The European Commission has presented a new framework to strengthen Europe’s preparedness for climate risks, following estimated climate-related economic losses of approximately €200bn (£167bn) between 2022 and 2025.

The EU Framework for Climate Resilience aims to embed climate adaptation across policy areas and improve how governments, businesses and communities anticipate and manage threats including extreme heat, drought, wildfires and flooding.

The Commission said climate resilience was becoming a strategic priority for Europe’s competitiveness, security and economic stability. Losses over the three-year period equated to around €50bn (£42bn) annually, while adapting the continent's infrastructure and economy to future climate conditions is expected to require investment of approximately €70bn (£58.6bn) a year.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Europe is warming at double the global rate. To become truly climate resilient, we need to adjust and learn along the way. Today, we are presenting a European approach to climate risks – to anticipate, to prepare for and to manage. We are ensuring that climate resilience will be included in policies across the continent, supporting investment, innovation and long-term growth.”

Alongside the framework, the Commission has proposed a climate resilience law to establish a common reference trajectory for assessing future climate risks. The proposal would simplify national planning requirements through a single strategic plan for each member state, alongside more regular and comparable climate risk assessments.

The framework also introduces practical resources to help public authorities and businesses assess their exposure. These include a ‘European climate viewer’ providing an interactive map of projected climate hazards, alongside tools to identify relevant adaptation measures based on location, sector and specific risks.

The Commission estimates that investment in climate adaptation can generate returns exceeding ten times its cost through avoided losses and damage. It also forecasts that the global market for climate adaptation solutions could reach €3.5tn (£2.93tn) by 2050.

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