Adaptation to climate change at local level in Europe: An overview

Adaptation to climate change at local level in Europe: An overview
Francisca C. Aguiar^a,b,⁎, Julia Bentz^a, João M.N. Silva^a,b, Ana L. Fonsecaa, Rob Swarta,^c, Filipe Duarte Santos^a, Gil Penha-Lopes^a

^a cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
^b Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
^c Climate Change Research Team, Wageningen Environmental Research, Wageningen UR PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

A B S T R A C T
Europe’s climate change vulnerability pushes for initiatives such as the European Adaptation Strategy and the associated Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. What are the triggers and barriers, for which sectors and for which risks and how is adaptation funded? This paper examines 147 Local Adaptation Strategies in Europe. Key triggers were incentives via research projects, implementation of EU policies and the increasing frequency of extreme climate events. Insufficient resources, capacity, political commitment and uncertainty were the main barriers. Prioritized sectors reflected the main local vulnerabilities - flood protection and water management, built environment and urban planning. Differing patterns of adaptation planning and adaptive capacity were identified among different regions in Europe. Large municipalities generally fund adaptation locally, whereas international and national funding appears to be more important for adaptation in less urban or densely populated territories. The database of LAS described in the present study can be expanded and used to increase the understanding of and promotion of local adaptation action in Europe and beyond.

Keywords: Adaptation Climate change Europe Land planning Municipalities Strategies

Environmental Science and Policy 86 (2018) 38–63