Guido Schmidt
Fresh Thoughts Consulting GmbH, Faculty
Guido Schmidt works as a senior expert at Fresh Thoughts Consulting GmbH. He is a German PhD with more than 30 years of experience as a key expert, team leader, project/portfolio manager and evaluator in water, climate adaptation and environmental policy, planning and implementation. His areas of competence include Water, Climate change adaptation and resilience, Nexus, Innovation, Ecosystems, Monitoring & Evaluation, Communications and Knowledge Management, etc.
Climate Adaptation in Practice: From Risk Understanding to Real-World Action
Guido Schmidt is an environmental engineer and climate adaptation specialist with over two decades of experience working on issues such as droughts and water scarcity. Currently based in Austria within a policy consultancy, he advises institutions like the European Commission, national and regional governments, as well as NGOs and private actors. In the MGIS programme, his module focuses on the practical side of climate adaptation—what professionals actually do when facing real climate risks, beyond reducing emissions. He guides students through a structured approach: understanding the problem in depth, identifying root causes, mapping stakeholders, and developing realistic responses at both policy and community levels. His teaching emphasizes clarity, critical thinking, and actionable strategies for managing climate-related challenges in real-world contexts.
He has work experience with the European Commission, World Bank, ADB, UNDP, OSCE, GIZ, GWP, several national administrations, civil society organisations and the private sector. As consultant, he is currently engaged in supporting the European Commission on water quantity management and within the EU Water Facility, as well as the Climate Adaptation Mission Implementation Platform. He leads the Horizon 2020 REGILIENCE project, and participates in TRANSCEND and GoNEXUS, and is senior expert of the European Topic Centre on Biodiversity and Ecosystems.
He has in-country expertise in the European Union, South-Eastern Europe, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, India and Mongolia.
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