News Archive

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 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.

A total of 160 authors, from 23 countries and 87 institutions, among others from European research institutions, synthesised the latest research on tipping points – both positive and negative – into the Global Tipping Points Report 2025. The report consolidates how to govern Earth system tipping points, the risks they pose, and the opportunities presented by understanding and acting on positive tipping points. Tipping points should be included in governance such as climate adaptation policy and planning.

The new call for technical assistance under Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) GROUNDWORK is now open. It provides support to EU Member States, regions and local authorities, helping them with the implementation of Cohesion Policy investments under Policy Objective 2 (PO2): ‘A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe’.

A record 1095 applications requesting a total of more than €3.1 billion in EU funding were received in response to the LIFE 2025 calls for proposals for nature, environment, climate action and clean energy projects. Climate change mitigation and adaptation received 260 submissions with a total value of €1.171 billion and a requested EU contribution of €598 million (51%), whereas in 2024 it was 42.1% from 183 and 37.6% from 133 in 2023.

EEA’s flagship report, developed together with its member countries from the Environment Information and Observation network (Eionet), includes, among others, six thematic briefings with relation to resilience to climate change. They inform about past trends, outlook, prospects of meeting EU policy targets for 2030, and prospects of meeting EU policy targets for 2050.

The German ⁠Adaptation⁠ Strategy (⁠DAS⁠) provides the basis for climate adaptation concepts and measure developments in Germany. Its regular further development offers crucial opportunities to incorporate new scientific findings and to optimize approaches and procedures. A report, issued by the German Environment Agency (UBA), presents the results of a research project that identified potential for further development of the DAS based on a methodological analyses of different research strands as well as the transfer of results of a comparative policy field analysis in Germany.

A case study in Barcelona mapped high-risk hotspots for major flood events as climate change increases stormwater frequency. It highlighted social vulnerability as a major factor that must be addressed.

As Europe recovers from its worst-ever summer of wildfires, EU funded LIFE projects across the EU are finding ways to protect us from the deadly blazes which destroy lives, homes and our precious natural heritage. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) highlights three LIFE projects that are using nature to tackle wildfires.

Even though significant progress has been made over the past years to adapt human well-being, ecosystems, and the economy in Europe to climate change, the forthcoming integrated European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework (ECRRMF) must take a more ambitious approach to ensure resilience and preparedness across Europe by 2050. This scientific opinion paper, published by the German Environment Agency (UBA), outlines scientific recommendations - based on 20 years of experience in Germany - to strengthen the design and implementation of the ECRRMF. It proposes key objectives for the integrated framework, as well as actionable pathways across enabling governance mechanisms, the climate adaptation policy cycle and cross-cutting considerations.

EU-funded Naturethon events are designed as intensive collaborative sessions that bring together citizens, experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to tackle the issue of NbS financing. For the second edition of this Naturance's citizen engagement initiative, three hands-on training events in October and November 2025 are organised. With the knowledge and insights gained from the training sessions, participants will be guided by facilitators in the design, implementation, and deployment of NbS in your local area, helping shape the vision of a greener, more resilient, and more inclusive future.

Heat waves, droughts, and floods affected around a quarter of EU regions in the summer of 2025. A new extended study by Dr. Sehrish Usman from the University of Mannheim and economists from the European Central Bank shows estimated losses of 43 billion euros in 2025 alone and a total of 126 billion euros by 2029. The researchers call for increased investment in climate adaptation, such as heat protection in cities and improved water management.

Unlocking investments is key for a Water-Smart Economy that can build resilience to risks like water scarcity, pollution of water, and climate extremes. A webinar, held by the EU funded TRANSCEND project, explored this topic, featuring a keynote by Magdalena Rzeczkowska, Vice President for European Affairs at the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs (FPP). Her presentation focused on key strategies from the White Paper developed by Water Europe's Water and Finance Expert Group. The webinar recording and material for further reading is now available.

The New Pact for the Mediterranean renews and elevates the EU’s ambition to engage more deeply with countries across the Mediterranean region. It aims to produce tangible benefits through concrete initiatives that respond directly to people’s needs and aspirations, including progress in climate change adaptation. All relevant EU financial instruments, including the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe), the Global Gateway and the future Global Europe, will be mobilised in support of the Pact.

This summer, targeted interventions across the Greek capital showed that reducing perceived temperatures can be achieved when science, municipal action and citizen engagement come together. The initiative is funded by the ICLEI Action Fund Greece.

In Central Portugal, the EU-funded Horizon project RESIST is testing wildfire resilience to through community engagement, innovative forest management practices, and technology. Around towns and villages, 100-meter fire break zones were created by thinning out flammable vegetation with use of robots. Native species growth was thus supported, and removed biomass was turned into biogas.

This newly released Guidebook, developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), provides step-by-step guidance for creating a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA), a key climate adaptation planning component. This process combines scientific data and local knowledge to evaluate climate risks, identify hazards, assess vulnerabilities, and determine community adaptive capacities. Aligned with the IPCC framework, the guidebook helps cities to engage stakeholders and to select appropriate tools for climate adaptation.

Retail companies in Germany are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks but often lack the awareness and capacity to adapt effectively. This case study aims to support adaptation in the business sector. It shows how the largest retail association in Germany (Handelsverband Deutschland e.V., HDE) has developed tools, guidance, and trainings, specifically tailored to the needs of small and medium retail businesses. They should help enhancing resilience towards climate-related impacts such as supply chain disruptions, physical damage to buildings, and shifts in consumer behaviour.

Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, SLU, in collaboration with Uppsala University, Södertörn University and Stockholm University will test in the next four years if moving Swedish species that already grow in southern Sweden further north is a successful adaptation strategy. They will establish these species, often under existing trees that can protect them from frost and other climate-related risks, to prepare for the future. If successful, the project could transform how forest management is approached in Sweden – moving from cautious adjustments to proactive, long-term strategies for resilient forests in a warming climate.

An AI assistant for exploring Climate-ADAPT knowledge, data, and resources from other adaptation knowledge providers in Europe was set up on the Climate-ADAPT homepage. Responses are generated by AI based on authoritative data and sources from Climate-ADAPT, the European Climate and Health Observatory and the EU Mission on Adaptation Portal, but may not be exhaustive. The search assistant can also be used in national languages.