November 7, 2024

Climate change: scientists first discovered it over a century ago, and the world has been taking it seriously for decades now. In the EU, we’ve already cut our greenhouse gas emissions by well over a third since 1990, and even enshrined in law the objective of reducing emissions to net zero by 2050. Great, you might think, we can look forward to a bright green future. Well, it’s not quite so simple. Even as we ramp up our climate action, the fact remains that global warming and its risks will continue to rise for several decades, even if we could reach net zero tomorrow.

That reality is inescapable, and as part of its green transition, the EU is working for itself and with its partners in the world, to pre-empt future climate impacts and reduce the risks they pose as far as possible. It’s the only way to protect the lives and livelihoods exposed to ever more intense and frequent climate-related weather events.

This is becoming more and more problematic and it is affecting most vulnerable communities, the poor, the disadvantaged in EU and abroad.

One concrete contribution  to the green transition is the EU’s Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, which serves as a powerful tool to strengthen Europe’s ability to manage climate risks at local and regional levels. In  three years since inception , the Mission has always  underscored the urgent need to keep adaptation and resilience at the forefront of Europe’s priorities. It serves as a testing ground for innovative solutions and a pilot for future policies. Already it has brought together over 300 regions across Europe to support them in charting their own paths to a more secure and liveable future.

Europe is made by Local Authorities and Regions animated and populated by real communities of people, associations, civil society organisations active at home and in developing countries. LINK 2007, a network that brings together 15 of the most important and historical Italian organisations dedicated to international cooperation. Active in over 70 countries, bring with them more than 60 years of concrete experience in the field. LINK 2007 CSOs are at the service of people and communities, especially in the most fragile contexts, adopting best practices to build resilience and foster adaptation in development and emergency situations. Thanks to their commitment and professionalism, LINK 2007 members are able to generate a concrete and lasting impact in the countries where they operate.

I come from the experience of searching solution for sustainable finance for Mitigation. I have personally worked out solutions based on blended finance for development and for clima. The global village and the EU have been relatively successful in conceiving Carbon Credits with the right incentives, the right bold policy options, the push and pull of finance and policies.

We are now called upon to develop  similar global trading systems for resilience building. Conceptually speaking this is possible. In practical terms it needs to work with BIG DATA and AI building resilience finance systems able to hrness the advantages of preventive investments over emergency repairs. The development of a new European Climate Adaptation Plan, recently introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, presents an exciting opportunity to build on the success of the Mission. This new plan is set to put the Mission at the centre of Europe’s efforts to prepare for climate impacts, securing its role as a driving force for adaptation strategies across the continent. As the EU refines its broader climate adaptation policies with the help and contributions of all stakeholders (governments, local authorities, the private sector and the civil society) , the Mission will continue to ensure that adaptation remains both a priority and a reality. Aligning policy with action is key to making sure that strategies are implemented effectively in all EU countries, cities, regions local authorities and communities.

by Roberto Ridolfi, President LINK 2007 and Member of the Mission Board of EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change