Innovative adaptation solutions for a competitive and climate‑resilient Europe
Europe is entering a new climate reality, and the summer of 2026 has offered a stark preview. Record-breaking heatwaves, widespread drought and intense wildfires have disrupted water supplies, agriculture, energy and other economic activities. These extremes are not isolated hazards: they are reshaping Europe’s environment, economy and society. Climate resilience is thus becoming an essential strategy for public safety and economic security. Adaptation investments can save lives, reduce economic losses, safeguard business continuity, protect jobs and minimise disruptions to increasingly interconnected supply chains. Climate resilience is therefore no longer solely an environmental imperative. It is increasingly a decisive factor for Europe’s prosperity, security, competitiveness and social stability. The 2021 EU adaptation strategy(opens in new window) highlights the need to accelerate smart adaptation across all sectors of the economy. This ambition is reinforced through the EU integrated framework for climate resilience(opens in new window), fostering Europe’s capacity to anticipate, manage and reduce climate risks in a proactive and systemic way. The transition to a climate-resilient economy also presents significant opportunities for innovation and competitiveness. Growing demand for climate services, early-warning systems, resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions and risk management tools is creating new markets for European knowledge, technologies and expertise. Investment in adaptation innovation can strengthen Europe’s competitive position while helping communities and businesses better cope with climate risks. Europe’s flagship Horizon research and innovation programme is delivering a new generation of market-ready solutions to address this demand. The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change(opens in new window) accelerates the uptake of solutions, in close cooperation with local and regional actors. Knowledge, tools, governance approaches and practical experience generated through the Mission contribute to the EU integrated framework for climate resilience, helping to bridge policy with implementation. Further support is provided through the EU startup and scaleup strategy(opens in new window), which aims to make the EU the preferred place for launching and growing technology-driven innovative companies. Together with the EU integrated framework for climate resilience, these initiatives will foster a vibrant European ecosystem for climate resilience innovation and deployment. The 14 Horizon-funded projects featured in this Pack, five of which were funded under the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change(opens in new window) (IMPETUS, MountResilience, RESIST, RISKADAPT, TransformAr), demonstrate a portfolio of climate resilience solutions ready to be replicated, scaled and deployed. From services and advanced decision-support tools to enabling frameworks such as standards and financing conditions, they show how innovation in adaptation can contribute to protecting people and prosperity, strengthen Europe’s economic security and position the continent as a front runner in a growing global market for climate resilience solutions.
Turning knowledge into action
Accurate, trusted climate information is the foundation of effective adaptation. Climateurope2 advances this by developing European standards for high-quality climate services, while CoCliCo translates sea level rise projections into intuitive coastal risk tools, supporting long‑term planning and investment decisions for Europe’s most exposed regions.
Empowering emergency response
RISKADAPT equips authorities with models to identify infrastructure vulnerabilities to extreme events and prioritise investments. GOBEYOND delivers next‑generation warning systems that communicate both the hazards and where their impact will be felt most. SILVANUS provides a digital forest fire management platform to help prevent, detect and suppress escalating wildfires.
Scaling community-led solutions
Climate impacts are local, and so are the solutions. IMPETUS and MountResilience supported tailored solutions and built tools to share the insights gained, empowering other local authorities to adopt similar actions. RESIST pairs vulnerable regions to validate and scale solutions collaboratively.
Strengthening drought resistance
As temperatures rise, so do issues of water management. RECREATE integrates alternative water sources into hydrological planning, while BOOST IN removes barriers to water reuse. Upsurge demonstrates how nature based solutions help keep cities cool, and new sunflower varieties developed by the HelEx project offer increased drought- and heat-tolerant crops.
Accelerating transformative change
Some challenges require deeper shifts. NATURANCE explores how insurance can move from compensating losses to preventing them, and TransformAr demonstrates ways to foster transformative adaptation pathways and to encourage investment in nature-based solutions. Photo: Aerial View of Oosterscheldekering Storm Surge Barrier, Netherlands
