Climate change is happening and is a reality that can no longer be ignored. While mitigation remains crucial to reduce the pace and the scale of the impact, reducing greenhouse gas emissions will not stop climate change. The number of extreme events is likely to continue increasing for decades to come. Thus adaptation is essential to avoid catastrophic losses, protect human lives and foster prosperity in Europe and other parts of the world.

To mark the launch of the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) two new reports on ‘Urban adaptation in Europe’ and ‘Monitoring and evaluating of national adaptation policies’, and in preparation for the European Commission’s new EU Adaptation Strategy, this EPC online Policy Dialogue served as an opportunity to review the state of climate adaptation in the EU. EEA Executive Director, Hans Bruyninckx, presented the key findings of the reports, stating that although there have been some positive developments in Europe, there is a need for better monitoring and evaluation of the adaptation solutions, especially at the local level, and that more attention has to be paid to the way cities are planned and constructed. Panellists reflected on the overall progress made in increasing climate resilience at local and national levels, as well as the measures needed to increase resilience