Extreme weather and slow onset climate events are increasingly testing the social, environmental and economic resilience of European communities. The EU climate adaptation strategy was adopted in 2021 to support smarter, faster and more systematic adaptation action at all governance levels. The European Commission (EC) communication on managing climate risks and the forthcoming integrated framework for European climate resilience and risk management reinforce these efforts. National frameworks also support action at sub-national levels. Within this policy landscape, the sub-national level is identified as the bedrock of adaptation. This reflects the unique position of locally grounded efforts in addressing context-specific hazards, exposures and vulnerabilities.
The EU climate adaptation strategy also recognises that EU support is critical for the achievement of its objectives, through funding, data and capacity building opportunities. Tangible sub-national support of this nature both preceded and followed the strategy via initiatives such as the EU Mission on Climate Adaptation and the EU Covenant of Mayors, as well as climate resilience-focused funding calls under the Horizon Europe programme.
The EU climate resilience and risk management integrated framework now presents an additional important opportunity to further strengthen municipal leadership on climate adaptation through legislative and non-legislative actions. In the context of this briefing, the extent to which the distinct needs of Europe's many small municipalities can be addressed through this framework will be critical for meeting the objective of the EU Green Deal to leave no one behind.
