The European Commission approved the first EU Adaptation Strategy to climate change in April 2013 (COM (2013) 216). The Strategy aimed to encourage action by Member States, ensure better evidence and information-based policy-making and decision-making, and integrate climate change adaptation forecasts into all relevant policy sectors. In 2016, the European Commission evaluated the Strategy regarding its degree of implementation and effectiveness. The evaluation was completed at the end of 2018. 

Based on the evaluation findings, the European Commission proceeded to draw up a New EU Adaptation Strategy to climate change.  

The new strategy envisages “the EU to become a climate-resilient society, fully adapted to the unevitable impacts of climate change by 2050” and includes a series of actions to achieve four goals: 

1. Smarter Adaptation: 

Improving knowledge and managing uncertainty. 

• Expanding the boundaries of knowledge for adaptation (covering knowledge gaps, improving models). 

1. More systematic Adaptation: 

Supporting policy development at all levels and across all sectors. 

• Improving adaptation strategies and plans (issuing guidelines, developing a unified framework of monitoring indicators, enhancing interregional and cross-border cooperation, e.g., through Interreg programs). 

• Strengthening local and equitable resilience (e.g., setting up an adaptation support mechanism within the EU Covenant of Mayors framework, programs for acquiring new skills, protecting workers from climate change impacts). 

• Integrating climate resilience into national fiscal frameworks. 

• Promoting nature-based adaptation solutions (e.g., carbon sequestering agriculture, incentives & funding guidance). 

1. Faster Adaptation: 

Accelerating adaptation at all levels. 

• Accelerating the implementation of adaptation solutions. 

• Reducing climate-related risks (EU-wide climate risk assessment, improving preparedness and response, new climate-resilient standards). 

• Covering the gap related to climate protection (uninsured economic losses). 

• Ensuring the availability and sustainability of freshwater. 

1. Intensification of international action on climate change resilience: 

• Increasing support for climate change resilience and preparedness globally. 

• Raising international funding to develop climate change resilience. 

• Strengthening global participation and cooperation in adaptation. 

In 2023, the European Commission published the first progress Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy on adaptation to Climate Change, as well as the assessment of Member States’ adaptation (Staff Working Document on national progress with implementing adaptation). 

More information on the New EU Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change, including its text, can be found on the European Commission’s dedicated webpage: EU Adaptation Strategy. 

The European Climate Law (Regulation 2021/1119) was approved on 30-06-2021, establishing the framework for the gradual and irreversible reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and the enhancement of absorptions by sinks regulated by EU law, but at the same time it sets the framework for achieving progress towards the global adaptation goal defined in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. 

Regarding adaptation, the European Climate Law provides for: 

• the approval and regular review of the Union’s strategy for climate change adaptation by the European Commission, 

• the development of Union and national policies that contribute to the integration of climate change adaptation into all policy areas and that focus on the most vulnerable and affected populations and sectors, and identify gaps in this context, in consultation with civil society, 

• the establishment and implementation of national adaptation strategies and plans by the Member States, which take into account the EU Adaptation Strategy to climate change, the particular vulnerability of the sectors concerned and promote nature-based solutions and an ecosystem-based adaptation, 

• the issuance of guidelines by the European Commission, 

• the framework for evaluating EU progress and measures, and 

• the framework for evaluating the progress and measures of the EU Member States. 

The European Climate Law also establishes the European Scientific Advisory Committee on Climate Change as a point of reference for the EU regarding the provision of scientific knowledge on climate change issues. 

More information on the European Climate Law, including its text, can be found on the European Commission’s dedicated webpage: European Climate Law. 

The European Commission approved the European Green Deal in December 2019 (COM(2019) 640 final). The European Green Deal is a new growth strategy that aimes to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, competitive, and resource-efficient economy, where net greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated by 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. It also aims to protect, preserve, and enhance the EU’s natural capital, as well as to protect the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts. At the same time, this transition must be fair and inclusive. 

The European Green Deal includes a package of policies that aspire to bring about a profound transformation of policies for clean energy supply of the economy, for industry, production and consumption, large-scale infrastructure, transport, food and agriculture, construction, taxation, and social benefits, placing greater value on the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, the sustainable use of resources and the improvement of human health. 

The New EU Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change and the European Climate Law are part of the European Green Deal. Also, the European Green Deal includes various other policies and initiatives that present synergies with the New EU Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change, such as the “renovation wave” Strategy, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the “Farm to Fork” Strategy, the EU Forest Strategy and the European Climate Pact. 

More information on the European Green Deal and related policies and initiatives can be found on the European Commission’s dedicated webpage: European Green Deal. 

Adaptation to climate change is a horizontal policy and shows strong synergies and connections with the various sectoral policies. The European Commission’s effort to integrate the climate change adaptation dimension into its policies is continuous. The following EU policies, strategies, initiatives and legislation are indicated as examples in which provisions for adaptation to climate change have been incorporated: Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, Recovery Plan for Europe (Next Generation Europe), EU taxonomy for sustainable activities, Directive 2000/60 /EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, Directive 2014/52/EU amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the impacts of certain public and private projects on the environment, Common Agricultural Policy, EU standard EN:ISO 14091 “Adaptation to climate change — Guidelines on vulnerability, impacts and risk assessment”, Technical guidelines on strengthening the resilience of infrastructures to climate change during the period 2021-2027.