Half of the world's population currently lives in cities, and this proportion is expected to rise to 70 % by 2050. Due to large populations, a lack of green spaces that can mitigate warming, and an aging infrastructure that is vulnerable to flooding and extreme weather , the world's cities are not prepared for climate change.

Proactive measures are needed to make cities more resilient to climate change and able to protect community health, according to a new report from the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), Resilient Cities Network and The Rockefeller Foundation. (Andrei Ionescu, more at earth.com)

The relaunched, user-friendly portal contains knowledge, practical advice, interactive tools and a project catalog that can serve as inspiration for climate adaptation in Denmark. It offers customized entry points for three groups of users. In addition to the Danish version, the English portal offers guidelines for foreign visitors and English-speaking residents. The portal is managed by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency in cooperation with several ministries, agencies and organizations. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

SYNERGISE+ is a practical and versatile Excel-based tool designed specifically to assist signatories to the Covenant of Mayors. It aims to support local governments in two critical phases of developing a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP): planning and implementation. Whether selecting actions for your SECAP or prioritizing investments within budget constraints, SYNERGISE+ guides cities through a structured and flexible decision-making process.

Although SYNERGISE+ is intended for signatories to the Convention, it is also valuable for other entities such as energy agencies or businesses working on local sustainability projects. The tool allows users to select actions relevant to their specific sector, making it applicable to a wide range of urban and local adaptation and mitigation efforts. (More on eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu)

The EEA report "Tackling the environmental and climate footprint of buildings" assesses the current state of Europe's building stock and explores what is needed to make European buildings more sustainable. Renovating existing buildings using sustainable materials while improving resilience to climate change and working with nature are key. The report also examines what policy measures are needed to achieve this goal by 2050.

More than 30 % of the EU's environmental footprint comes from buildings, making them the sector with the largest environmental impact. Approximately one third of the Union's material consumption goes to the construction industry. The use of buildings represents 42 % of total energy consumption and 35 % of greenhouse gas emissions. The decommissioning of buildings leads to the largest mass flow of waste in the EU. Although the recycling rate of demolition waste is high, it mainly results in low value, the EEA report says. (More on eea.europa.eu)

Recently, the agro-food industry has increasingly recognized its ecological responsibility. The sector is estimated to be responsible for 19 % to 29 % of global greenhouse gas emissions and irrigation (more…)

During the last two years, a group of stakeholders established at the initiative of the European Commission has been meeting as part of the dialogue on climate resilience. It aimed to discuss ways to reduce the climate protection gap – the gap between economic losses and insurance losses from the materialization of climate-related risks – and increase the resilience of economies and societies to the effects of climate change.

The dialogue provided a safe space for an open exchange of views between stakeholders including public authorities, regulators, consumer organizations and the insurance industry on ways to address this climate protection gap and increase climate resilience in the EU with a focus on climate change adaptation.

The EU Covenant of Mayors has been an active participant in this dialogue and has ensured that the perspectives, challenges, best practices and experiences of local authorities are taken into account in the discussions and actions proposed in the final report. (More on eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu)

Our planet is facing rapid climate change because nature cannot keep up with human activities. All around us are natural ways of dealing with these changes. He caused the current climate crisis (more…)

Climate change is an existential threat to population health and has already affected ecosystems, food production, and the health and well-being of populations worldwide. Healthcare is responsible for approximately 5 % of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

The health sector has a unique opportunity to use its position and resources to provide a comprehensive strategy to combat climate change and improve the health of the population and the environment on which it depends.

What green interventions can affect climate change? Are there effective strategies to reduce waste? Is the health sector doing enough? Join us and find out!

Tuesday 1 October 2024, 15:00 – 16:00 (CET)

Through its norms, standards, conventions and policy support, the UNECE provides practical tools to help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as to increase financial resources and strengthen cooperation.

Minerals for energy transformation

More than 3 billion tons of minerals and metals are needed to support the energy transition. The UNECE offers tools for the sustainable management of these key minerals, including the UN Framework for Resource Classification (UNFC) and the UN Resource Management System (UNRMS), which have been endorsed by UNECOSOC. It also focuses on environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and supports value chain traceability. Multilateral environmental agreements contribute to addressing various risks. (More on reliefweb.int)

Climate change forces people to adapt to changing environmental conditions. But the difference is how they do it. The recently published "Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2024" by 73 authors shows that only sustainable adaptation can succeed in the long term. This global assessment by the Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS) of the University of Hamburg also provides practical recommendations. (University of Hamburg, more at phys.org)

This summer, the Mission Implementation Platform (MIP4Adapt) completed its first mutual learning program for the signatories of the EU Climate Change Adaptation Mission Charter.

After the successful first program, the second Peer Learning program will run from October 2024 to February 2025. Registration is open and ends on September 29, with the initial meetings taking place in October.

Highlights from the first peer learning program

15 charter signatories attended the program to learn from experts, share knowledge and best practices, and share challenges or questions with their colleagues to improve their adaptation work.

A key element of the program was the involvement of the charter signatories in the program from the beginning. Each group decided on specific topics and areas of focus in order to maximize the benefits of the program for charter signatories and tailor the content to their specific needs.

Three peer learning groups were created:

• Nature-based solutions focused on adaptation initiatives for water management and urban and agricultural environments.
• The selection and implementation of adaptation measures was linked to the Regional Adaptation Support Tool (RAST) and helped participants select, prioritize and finance their adaptation solutions.
• Citizen and stakeholder engagement focused on organizing citizen assemblies on climate change to engage stakeholders in their adaptation efforts.

During all 10 meetings, adaptation experts from MIP4Adapt and other mission projects provided expertise on each of the topics, along with introducing various guides, tools, funding and general support methods that charter signatories can use. These expert presentations were followed by detailed discussions among the charter signatories in which they shared their best practices, successes, challenges and questions with the wider group.

Charter signatories also worked on live exercises in their groups to show how the tools introduced by the experts would work in practice. These practical examples allowed participants to see how they could implement the tools in their own adaptation initiatives. (Co2AI)

Europe's pursuit of competitiveness and security should not replace a long-term vision that brings benefits to citizens and well-being. The European Council's "strategic agenda" published in June said the EU's mandate for the next five years would focus on competitiveness and security. This vision is understandable if the goal is to convince European citizens and economic players that the EU can provide protection and strength in times of geopolitical and economic turbulence.

However, the pursuit of competitiveness and security should not replace the political project and long-term vision of a Europe that brings citizens and well-being – and the goals of social and environmental sustainability should return to the political debate.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appears to have reflected on this need in her political guidelines presented to the European Parliament in July. While she made it clear that competitiveness would be a key priority of the Clean Industry Deal - which will replace the European Green Deal - she said the Commission would "significantly increase its funding for Just Transition in the next long-term budget". (More on sustainableviews.com)

Cities are the engine houses of climate change – they consume 65 % of the planet's energy and produce 70 % of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for warming the planet. And they are often one of its biggest victims: residents drown in dense concrete environments due to the "heat island effect".

Urban populations are expected to double by 2050, meaning cities' climate footprint could increase unless the way we plan, power and move around them changes. (Holly Young, more at dw.com)

The EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change Implementation Platform (MIP4Adapt) has just expanded its technical assistance program for Charter signatories. Starting in September 2024, regions and local authorities that have signed the Mission Charter can use additional days of technical assistance to support their climate change adaptation planning efforts and to access financing for adaptation projects. And the best part? If you don't yet have a Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA), you may still be eligible if there is a relevant VRA at regional or national level that covers your area!

This major boost will make it easier than ever for regions to get the help they need. As of April 2023, 74 regions and local authorities are deep into their tailored programs, with a further 19 starting after the summer. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

The EU-funded REACHOUT project strengthened cooperation between different European cities through co-creation centers to create a comprehensive and flexible set of resources (Triple-A Toolkit). The toolkit aims to support communities in understanding climate-related risks, designing adaptation options and transformations, and taking action to build resilience. This policy brief aims to share key lessons and case studies from REACHOUT City Hubs approaches to engage in co-creation in the development of climate services and tools in the urban environment.

Unprecedented measures are urgently needed to maintain healthy and safe working conditions. This summer saw new global records for heat, extreme weather events and fires in extremely dry areas. According to Copernicus, July 22 was the hottest day on Earth in recent history - the record was broken the day before. Europe is the fastest warming continent, reports the European Environmental Agency. Since the 1980s, Europe has been warming at about twice the rate of the world.

A recently published report Lancet  Countdown  for Europe, it shows that climate change is already affecting human beings and society as a whole. It focuses on adverse health effects, emphasizing the need for "quick action to mitigate climate change and adapt to its health." The workplace is a key area for such actions. ( Nadja Dörflinger and Adrien Thomas, more at socialeurope.eu)

When we turn on the tap, do we stop to think where the water comes from? Climate change is increasing the pressure on our water resources. LIFE GreenLED saves and reuses every drop of rain. Water resources are threatened by climate change. LIFE GreenLED uses smart technology to collect, store and deliver rainwater to irrigate parks, buildings, sports facilities, ponds and fountains – known as near-contact applications – to save our potable water for drinking. (More on cinea.ec.europa.eu)

This EU Horizon 2020 funded Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is provided by the IMPETUS project in collaboration with SDGAcademy. It offers a holistic view of climate change adaptation, covering a wide range of topics: Climate Change Science and Policy, Innovative Adaptation Solutions, Data and Digital Technologies, Socio-Economic Stories and Financial Instruments, and Skills for the Future. The introductory MOOC is tailored to a broad audience, including policymakers, and does not require a course fee.

Read more at the IMPETUS website .