Blog: Striving for climate resilience in Europe

By Anka Stankovic, Climate Centre, Belgrade

For the past 18 months, the Pathways2Resilience (P2R) initiative – the flagship European project for climate adaptation – has been working hard to develop a methodology to guide local regions in the development of transformational strategies.

With 40 regions, representing more than 50 million people, now selected for the EU-funded programme, an official inception meeting took place earlier this month in The Hague (photo) with representatives from all present.

Over the course of a day and a half of rich discussion, we saw the passion of local government representatives to build the resilience of their regions and communities. Amidst the complexity of climate adaptation, there was a shared sense of purpose and determination in the room.

The European continent is warming twice as fast as the global average, and European governments are seeking ways to prepare for sudden extreme weather and adapt to slow-onset events and the uncertainty the climate crisis brings. Sixteen of the 40 selected regions, for example, have reported being at high risk of from heatwaves, wildfires, droughts and, most immediately, floods.   

In response to these pressing needs, the Climate Centre is expanding its efforts in Europe to help National Societies work with vulnerable communities to build resilience.

Incremental adaptation efforts are increasingly seen as insufficient. What Europe needs, and what P2R is aiming for, is systemic change; shifts that embed climate resilience at every level, from local communities to national policy.

 ‘Collaboration, ingenuity, shared learning’

P2R comprises a consortium of 14 very varied organizations. The Climate Centre brings its own experience in strengthening local capacities and enhancing community engagement in planning and policy.

Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross Red Crescent emphasize the importance of placing the most vulnerable at the centre of adaptation efforts. By fostering local stakeholder involvement and ensuring that marginalized voices are heard, we can help create inclusive, just and innovative adaptation.

When diverse perspectives and experiences are woven into decision-making processes, the resulting strategies are not only innovative but deeply rooted in the real-world needs of the people most affected by climate change.

Says P2R coordinator Laura Pando Martínez: “Building a resilient future for all requires not only protecting the most vulnerable, but also making sure they partake in the design of solutions as well as the arising opportunities.

“We can achieve thriving communities while adapting to a changing climate through the power of collaboration, ingenuity and shared learning.” 

By the end of Pathways2Resilience in 2027, it’s hoped 100 European regions and cities will have developed robust climate adaptation plans with actionable, investment-ready strategies.

The Climate Centre will use the P2R experience to disseminate good practice within its Red Cross Red Crescent network, in particular with European National Societies who have their own Regional Road Map to Climate Action 2025.  

We plan to experiment, learn and reflect with actors from the regions, while P2R triggers a wave of innovation across Europe, inspiring others to follow suit.

Forty European regions, representing more than 50 million people, selected for the EU-funded programme, took part in the official inception meeting took place earlier this month in The Hague (pictured). (Photo: P2R via social media)