EU support for research and innovation on climate action
Climate change is one of the most challenging problems facing society.
EU and international research have significantly furthered our understanding of the causes of climate change. Today’s pressing challenge is to explore and forecast the impacts of climate change and provide effective responses to it.
To limit warming to 1.5°C, we need to act now and use every tool and solution at our disposal. Research and innovation will play a crucial role in our efforts to tackle climate change and the EU will be a leading force.
Current research and innovation activities focus on
- climate science
- polar and ocean research
- climate resilience and adaptation to climate change
- knowledge for climate neutrality
- forest fires and extreme weather events
- nature-based solutions
- education on climate change
- citizen engagement and behaviour change
In the EU's research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe (2021-2027), a proposed Mission area on adaptation to climate change including societal transformation will help maximise the impact of the EU’s support to research and innovation and demonstrate its relevance for society and citizens.
Research and innovation driving the climate pact (Factsheet)
Funding opportunities
Horizon 2020
On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to climate-related calls
Horizon 2020 - access to risk finance
Gain easier access to debt and equity financing such as the Natural Capital Financing Facility, InnovFin and European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
LIFE+ Climate Action
Co-financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation research, supporting the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy
Innovation Fund
Funding for demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies
European Structural and Investment Funds
Climate research related calls may be found in this programme, particularly in the European regional development fund.
COST actions
COST (European cooperation in science and technology) funds bottom-up, open research and innovation networks
Collaboration and jobs
JPI Climate
Joint Programming initiative aligning national programmes by jointly coordinating their climate research and funding new transnational research activities.
Belmont Forum
Partnership of funding organisations, international science councils, and regional consortia advancing transdisciplinary science and environmental change research
Science Technology and Innovation Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals
Multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals in which the Commission actively participates
Oppla community and marketplace
Networking opportunities and marketplace to promote the output of your project or network
Find project partners
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Jobs (EURAXESS)
Researcher jobs in the field of nature-based solutions
Projects and results
Research project database
The Commission's primary portal for the results of EU-funded climate research projects
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded circular economy research projects
Results packs on climate
Thematic collections of innovative EU-funded climate research results (CORDIS)
Horizon Magazine
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU
Horizon Results Platform
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships
Horizon 2020 dashboard
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Scientific publications, tools and databases
EU publications portal
Online library of EU climate research publications
Scientific publications
Scientific climate research publications published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Climate-ADAPT
Platform for sharing data and information to inform decision making on climate adaptation
OpenAIRE
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE
EU open data portal
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes