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EU Mission: Adaptation to Climate Change

Information on the EU Mission, how it will be implemented, the Mission Boards, meetings, news, events and more.

What is the Mission?

The Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change focuses on supporting EU regions, cities and local authorities in their efforts to build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

The Mission contributes to putting the EU’s adaptation strategy in practice by helping the regions to

  • better understand the climate risks they are and will be confronted with in the future
  • develop their pathways to be better prepared and cope with the changing climate
  • test and deploy on the ground innovative solutions needed to build resilience

The Mission’s objective is to accompany by 2030 at least 150 European regions and communities towards climate resilience.

Why this Mission?

Climate change affects regions, sectors of the economy and members of society in many ways, and EU regions and cities have different climate vulnerabilities and levels of preparedness.

Adapting to climate change means taking action to prepare for and adjust to both the current effects of climate change and the predicted impacts of the future.

Despite all continuing efforts to reduce emissions and to achieve carbon neutrality, a warmer climate can't be avoided anymore and we need to be better prepared to cope with the inevitable effects of climate change, adapting our way of living. We must step up action both to cut emissions and to build our resilience.

The Mission will also help deliver the European Green Deal.

Who's it for?

EU countries, regions and cities have an essential role to play in implementing the Mission as they are key agents of change in deploying new technologies and experimenting innovative solutions that address regional and local needs. The Mission aims to get a wide range of regions and communities on board and assist them, alongside their national adaptation strategy, on their specific journey, whether they are just starting out or are already taking steps towards adaptation to climate risks.

Regional and local authorities that share the ambitions of the Mission have manifested their interest on EU Survey to sign the Mission Charter and join the Mission. They declared their willingness to cooperate, mobilise resources and develop activities in their respective region and communities to reach their adaptation goals.

Other entities, such as research institutions or businesses were invited to endorse the Charter and join the Mission’s community of organisations working together towards climate resilience as Friends of the Mission.

The total number of signatories to the Mission Charter now stands at 308 from 25 EU countries, with 17 more parties coming from countries associated or potentially associated with Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programme.

The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change portal was launched on 1 April 2023, providing relevant knowledge, data and resources to European regional and local authorities to prepare and plan for climate resilience.

Funding Opportunities

Find opportunities to support your ideas on adaptation to climate change on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in particular under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024.

The following calls will be closing on 20th September 2023:

  • HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-01: Testing and demonstrating transformative solutions increasing climate resilience of the agriculture and/or forestry sector
  • HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-02: Testing and demonstrating transformative solutions to protect critical infrastructure from climate change, mainstreaming nature based solutions
  • HORIZON-MISS-2023-CLIMA-01-03: Testing and demonstrating transformative solutions to build resilience towards health risks caused by the effects of climate change

In addition, two joint calls with other EU missions were launched:

  • Joint demonstration with the Cities Mission: Integrated planning for urban greening and re-naturing for urban regeneration, resilience and climate neutrality – deadline to apply is 27 April 2023
  • Joint demonstration with the Ocean Mission and the Soil Mission: Demonstrate at regional scale an integrated approach to increasing landscape water retention capacity – deadline to apply is 20 Sept 2023

Details of the calls can be fund in the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024.

What are the EU Missions?

The 5 EU Missions launched by the European Commission last September aim to deliver concrete solutions to big societal challenges by putting research and innovation into a new role, combined with new forms of governance and collaboration, as well as by engaging citizens.

From beating cancer to protecting our oceans, the Missions address issues that really matter for ordinary citizens. They are grounded on the idea that complex societal challenges require coordinated and interdisciplinary efforts across Europe. They have a clear goal and a well-defined timeframe to help deliver concrete results with broad impact.

 

Contact

EU-CLIMATE-ADAPTATION-MISSION@ec.europa.eu

Documents

Factsheet10 May 2023
List of signatories to the Charter of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change

Meet the 308 signatories of the Mission Charter: 291 EU regions and local authorities from 25 EU Member States; 17 regions and local authorities from Associated Countries to Horizon Europe, and 63 Friends of the Mission.

Publication cover
English
(2.84 MB - PDF)
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Report7 March 2023
Analysis of information provided by the signatories of the charter of the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change

All information in this document is based on responses to the EU Survey “Mission Adaptation to Climate Change: challenges and opportunities for the regions and communities”.

Publication cover
English
(4.88 MB - PDF)
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Report7 June 2022
First forum of the mission on adaptation to climate change

The first Forum of the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change took place on 7 June 2022. It brought together regional and local authorities, members of the European Committee of Regions, research organisations and non-governmental organisations to take stock, identify issues, provide direction, and define the path ahead for the Mission.

Publication cover
English
(327.52 KB - HTML)
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15 JUNE 2022
Mission Charter – facsimile
English
(183.6 KB - PDF)
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3 JUNE 2022
Frequently Asked Questions on the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
English
(1.02 MB - PDF)
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21 OCTOBER 2021
Foresight report for Mission Area Adaptation to Climate Change, including Societal Transformation
English
(278.76 KB - HTML)
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27 SEPTEMBER 2021
EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change
English
(335.09 KB - HTML)
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29 SEPTEMBER 2021
EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change Implementation Plan
English
(1.83 MB - PDF)
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29 SEPTEMBER 2021
Communication from the Commission on European Missions
English
(669.2 KB - PDF)
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7 SEPTEMBER 2020
Mission area summary - Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
English
(499.64 KB - PDF)
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25 JUNE 2020
Interim report: Accelerating the transition to a climate prepared and resilient Europe
English
(277.55 KB - HTML)
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