Climate Chance Europe 2026 Summit

Thematic Plenary: Local authorities at the heart of adaptation ?

Back to schedule
Wednesday 03 June
14:00 15:30
Climate Chance Europe 2026 Summit
Partners
Programme
Registration & useful information
Press
Pitch Corner

Description

While the “resilience-by-design” principle establishes the horizontal integration of adaptation across all public policies, the evaluation of Member States’ climate plan reporting suggests that stronger vertical integration of adaptation policy frameworks would help stimulate adaptation action at local and regional levels (Leitner et al., 2024). The revision of the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, as well as the forthcoming proposal for an integrated European framework for climate resilience, expected by the end of 2026, offer an opportunity to rethink the multi-level governance framework for adaptation in order to strengthen the integration of local authorities.

However, the redesign of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 is moving towards a renationalisation of budget programming and allocation (European Commission, 2025). Fourteen existing funds are being merged into a single “mega-fund”, with resources allocated through national and regional partnership plans (NRPPs) developed by Member States. The modalities for accessing and allocating resources under the European Competitiveness Fund remain under negotiation. Representatives of local authorities have already expressed concerns that the territorial dimension of the NRPPs remains optional and may not provide “sufficient guarantees that Member States will effectively implement a genuine territorial policy approach” (Bourgeois & Roumet, 2025).

Speakers

  • Pascal BERTEAUD, Director-General of CEREMA

  • Ronan DANTEC, President of Climate Chance, CEMR Climate Spokesperson, Senator for Loire-Atlantique
  • Connie HEDEGAARD, Chair of the Board of Directors of the EU Mission on Climate Change Adaptation
  • Josko KLISOVIC, President of the Zagreb City Assembly (Croatia), Member of the European Committee of the Regions
  • Fred SAMOT, First Deputy Mayor of Le Lamentin in Martinique and Director of the European Centre for Flood Risk Prevention (CEPRI)

Moderator: Axelle GRIFFON, Councillor – Environment and Mobility, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)