News Archive

The European Commission is inviting citizens, businesses, regional authorities, and all stakeholders to take part in a new public consultation on climate resilience. This is a chance to influence the EU’s future framework that will determine how Europe prepares for and responds to climate change. The public consultation is open until 23 February 2026.

Launched under the European Commission’s 2024 Communication on Managing Climate Risks, the Reflection Group on Mobilising Climate Resilience Financing brought together key industrial players and representatives of public and private financial institutions. They address financing challenges in a context where the EU and its economy remain insufficiently protected against climate hazards. In its final report, the need for collective action to strengthen the European Union’s resilience to climate-related risks is emphasized.

The European Commission has published an interim evaluation of the EU4Health Programme, the largest and most ambitious EU health funding programme ever. With a budget of €4.6 billion over the 2021-2027 period, EU4Health has made a significant contribution to the EU’s post COVID recovery, by supporting Member States in building more resilient and accessible healthcare systems and reinforcing crisis preparedness and response.

Knowledge gaps are recognised as one of the main barriers to climate change adaptation actions. As part of the flagship projects from the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, REGILIENCE+ is calling on European Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) to respond to a Climate Adaptation Survey. The Survey aims to help to co-create the tools that the LRAs would like to see developed at the EU level and to be communicated effectively.

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP30, took place in Belém, Brazil from 10 to 21 November 2025. This annual conference is the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change that brings together almost every country on Earth. This conference has led to outcomes on new initiatives to support implementation and ambition, a set of indicators for climate adaptation, and a call for the tripling of adaptation finance.

The Greek National Adaptation Hub has been developed within the framework of the EU funded Integrated LIFE-IP AdaptInGR project, led by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency of Greece. Recently, its thematic and regional pages have been improved, navigation has been enhanced, and functionalities of the geospatial tool have been upgraded. Moreover, the English version of the platform is now fully operational, broadening access for international users.

In a comprehensive analysis of climate adaptation efforts, this EU report reveals significant progress and challenges in addressing climate hazards and vulnerabilities worldwide, achieved by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy signatory municipalities. Extreme heat, droughts, and floods have been identified as prevalent climate hazards. Notably, only 67 % of high-risk hazards have corresponding adaptation actions in place. A substantial gap persists between identified risks and the implementation of actions, particularly in vulnerable sectors and populations. Policymakers are called to bridge this gap to improve resilience against climate impacts.

The Climate Atlas of Iceland, developed by the Icelandic Met Office and launched in April 2025, marks a milestone in making climate information more accessible and policy-relevant for Iceland. It will help increasing Iceland's resilience to climate change and its impacts. It provides insights into possible future changes, with the aim of increasing climate change awareness and supporting decision-making processes at national, regional, and local levels. The atlas contains climate change data and projections that can be viewed graphically through interactive features and downloaded in various formats.

The second session of the EU co-funded MountResilience Community of Practice brought together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to discuss on climate change adaptation tools. The event shone a spotlight on resources, tools and networks that help mountain regions adapt to the impacts of climate change.

This report of the German Environment Agency presents the current state of knowledge on implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate change adaptation in Germany and identifies key obstacles at the municipal level. It highlights the needs and options for municipalities to act. Practical examples illustrate conflicts of interest and synergies in the implementation of NbS. In any case, a combination of strategies adjusted to the specific local context is required. The report is in German but includes an extensive summary in English.

The Climate Risk Assessment Center (Cerac) has released the first Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA). With 28 main climate- and ecosystem-related risks identified, it is a landmark study offering a comprehensive view of how climate change and ecosystem degradation are already affecting Belgium—and what we can expect in the years ahead.

As part of the EU’s Mission on Adaptation to climate change, the ARCADIA project fosters large-scale system transformations that build resilient, future-proof regions across continental Europe. It developed a Self-Assessment Scorecard, designed to help organizations gauge their progress towards transformational change, a Guide of Guidance, offering practical steps and tools for effective climate resilience and two Policy Briefs, which translate current research and on-ground experience into actionable guidance for policymakers.

The Dutch Climate Risk Portal is a new central hub for the financial sector, which provides reliable data and insights on physical climate risk in the Netherlands. By translating Dutch climate knowledge into the context of the EU Taxonomy, the portal bridges the gap between scientific data and the information needs of businesses, insurers, bankers, investors, and regulators. Developed and managed by Climate Adaptation Services, with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the portal provides a single, trustworthy entry point to consistent and transparent climate risk information. It helps professional organisations understand and manage climate risks, fostering a level playing field through freely accessible national climate data.

This interactive guide, written by the EU-funded Land4Climate project consortium, is made for professionals - including municipalities, local authorities and public administration offices. It aims to help them implementing small scale NbS measures in search of alternative or complementary funding beyond public subsidies.

The European Commission monitored and assessed progress in meeting climate targets in 2024. Regarding adaptation, significant attention is needed to prepare and implement adaptation actions in all sectors. All investment vulnerable or exposed to climate impacts must be designed to face and withstand climate risks that could materialise in their lifetime, without unacceptable loss of their value or utility.

While European countries have made substantial progress in planning for climate adaptation, and with adopting policies, the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) review of national climate adaptation actions highlights that implementation and evaluation need to be significantly strengthened to ensure actions effectively address the escalating climate risks Europe faces.

The members of the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a coalition of 146 central banks and financial supervisors and 23 observers from around the world, underscore the mounting macroeconomic and financial risks of delayed climate action. This declaration was highlighted by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) as a member of the NGFS. We need a more sustainable economy with long-term transition objectives, including adaptation efforts, generating a double dividend by reducing drivers of nature degradation.

Nature-based solutions are key to reducing Europe’s growing risk of forest fires and to making forests more resilient to climate change, according to a briefing published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The briefing outlines measures for both fire prevention and post-fire restoration — such as rewilding, promoting fire-resilient vegetation, and creating green firebreaks and buffer zones. It contributes to the implementation of the EU adaptation strategy and the EU forest strategy for 2030.

The Adaptation Gap Report of the United Nations Environment Programme finds that a big gap in adaptation finance for developing countries is putting lives, livelihoods and entire economies at risk. Adaptation financing needs in developing countries 12-14 times as much as current flows.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) (Vienna Programme Office) launched the Western Balkans Climaproof website, funded by the Austrian Development Agency. This website is build to result in increased technical capacities of the relevant national authorities in climate change adaptation, specifically climate proofing of road infrastructure, green infrastructure and evidence-based policy development.

The European Environment Agency updated its economic loss indicator for the period 1980-2024. Weather- and climate-related extremes caused economic losses of assets estimated at EUR 822 billion during 1980-2024 in the European Union, with over EUR 208 billion (25%) between 2021 and 2024. Climate-related extreme events are expected to intensify further and the adaptation pace is not following the same speed. Associated economic losses will likely continue to increase.

In June 2025, the European Commission released its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) on Health and Climate Change. It is a comprehensive roadmap designed to guide its planning of future funding for research and innovation on climate change and health. The agenda also aims to inspire the work of like-minded funding organisations. With input from a wide range of stakeholders, the agenda identifies research priorities, including on the health impacts of climate change, adaptation of healthcare systems, and climate mitigation within the health sector. It also emphasises the need for improving and expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based policymaking, and global equity in cooperation. Supported by Horizon Europe, the SRIA aims to understand and mitigate climate-related health risks. It aims to strengthen adaptation practices and resilience, and reduce health inequalities by fostering innovation from early-stage research to policy implementation. Recognising climate change as both an environmental and public health crisis, the initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to coordinated inclusive action to protect communities worldwide. SRIA will be implemented under a Flagship action of the Strategy for European Life Sciences. Under this action, at least €170 million will be mobilised for research and innovation.

The second annual State of Wildfires report, published in Earth System Science Data, was prepared under an international research project, among others co-led by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Ibn tn this fire season, less land burned, but more carbon was released than in most years on record. In the future, extreme fires will become more frequent as the climate continues to warm. By tracking changing global wildfire hazard, policy and practice can be guided towards improved preparedness, mitigation, adaptation, and societal benefit.

The EU’s outermost regions (ORs) are highly exposed to climate risks but also pioneers in adaptation. A policy brief, prepared under the EU funded projects REGILIENCE with ARSINOE and TransformAr, calls for stronger EU support to unlock their potential as living laboratories for resilience. It highlights priorities such as integrated approaches across sectors, better use of local knowledge and data, stronger regional cooperation, and full inclusion of ORs in EU policies and funding.