Photo by Jonathan Ford on Unsplash
What we’re facing
Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world and is already struggling with the accelerating impacts of climate change. According to Copernicus, the European Union’s climate observatory, 2024 was the hottest year on record, with extreme heat persisting into early 2025. This record-breaking heat has intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events across the continent, underlining the urgent need for action.
The Rising Costs of Inaction
The toll of climate change on Europe is mounting. Between 1980 and 2022, weather- and climate-related extremes cost the continent an estimated EUR 650 billion, with EUR 52.3 billion lost in 2022 alone, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that, without rapid action, climate risks in Europe will escalate—disrupting food and water supplies, threatening energy security, undermining financial stability, and endangering human health and wellbeing.
The human and environmental stakes are equally alarming. The EEA predicts that hundreds of thousands of people could die from future heatwaves, while annual economic losses from coastal flooding alone may exceed EUR 1 trillion. Climate change is also eroding Europe’s biodiversity, damaging ecosystems on land and in freshwater and marine environments.
The Adaptation Gap
Despite progress, Europe remains largely unprepared for the scale and speed of climate impacts. The recent European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) underscores that adaptation measures are being implemented too slowly and unevenly. While risks grow rapidly, policy responses lag behind. Many of these risks are “co-owned” by the EU and Member States, requiring coordinated and urgent action at all levels of governance.
Closing this adaptation gap will mean moving beyond short-term strategies to ensure timely, well-resourced, and transformative action. Without this shift, Europe risks systemic failures across multiple sectors, escalating economic losses, and profound impacts on social cohesion.
Why Local Leadership Matters
One of the clearest lessons from decades of adaptation experience worldwide is that local knowledge and leadership are essential. Decisions made far from the communities most affected often overlook critical insights, resulting in maladaptive solutions that waste money, time, and resources. Evidence shows that adaptation designed and implemented with local people is more effective, equitable, and sustainable.
The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change emphasizes the importance of scaling up national, regional, and local adaptation strategies, identifying locally led adaptation (LLA) as a cross-cutting priority. This approach recognizes that while not all actions must be local, without local involvement, adaptation will be less effective and more likely to fail.
Learning from Global Experience
Europe can also learn from regions of the world that have been on the climate frontline for decades. The EU Strategy on Adaptation highlights the value of engaging in structured dialogues with international partners, many of whom bring rich experience in community-led and nature-based adaptation. These global insights can help Europe close knowledge gaps and accelerate innovation.
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) further recognizes the pivotal role of local and regional governments. Its recent Joint Action Plan with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) aims to strengthen international cooperation among subnational governments, addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
Creating Space for Dialogue
In this context, bringing valuable local experiences and insights from adaptation pioneers to European stakeholders is vital. Locally led solutions can inform and inspire more ambitious action, while highlighting the challenges, barriers, and opportunities facing local and regional authorities in their pursuit of climate resilience.
To advance this conversation, IIED Europe, in collaboration with WWF-NL, will be organising an event in Brussels on 15 October. The event will showcase locally led adaptation solutions and foster dialogue between frontline communities and European decision-makers. More information will follow soon on our LinkedIn page.
