Promoting climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches

The EU faces multiple risks including floods and extreme weather events that very often go beyond national borders and are aggravated by climate change. Natural and man-made disasters affect stability and growth, lead to injury and loss of life, and impact environment and local, social conditions.

The combined impacts of climate change pose specific sectoral challenges in EU regions.

Cohesion Policy plays an important role in targeting investments to promote a transition to a more resilient environment. This includes the prevention of the most adverse consequences of disasters and regions’ preparedness for when disasters strike. Moreover, Cohesion Policy improves cooperation mechanisms among regions facing the same risks, in a cross-border context, which provides for more effective possibilities. It supports measures to strengthen efforts on climate-proofing, resilience building, prevention and preparedness.

The funding opportunities of the 2021-2027 period will help Member States and regions to develop risk assessments and they will boost the EU's overall efforts for climate change adaptation.