a safer future depends not only on the accuracy of data but also on our ability to interpret it sensitively and respond with intelligence and empathy. In this sense, art becomes an ally of science — transforming data into emotion, and emotion into action.”

You can download the press release here and explore photos and videos from the Festival on the event page.