The European Commission today presented an EU Framework for Climate Resilience to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, prepare for, and manage climate risks. This summer, prolonged heatwaves and droughts fuelled dangerous wildfires and drove some of Europe’s biggest rivers to historically low water levels. Likewise, we have seen devastating floods in the past years. This highlighted the serious consequences that climate change can have on citizens, businesses and infrastructure.
75% of the Europeans live in cities and urban areas. They are feeling firsthand the impacts of climate change. Building climate resilience is therefore a strategic investment in Europe’s competitiveness, security, health and prosperity. The economic case for action is compelling. Estimated economic losses from climate damages from 2022-2025 stood at approximately €200 billion, or €50 billion per year.
Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “Europe is warming at double the global rate. To become truly climate resilient, we need to adjust and learn along the way. Today, we are presenting a European approach to climate risks – to anticipate, to prepare for and to manage. We are ensuring that climate resilience will be included in policies across the continent, supporting investment, innovation and long-term growth.”
The Framework Communication proposes a systemic change: to embed climate resilience across all major policy areas, both domestic and international. It provides support to local and regional authorities to adapt through pilot projects and advisory services.
The Communication also underlines the crucial role of businesses to scale up European resilience industry. Adapting Europe’s infrastructure and economy to future climatic conditions is expected to require investment of around €70 billion per year. However, the estimated return on investments in climate adaptation can reach more than 10 times their value in avoided loss and damage. The global market for climate adaptation solutions is projected to quadruple in size to €3.5 trillion by 2050, presenting a significant opportunity for European businesses to innovate, prosper and become technology leader for climate resilience solutions.
The proposed Climate Resilience Law provides a common reference trajectory for global warming. The current scientific evidence shows that the world is on a path to warm by 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by 2030, 2 °C by 2050, and 3 °C by 2100. This trajectory provides a shared baseline assumption against which Member States can assess future climate risks when making decisions.
The Climate Resilience Law will bring more efficiency and reduce the Member States’ administrative burden. National planning obligations and instruments are simplified by the introduction of one single national strategic plan. Improved and more regular climate risk assessments will also ensure consistency and comparability between EU and national assessments.
The Framework provides public authorities, businesses and communities with practical tools to help them address climate risks. The European online platform for climate resilience will include the following new tools: The European Climate Viewer, developed by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which will provide an interactive map of projected climate hazards across the continent. Thanks to the Commission’s Destination Earth initiative, it will evolve to integrate supercomputing capabilities. The Navigator of Climate Resilience Tools, developed by the European Environment Agency (EEA), helps users find relevant climate resilience tools based on their location, sector, and the specific risks they face. The Solutions Explorer showcases practical adaptation solutions developed and tested through the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change.
Next steps
The Commission will immediately begin implementing the Framework. As announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address, the Commission will further strengthen Europe’s capacity to prepare for and respond to climate extremes with a European Heatwave Plan, a Climate Insurance Alliance, and a European Water initiative. It will also launch a PreparEU Advisory Group on disaster preparedness and an initiative to identify European 100 most climate-vulnerable territories. These initiatives are now being developed by the Commission and will be presented separately. The Commission will also propose an EU strategic plan on climate resilience in 2028 to ensure early and decisive action at EU level.
For more information
Communication on the EU Climate Resilience Framework
European Climate Resilience Law
EU Climate Resilience Framework (policy page including all related documents)
European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA)
Quote(s)
Europe is warming at double the global rate. To become truly climate resilient, we need to adjust and learn along the way. Today, we are presenting a European approach to climate risks – to anticipate, to prepare for and to manage. We are ensuring that climate resilience will be included in policies across the continent, supporting investment, innovation and long-term growth.
The first and most effective adaptation measure to climate change is to fight its root causes. But even as we work hard to reduce emissions, we must prepare for the impacts of climate change, which are neither fair nor equally distributed. Europe lacks preparedness, and it is our responsibility to minimise the costs and suffering this entails. This is why we propose using a common global warming trajectory to assess risks and prepare for the future. The Framework will strengthen preparedness, clarify responsibilities and equip public authorities, businesses and communities with practical tools to act, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable. Climate resilience is a shared obligation, and the European Commission is ready to play its part in building a more resilient and fairer Europe.
Europe’s future competitiveness depends on our ability to anticipate and prepare for a changing climate. Our society and economy need to become ‘resilient by design’ or we’ll risk disaster by default. Every euro invested in resilience today helps protect jobs, businesses and livelihoods tomorrow. This new Framework will help us build a more resilient and competitive economy, while ensuring that no region or community is left behind.