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.

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.

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 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’s online Portal is a hub for European regional and local authorities preparing and planning their adaptation pathways to climate resilience. The Portal provides:

• Background information on the Mission
• Knowledge, data and tools to support regions and local authorities in their adaptation journey.
• EU Mission Solutions that showcase best practices and examples of effective climate adaptation action.
• News and events relevant to the Mission and climate adaptation and resilience.
• A gateway to the Mission’s EU Adaptation Community of Practice.

Visit the Mission portal

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 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

For questions or enquiries please contact us at:

EU-CLIMATE-ADAPTATION-MISSIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EU-CLIMATE-ADAPTATION-MISSION[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Mission Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest activities from the Mission Adaptation, the Mission projects and the most recent developments in climate adaption and the transition to a climate-resilient society by subscribing to the monthly Mission Newsletter.

Past editions of the newsletter

General publications22 June 2023

Manual for mobilising and engaging stakeholders and citizens in climate change adaptation

The Citizen Engagement Manual will guide you on how to engage stakeholders and citizens throughout the six main steps of the climate change adaptation planning process.

English

(2.17 MB - PDF)

Download

Factsheet7 December 2023

List of signatories to the Charter of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change

Meet the 311 signatories of the Mission Charter: 294 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.

English

(2.87 MB - PDF)

Download

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”.

English

(4.88 MB - PDF)

Download

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.

English

(327.52 KB - HTML)

Download

Full list of publications