Regional and local adaptation to climate change : gaps, challenges and opportunities

Climate change adaptation has been gathering momentum. At COP26 in 2021, the parties to the UNFCCC agreed to develop a work programme to deliver on the global goal on adaptation; at COP28, in December 2023, they adopted the framework for achieving that goal. Adaptation efforts should be led locally, by those most at risk, those who know the territory. The EU has been introducing tools, initiatives and strategies to enhance all aspects of climate change adaptation. While there are still barriers to the proper up-take of practical adaptation actions at the local level, in many cases solutions for overcoming them are already available.