On 10 December 2024, the Ecologic Institute and AquaEcology, on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA) under the MEER:STARK project, hosted a workshop exploring the critical role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in climate adaptation and marine resilience. The online event brought together leading experts to discuss innovative strategies, cutting-edge research, and cross-sectoral approaches for strengthening marine protection in the face of climate change.

Dr. Nico Stelljes and Dr. Cordula Maguire opened the workshop by highlighting the importance of cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement in advancing marine conservation efforts. Insights from the MEER:STARK project, presented by Gregory Fuchs, demonstrated how integrating climate adaptation measures into MPAs enhances ecological integrity. Jannica Haldin of HELCOM provided a Baltic Sea-focused perspective, emphasising the urgency of regionally tailored strategies to address climate impacts (via the project ProtectBaltic).

Throughout the workshop, three key research impulses provided fresh perspectives:

• Prof. Myron A. Peck (FutureMARES) explored climate-smart conservation planning with the focus on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change adaptation and mitigation to safeguard future biodiversity, and ecosystem functions, maximising natural capital and its delivery of services from marine ecosystems
• Dr. Eleonore Cambra & Ivana Stojanovic (MSP4BIO) shared scenario-building techniques for adaptive conservation planning based on the results of the MSP4BIO project, with a special focus on guidance for including climate change scenarios in protection and prioritization strategies for MPAs.
• Dr. Ernesto Azzurro (MPA4Change) demonstrated how MPAs can act as nature-based solutions, integrating biodiversity conservation with climate resilience. He focused on ready to use tools to enhance MPAs effectiveness in the Mediterranean. 

The interactive segment of the workshop encouraged participants to engage deeply with critical themes, including ecological responses, social and economic considerations, governance and operational strategies and challenges for implementing "climate-smart MPAs." Using a virtual Miro board, this dynamic dialogue helped prioritise actionable outcomes and foster collaborative problem-solving.

Concluding the workshop, organizers synthesized key takeaways and reiterated the importance of aligning research, policy, and practice. The workshop concluded with a priorisation exercise and synthesis of key takeaways, emphasising the potential of "climate-smart MPAs" as a powerful tool to enhance ecosystem resilience, safeguard biodiversity, and support climate adaptation. The workshop exemplified a collaborative effort to align science, policy, and practice in building resilient marine ecosystems.