Conference – Europe’s Territorial Resilience and Risk Management at a turning point
About the Event
EU Policy action to prevent and prepare for the growing impacts of climate change is at a turning point. While many initiatives, particularly those developed under the EU Mission: Adaptation to Climate Change, have generated strong good practices, the next challenge is to mainstream their adoption and secure long-term success of these climate solutions.
At the same time, the need for cities and regions to adapt to climate change is becoming more tangible and urgent. The devastating wildfires in the south of France of summer 2025, the recurring drought episodes affecting Belgium, the deadly floods that affected Slovenia in 2023 or more recently the violent storms devastating Sicily in January 2026 all illustrate how diverse and widespread climate vulnerabilities are across the Union.
As the EU climate goals call for a shift from the Mission’s pilot actions to mainstream climate adaptation investment, the key challenge is how to scale up successful approaches. This moment coincides with a major policy window: the Climate Resilience and Risk Management Integrated Framework, the Governance Regulation review and the development of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Together, these will shape how climate resilience is embedded in EU planning and investment for the post-2030 decade.
In this context, the objective of the conference is to present the needs of cities and regions to boost resilience to climate change, share concrete adaptation solutions, explore the policy levers that can support their uptake.
Agenda
09:00-09:05 Welcome and opening remarks by Benedetta Brighenti (AESS Modena)
09:05-09:25 Keynote introduction: State of play on EU climate adaptation
- Elina Bardram (EC, Director DG CLIMA.E and Mission Manager)
- MEP Pierfrancesco Maran (EP, Chair of the ENVI Committee)
09:25-09:30 Climate resilience through projects – REGILIENCE+ Project
- Elodie Bossio (FEDARENE, Deputy Director)
09:30-10:10 Panel discussion: Scaling climate resilience solutions across Europe – Moderated by Benedetta Brighenti (AESS Modena)
- MEP Anna Lisa Corrado, (EP, S&D, IT)
- Thomas Koetz (Senior Advisor on Climate, Climate Kick – for Pathways2Resilience)
- Miljenko Sedlar (Head of Climate Department, REGEA – for National Adaptation Hubs)
10:10-10:15 Presentation of the CIDOB Urban Monograph on Climate Resilience
- Ricardo Martinez (Senior Research Fellow in the area of Global Cities, CIDOB)
10:15-10:55 Panel discussion: Urban Resilience in Europe – Moderated by André Sobczak (Eurocities, Secretary General, BE)
- MEP Cesar Luena (EP, S&D, ES)
- Matteo Lepore, Mayor of Bologna and CoR member
- Chrysostomos Doukas, Mayor of Athens and CoR Member (tbc)
- Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdansk and CoR member (tbc)
10:50-11:00 Closing remarksby Benedetta Brighenti (AESS Modena)
