Climate Change Adaptation

Objective

Projects under this strand should help to achieve the long-term vision of the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change that, in 2050, the EU will be a climate-resilient society which is fully adapted to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. Projects should help to reinforce adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience, and reduce vulnerability, in line with the Paris Agreement and the European Climate Law.

Areas of intervention

• Support to the implementation of climate adaptation policies and the revision of national, regional or local climate adaptation strategies and plans
• Implementing state-of-the-art tools for climate risk assessments or selection of cost-effective adaptation measures for dealing with climate threats and solutions for adaptation
• Development and implementation of nature-based solutions for different types of areas (rural, urban and coastal)
• Climate-proofing and resilience of infrastructure and buildings
• Adaptation solutions for agriculture and forestry
• Water management
• Climate adaptation and health
• Preparedness for compound risks and cascading risks
• Financial instruments, innovative solutions and public-private collaboration on insurance and loss data

What this means for cities and regions

One of the most direct EU funding routes for cities and regions to support their own adaptation work — revising local adaptation strategies, running climate risk assessments, piloting nature-based solutions for heat and flooding, climate-proofing buildings and infrastructure, or strengthening water management. Public bodies can apply alone or with partners; per-project budgets are indicatively €1–5 million covering up to 60% of eligible costs, with the remaining 40% co-financed by the applicant or other sources. The 2026 call funds approximately 12 projects.