Adaptation to climate change and risk prevention

European regions will be increasingly confronted with the various impacts of climate change. While 7 % of the Union’s population lives in flood-prone areas, around 9 % lives in areas where there are over 120 days a year without rain. The combined impacts of climate change will raise serious questions generally in relation to quality of life for the EU's citizens, but also pose more specific sectorial challenges in some EU regions, for instance in tourism and agriculture.

Cohesion Policy plays an important role in supporting risk prevention efforts to adapt to the present and future impacts of climate change. It supports adaptation measures by promoting ecosystem-based approaches, developing new infrastructures or retro-fitting existing infrastructures. Moreover, it contributes to developing disaster resilience at regional and local level, also for other types of risks. Through the investments to this objective, which amount to EUR 8 billion, Cohesion Policy can address various types of risks, whether or not related to climate change adaptation. The predominant focus is on flood prevention.

Investments from Cohesion Policy funds allow addressing specific risks through disaster resilience and disaster management systems. For instance, measures to address the 'knowledge gap' such as the necessary academic research, studies and reports, strategy development, ICT support or awareness and education measures can be co-funded. More information on funding opportunities for disaster risk management can be found here.

The funding opportunities of the 2014-2020 period will help Member States and regions to develop risk assessments and they will boost the EU's overall efforts for climate change adaptation.

Find out more about :

Funding opportunities for disaster risk management within EU cohesion policy