The European Commission has today launched a portal to drive forward the EU’s Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The Portal provides information about the Mission and latest developments regarding its delivery, including by regional and local authorities that are participating as Charter Signatories and by research projects.
The Mission Portal offers knowledge and tools for use by regional and local authorities. To help regional authorities develop, implement and monitor their climate change adaptation plans, the Portal also offers knowledge, data and tools tailored for use at regional scale. Through the Regional Adaptation Support Tool (RAST) that will soon be available, authorities will be able to get practical information for each step of developing their climate change adaptation plans.
From deadly heatwaves and devastating droughts to wildfires and coastlines eroded by rising sea levels, climate change is already taking its toll in Europe. Its impact affects not only the environment and economy, but also the health of Europeans. The frequency and severity of climate and weather extremes is increasing, so we need to speed up solutions that build climate resilience.
In that context, the Adaptation Dashboard provides easy access to relevant data that can help to inform understanding of the specific climate vulnerabilities and risks that regional and local authorities need to address.
In addition, the Portal links to an online area for the EU Mission Adaptation Community of Practice, which is accessible to the Charter Signatories, Friends of the Mission and national authorities competent for climate adaptation. There, regional and local authorities can receive technical assistance with:
- progressing and funding their climate adaptation planning processes;
- identifying, and funding demonstration projects;
- mobilising and engaging citizens and stakeholders in climate adaptation.
The online EU Mission Adaptation Community of Practice will also be made accessible to the Mission projects.
The Mission Portal is hosted by the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT), and was developed by the European Commission, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Mission Implementation Platform (MIP4Adapt) team.
The Mission on Adaptation aims to support regions and communities in accelerating their transformation to climate resilience by 2030. It will help these regions and local authorities to better understand, prepare for and manage climate risks, as well as to develop innovative solutions to build resilience.
Members of the Commission said:
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “A new knowledge hub on climate adaptation is born! This will be a very valuable resource for regions and local authorities, as they work to prepare for worsening impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises. Thanks to the excellent cooperation between the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, it will offer a wealth of information and data to help find the best solutions”.
Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Mariya Gabriel, said: “When signing the Mission Charter, regions and local authorities showed their commitment to join our adaptation journey. They now have a rich tool at their disposal to liaise with each other, learn, teach and share their experience on their pathway to climate resilience. Let us exploit it, all together.”
Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, Hans Bruyninckx, said: “The Mission is an excellent driver to increase societal preparedness to climate change. Knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration are key in the journey towards preparedness of regional and local authorities. The European Environment Agency is fully committed to continue to work together with all the partners on the development of the Mission Portal to support them in this endeavour.”
Background
On 7 March 2023, the European Commission announced that 301 authorities had signed the Mission Charter, confirming their wish to cooperate, mobilise resources and develop activities to reach their climate adaptation goals.
The Mission funds projects with €370 million of Horizon Europe funding for the period 2021-23. The research and innovation projects will help understand how to better rebuild areas impacted by extreme weather events and create floodplains, as well as exploring climate-resilient farming methods and prototype insurance approaches or designing a ‘perfectly adapted’ city ready to withstand floods or heatwaves.
The Mission builds joint initiatives with other EU Missions and programmes, and provides opportunities for networking, exchange of best practices between regions and local authorities, and support to engage citizens.
This will allow for the broadest uptake of adaptation measures in Europe and lead the way towards a climate-resilient future.
On 14 March 2022, the Commission invited EU regions and local authorities to join the Mission. Following today’s announcement, the new signatories will benefit from the Mission Implementation Platform. Together, the signatories can develop pathways towards climate resilience using the climate data and methodologies on the platform as well as tailor-made guidance on effective adaptation measures.
The Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change started in September 2021 with the adoption of a Communication on EU Missions, followed by the approval of all five Missions’ implementation plans. The four other EU Missions cover global challenges in the areas of climate-neutral and smart cities, restoring our ocean and waters, healthy soils and cancer. A dedicated Work Programme for Horizon Europe Missions was published on 15 December 2021. The Missions support Commission priorities, such as the European Green Deal, Europe fit for the Digital Age, Beating Cancer and the New European Bauhaus.
For More Information
EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change Portal
Factsheet on Signatories to the Mission Adaption Charter
