European Economic
and Social Committee
REFLECTIONS BY CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS: Building resilient communities
Europe must help build cities’ resilience, in light of the climate emergency
This summer delivered another brutal warning that Europe’s climate emergency is no distant threat. Extreme heat, wildfires and drought are already putting lives, homes, infrastructure and public services at risk.
Cities are responding. Climate action remains European mayors’ top priority. Yet the scale and speed of the threat are testing their ability to adapt.
A recent Eurocities Pulse survey of 54 cities across Europe found that heatwaves are now cities’ leading climate threat, followed by flooding and drought. However, only 56% of cities regularly carry out climate risk assessments, while 19% have no staff dedicated to climate adaptation.
Research by Eurocities and the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) has exposed another gap. Cities often have strong adaptation strategies but lack the technical expertise and financing to turn them into investment-ready projects.
The consequences of this underinvestment are becoming impossible to ignore. In addition, only around one in five cities in our Pulse survey has a contingency budget for climate-related disasters. Europe has strong solidarity mechanisms to mobilise support when disaster strikes, but responding after the event has steep consequences.
The costs are already enormous. France’s government estimates that this summer’s heatwaves alone have caused more than 7300 excess deaths and could cost the country EUR 10-15 billion in direct and indirect economic losses.
The EU must embed prevention in how it approaches climate risk. Cities can cool neighbourhoods, restore nature, adapt homes and infrastructure, strengthen early-warning systems and target support towards those most exposed to extreme weather. They know their neighbourhoods and communities, and where climate risks will hit hardest.
Europe is already the fastest-warming continent on Earth. In March 2027, the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities will provide a new global assessment of the challenge facing urban areas, but cities can already anticipate the results, since they are already living with the consequences. The pressure will only increase.
Cities do not need to wait for that warning. They have been developing solutions for years. The European Commission’s upcoming EU Climate Resilience and Risk Management – Integrated Framework must help them accelerate their adaptation efforts. The framework must strengthen cooperation between cities, regions and national governments and match ambition with long-term funding, technical expertise and investment in nature-based solutions.
The climate emergency is accelerating and scientists predict next year will be another record-breaking year for heat. Resilient communities will depend on resilient cities. Europe must give them the means to prepare before the next disaster strikes.
Secretary-General, Eurocities (the largest network of European cities)
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