What are the challenges of adaptation for European overseas territories?

Description

Europe’s overseas territories, although representing only 1% of the EU’s territory, are home to 90% of its biodiversity and are on the front line of climate change impacts: rising sea levels, cyclones, and water stress. These territories stand as examples of resilience and pioneers of innovative solutions, including integrated ecosystem management, renewable energy in island environments, symbiotic economies, mangrove restoration, and adaptive planning.

The Regilience policy brief (August 2025) confirms this: their integrated approaches (energy-water-agriculture) can be replicated across the Union. So how can Europe build on these experiences?

The workshop is structured around three interconnected questions. What forms of environmental resilience are currently emerging in Europe’s overseas territories? Which European programmes make it possible to finance and scale them? And how do these territories serve as laboratories for solutions for the entire Union? Drawing on feedback and practical experiences, the workshop aims to explore what overseas territories contribute to European adaptation policy at a time when the EU adaptation strategy and planning tools are evolving.

Speakers

• Sherly ALCIN, Regional Councillor for French Guiana
• Manuel ARA GOUVEIA, Regional Director for the Environment and the Sea for the Autonomous Region of Madeira
• Thani MOHAMED SOILIHI, Former Minister of State for International Partnerships and La Francophonie. Senator for Mayotte
• Peggy ROUDAUT, Head of the European Office of the South Pacific Community
• Fred SAMOT, First Deputy Mayor of Lamentin in Martinique and Director of CEPRI

Moderation: Carla DONCESCU, Program Officer – Europe, International Affairs, and Transitions, National Federation of Urban Planning Agencies (FANU)