Small but Mighty – Climate Resilience in Smaller Municipalities
26. June 11:00 - 12:15
While larger cities are often seen as resilience front-runners, small municipalities are also leading the way - despite having fewer resources and limited capacity. From Ober-Grafendorf in Austria to Kajárpéc in Hungary and Samsø in Denmark, small towns are demonstrating that climate resilience is about innovation and determination, not just size.
This session will showcase how three small municipalities are addressing adaptation challenges with bold and creative solutions. Through their stories, we will explore common obstacles, identify emerging strengths, and discuss how smaller, peri-urban, and rural areas can be better supported to thrive in a changing climate.
Join us to hear firsthand from mayors who are turning local limitations into powerful opportunities for climate action.
Speakers
Mayor, Market town of Ober-Grafendorf (Austria)
Rainer Handlfinger, Mayor, Market town of Ober-Grafendorf
Education
1982 – 1986 Elementary School, 3200 Ober-Grafendorf
1986 – 1990 Secondary School, 3200 Ober-Grafendorf
1990 – 1995 BORG St. Pölten, Science Branch
1996 – 2000 University of Applied Sciences for Telecommunications and Media, St. Pölten
Degree: Graduate Engineer (FH)
Professional Career
03/2000 – 06/2007 Municipal Councilor, Market Town of Ober-Grafendorf
06/2007 – 04/2010 Executive Municipal Councilor for Finance and Environment, Market Town of Ober-Grafendorf
Since 04/2010 Mayor, Market Town of Ober-Grafendorf
Additional Functions & Volunteering
04/2012 – 2018 Board Member, Vienna/Lower Austria Renewable Energy Working Group, Vienna
Since 05/2013 Executive Board Member, Climate Alliance/Climate Alliance Europe, Frankfurt am Main
Since 04/2014 Board Member, Regional Management Lower Austria – Lower Austria Central, St. Pölten
Since July 2017 Chairman of the Board, Climate Alliance Austria, Vienna"
Mayor, Samsø Kommune
Marcel Meijer, Mayor, Samsø Kommune
Marcel Meijer has been the mayor of Samsø since 2014. During this period Samsø has developed its ferry-infrastructure to an extend, that resulted in an increase in tourism by annually 10%. Furthermore Samsø has become a community, from which it is possible to commute to the area fo Aarhus in eastern Jutland with hundreds of thousands job-opportunities.
Mayor, Local Government Kajárpéc
György Laki, Mayor, Local Government Kajárpéc
György Laki has been the mayor of the municipality of Kajárpéc for 19 years. During his university years, he studied biology and chemistry. He is one of the founders of the Hungarian Climate Alliance and has been the vice president of the organization since its establishment 15 years ago. Last year, he was also elected to the board of the European Climate Alliance. He has been a member of the Győr and Region Waste Management Council for 5 years, which is responsible for the transport and processing of the everyday waste of nearly 240,000 people in the region's 112 settlements. As mayor, his municipality Kajárpéc was awarded the European Climate Star in 2021. The municipality earned this award primarily for its work in greenfield management and shaping experience-based attitudes.
Team Lead, Climate-KIC
Pernille Martiny Modvig, Team Lead, Climate-KIC
It is Pernilles vocational as well as personal mission to work towards a zero-carbon economy by promoting sustainable food systems, sustainable consumption patterns, circular economy and resource optimization.
Pernilles career has focussed on climate innovation, social responsibility, social innovation, fundraising, business development and organizational development centring around climate adaptation, circular construction and sustainable food systems and -consumption patterns, alternative proteins and sustainable cropping systems.
Moderator
EEA
LUCy Gregerson, EEA