The European Commission adopted, on Wednesday 26 July, a series of guidelines designed to help Member States improve their national strategies and plans for adapting to climate change.
Faced with the devastating consequences of heat waves, deadly forest fires and rising sea levels, these guidelines aim to strengthen coordination and integration between different government departments and with sub-national authorities.
These guidelines encourage national administrations to make climate adaptation an top political priority. They promote a whole-government approach by coordinating and integrating adaptation policies at all levels, from central government to local authorities.
Key recommended features include the adoption of binding legal frameworks, regular climate risk assessments and the involvement of all stakeholders.
The new guidelines also emphasise the adoption of nature-based solutions, equity in the distribution of the benefits of adaptation and the avoidance of maladaptation.
These measures are based on the 2021 ‘Climate Law’ (see EUROPE 12703/1) and the ‘EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change’, and contribute to a systemic and improved approach to adaptation to climate change.
To see the guidelines: https://aeur.eu/f/88w (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)