Local governments and communities are critical to fostering climate change adaptation and resilience, and rely on support from other levels to make sure this work is swift and effective. Fortunately, the European Commission has unequivocally said that it is prepared to lend its support. One such support mechanism is the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, which is currently collecting expressions of interest from European regions and communities ready to join.

ICLEI Europe is proud to invite all our local authorities, regions and communities to complete this EU survey in order to express their interest in joining this EU Mission. Ultimately, the Mission aims to support 150 regions and communities to accelerate their transformations towards climate resilience, helping them to understand, prepare for, and manage climate-induced risks.

In brief, “the survey aims to assess the interest from regions and communities in joining the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change by signing up to the Mission Charter”. Charter signatories commit to: fostering climate resilience by 2030; involving citizens in local decision-making processes; and taking on specific climate adaptation action, such as undertaking climate risk assessments, designing a clear local path to climate resilience by 2030, and mobilising resources to reach adaptation goals.

By signing the Charter and joining the Mission, local authorities, regions or communities gain access to a community of practice and a wide variety of benefits, including:

• Access to knowledge and methods for climate risk assessment;
• Access to best practice examples and information on the latest research;
• Support linking these examples and research with local adaptation plans;
• Access to tools, examples and best practices for engaging with citizens;
• Advice on possible public and private funding sources.

Completing the above-mentioned survey is the first step towards accessing these benefits, and getting your community on track to be climate resilient. Participation in the survey is open and non-competitive. All applications received will be evaluated.

ICLEI’s local authorities, regions and communities are encouraged to seize this opportunity, and to answer the EU’s direct call for their insights. As Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, has said: “Adaptation to climate change requires local action, and Europe’s regions, cities, and municipalities are already leading the way to a climate-resilient future. To achieve real and lasting change on the way to climate neutrality, I encourage all these communities to join the EU Mission on Adaptation and share their insights on how Europe can best prepare for the consequences of the climate crisis already here.”

For more information on application to the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, click here. To fill in the survey and express your interest in joining the Mission, click here.