2024-12-13
BRUSSELS - In this investigation, a diverse group of journalists analysed climate risk reports, academic literature and EU strategies for climate adaption to grasp the current state of adaptation in Europe. They also looked at local climate adaptation in Oradea, Romania, Loulé, Portugal and Rostock, Germany to see what local circumstances hinder or encourage good climate adaptation practice.
The European Commission published its first Green Paper on “Adapting to climate change in Europe – options for EU action” in 2007, more than 15 years ago. But it was only after the devastating floods in Valencia and heavy rainfall in many other European regions in the autumn of 2024 that adaptation to climate change suddenly rose to the top of the public agenda in Europe. This begs the question: how well is Europe prepared?
The answer is, as is often the case: It depends. There are huge differences in how European cities are preparing for the impacts of climate change. Regional disparities can not only be explained by different levels of affectedness by climate change. Rather, the reflect the amount of knowledge available in a city, the financial resources available to the city, and the commitment of the administration to adapting the city to climate risks.
Photo: ©Heiko Küverling
Mentor
Supported
€13,950 allocated on 23/07/2024ID
CBL/2024/PLUPRO/106Grant
PUBLICATIONS
- Investigação: As cidades europeias estão preparadas para a crise climática?, Greenefact, 13/12/2024
- Die Klimakrise ist da – viele Städte sind unvorbereitet, Klimareporter, 14/12/2024
- Avertismente ignorate: De ce Oradea e un exemplu negativ la adaptarea în fața schimbărilor climatice, PressOne, 18/02/2025
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Klimaanpassung: Warum Fortschritt kein Zufall ist, Klimareporter, 28/02/2025
COUNTRIES
- Germany
- Romania
- Portugal
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