Cities are already playing a significant role in cutting emissions through the hugely successful covenant of mayors initiative. Now, a new movement is taking root across the EU, which addresses the equally important task of climate-proofing our cities. This month, mayors from all over Europe will come to Brussels to pledge their support for the new EU initiative on adaptation.
Recent extreme weather events have shown that adapting to the unfolding impacts of climate change in Europe is just as important as ongoing efforts to slow it down. As major centres of population and critical infrastructure, Europe's cities are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events.
The recent devastating floods in central and south east Europe demonstrate the dramatic economic and social consequences extreme weather can have on our cities and citizens. Effective action needs to be tailored to specific circumstances, which will vary from region to region.
"Effective action needs to be tailored to specific circumstances, which will vary from region to region"
The EU is already preparing. Last year, the European commission adopted a European strategy on adaptation, with the aim of promoting action by all member states. So far, 17 member states have national adaptation strategies or plans. In addition to this, the European commission has launched a new initiative for cities – mayors adapt – in recognition of the unique role local authorities play in tackling climate change.
Mayors adapt was launched within the framework of the covenant of mayors, a successful European movement that has seen almost 6000 towns and cities voluntarily commit to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.
The new initiative is the first milestone in making the EU better prepared for the adverse impacts that climate change will bring to European cities. It was launched just weeks before the intergovernmental panel on climate change's report on the impacts of climate change. This confirmed that many climate change risks are concentrated in urban areas. The report warns that heat stress, extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, air pollution, drought, and water scarcity pose risks in urban areas for people, assets, economies and ecosystems.
Adapting to these risks means taking action to strengthen and adapt buildings, protect public transport and utilities, cool down cities through natural means and move people out of vulnerable areas. It also means thinking about future urban development and building smarter, cleaner and healthier cities which emit fewer emissions and use less energy.
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The initiative has received a groundswell of support since it was launched in March. The aim is to have a well-running network of at least 50 cities by the end of 2014. On 16 October, mayors from across Europe will celebrate their commitment to action when EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard hosts the first official signing ceremony in Brussels.
Besides endorsing the overall aims of the EU's strategy on adaptation to climate change, cities signing up to the initiative agree to draw up local adaptation strategies, or include climate action within existing plans. They must submit their strategies within two years and report on progress every two years.
"Adaptation to climate change will become increasingly important in the coming decades"
While no direct project financing is available under the initiative, the EU's decision to dedicate at least 20 per cent of its entire budget for 2014-2020 to climate-related action means that projects focusing on urban adaptation can apply for co-financing. The EU finances adaptation to climate change in Europe through a range of funding instruments. These include the five European structural and investment funds (the European regional development fund, the European social fund, the cohesion fund, the European agricultural fund for rural development, and the European maritime and fisheries fund) and Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme. As well as this, co-financing is also available under the Life climate action programme and the EU solidarity fund for natural disasters. Climate adaptation is also integrated into funding and loans offered by the European investment bank and the European bank for reconstruction and development.
Adaptation to climate change will become increasingly important in the coming decades. The role of cities in addressing climate change will be central to the international climate agreement to be concluded in Paris in December 2015.
EU cities are encouraged to sign up to the mayors adapt initiative and become pioneers in adaptation. Exchanging experience and good practice is key to the success of the initiative. By joining mayors adapt, cities will be contributing to a secure and sustainable future for their citizens.
Cities that join the initiative will receive support from a dedicated team, made up of experts from across Europe.