European cities are struggling to keep pace with the intensifying climate threats, a new Eurocities Pulse survey has found. The survey, which analyzed 54 cities across 17 European countries, including Portugal, Italy, and Germany, revealed that while cities are taking steps to adapt to climate change, they are facing significant challenges in terms of funding, staffing, and coordination, highlighting the need for enhanced climate resilience.
More than 75% of Europeans live in urban centers, making them particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts, which are expected to worsen in the coming years, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). As Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, urgent action is needed to protect its cities and citizens.
Climate Resilience Efforts in European Cities
The Eurocities survey found that 80% of the cities surveyed have developed or are developing an emergency response plan related to climate change. Meanwhile, 78% of cities have or are developing an early warning system to notify residents of climate threats. Additionally, 81% of cities have, or are developing, building regulations for new developments focused on resilience.
However, despite these efforts, many cities still face significant challenges in terms of climate resilience. For instance, 13% of cities do not restrict developments in flood-prone areas, which can exacerbate the impacts of climate-related disasters. Furthermore, 19% of cities don’t have dedicated staff for climate adaptation, and 61% have up to 10 staff members dedicated to this task.
Financing Climate Resilience
The survey also highlighted the need for stronger and long-term national and EU support to enhance climate resilience in European cities. Municipal revenue (87%) and EU funding (83%) are the most accessed sources of traditional financing for adaptation in cities. However, lack of funding, limited staff, and poor coordination between agencies are the main challenges to improving emergency planning.
Haris Doukas, Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Climate Resilience and Mayor of Athens, emphasized the need for enhanced support, stating that “Europe’s cities are working to protect people and infrastructure, but they cannot do it alone.” He called for stronger and long-term national and EU support, especially funding and capacity building, to ensure that all city operations, assets, and spaces are resilient to realistic climate scenarios.
Looking Ahead
As climate threats continue to intensify, European cities will need to continue to adapt and innovate to protect their citizens and infrastructure. With climate action remaining a top priority for mayors, as evidenced by the Eurocities Pulse Mayors survey, it is clear that cities are committed to addressing this challenge. To support their efforts, policymakers and stakeholders must work together to provide the necessary funding, staffing, and coordination to enhance climate resilience, ensuring that European cities are better equipped to withstand the impacts of climate change, and promoting sustainable urban development.
For more information on the impacts of climate change in Europe, visit the European Climate Adaptation Platform, which provides valuable resources and insights on climate adaptation and resilience.
