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 can join?

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. 

The Mission is also engaging with citizens by funding projects facilitating their involvement.

How to join?

Regional and local authorities that share the ambitions of the Mission can manifest their interest on EU Survey to sign the Mission Charter and join the Mission by 25 November 12:00 PM CET at the latest. Signatories declare 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 are also 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 215 from 24 EU countries, with 13 more parties coming from countries associated or potentially associated with Horizon Europe, the EU's research and innovation programme.

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.

• mission-oriented policy for Horizon Europe
• Horizon Europe
• co-design session video on climate adaptation at Research and Innovation Days

Contact

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