fair resistance<\/span><\/a>"<\/strong> (just resilience).<\/p>\nWhat does fair resilience mean?<\/strong> Equitable resilience means that policymakers and practitioners:<\/p>\n\n- They address the uneven impacts of climate change.<\/li>\n
- They ensure that, when developing adaptation measures, vulnerable individuals or social groups that are already vulnerable benefit fairly from these responses and are not disproportionately burdened.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
To achieve equitable resilience, it is necessary to address systemic and structural problems<\/strong>, which perpetuate inequalities. The concept of justice in adaptation has three key dimensions:<\/p>\n\n- Distributive justice:<\/strong> Fair distribution of resources and burdens from climate impacts and adaptation measures.<\/li>\n
- Procedural justice:<\/strong> Fair, transparent and inclusive decision-making processes that respect the rights of participants, especially those with less political power.<\/li>\n
- Recognition justice:<\/strong> Respecting and integrating diverse values, cultures and perspectives, as well as addressing the deeper causes of inequality.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Taking justice into account in adaptation is not only a moral imperative in line with EU values and international agreements, but also leads to more effective adaptation<\/strong>Neglecting this aspect can exacerbate existing inequalities and lead to resistance to change.<\/p>\nCurrent status and challenges<\/strong> Despite the growing recognition of the importance of equity at all levels of governance (EU, national, sub-national), its consistent integration into all phases of the adaptation policy cycle \u2013 especially implementation \u2013 remains inadequate. There is a lack of a common definition, assessment framework and specific financial mechanisms for equitable resilience at EU level. At national level, equity is often integrated indirectly. While Member State reports often mention which groups are disproportionately affected by climate impacts, they pay much less attention to who benefits from adaptation measures or to the involvement of vulnerable groups in planning.<\/p>\nAt the subnational level, vulnerable groups are considered most often in the initial stages (risk assessment), but much less in specific adaptation measures (45 % plans), monitoring (7 %) or direct involvement in planning (4 %). Distributive justice receives relatively sufficient attention, but recognition of the procedural and recognition dimensions of justice is still in its infancy.<\/p>\n
Inequity in adaptation measures across systems<\/strong> The report examines manifestations of injustice and ways to address them in four key systems:<\/p>\n\n- Built environment:<\/strong> Low-income groups in older housing stock face energy poverty (inability to keep homes cool in summer\/warm in winter). Uneven access to green spaces affects low-income neighborhoods. Adaptation measures such as renovations or technology introductions may be unaffordable for low-income groups, especially renters, due to costs (so-called \u201crenovations\u201d). Solutions include financial support (grants, loans) tailored to the needs of the vulnerable, inclusive planning of green infrastructure, and protection of outdoor workers from extreme temperatures.<\/li>\n
- Agriculture and the food system:<\/strong> Smallholder farmers and agricultural workers (often migrants) are disproportionately affected by droughts and heatwaves. Rising food prices due to climate impacts affect low-income consumers. Adaptation measures, such as access to technology or insurance, often favour larger businesses. More equitable measures must support autonomous adaptation by smaller farms, protect external workers and ensure equitable access to finance, insurance and technology, taking into account cultural practices and the involvement of indigenous peoples (e.g. the Sami).<\/li>\n
- Water system:<\/strong> Low-income households, Roma and people in remote areas face reduced access to water and affordability issues due to water scarcity and flooding. Although EU legislation requires improved access for vulnerable groups, many countries still lack measures to ensure affordability. Solutions include policies ensuring equitable access, financial support for water-saving technologies and water price support mechanisms that take into account the needs of low-income groups. It is important that water restrictions during droughts do not worsen the situation of vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n
- Transportation system:<\/strong> All transport users will be affected by extreme weather (service disruptions, infrastructure damage). The concept of transport poverty highlights that groups with less ability to substitute one mode of transport for another will be most affected (women, migrants, older people, people in remote locations). Transport workers are also vulnerable. Fair adaptation measures include social fares for public transport, climate-proof materials, green features in infrastructure (e.g. green bus stops) and infrastructure improvements for vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Priority measures<\/strong> The report identifies key priorities for achieving equitable resilience:<\/p>\n\n- At EU level:<\/strong> Provide specific funding or make better use of existing mechanisms. Collect comprehensive data across the EU and develop a common framework for monitoring progress, possibly in the form of a \u201cvulnerability dashboard\u201d. Develop a common definition and assessment framework. The Commission\u2019s upcoming European Adaptation Plan in 2026 is a key opportunity to integrate justice into national processes and plans.<\/li>\n
- At Member State level:<\/strong> Explicitly integrate equity into national adaptation policies and laws, as well as related sectoral policies (energy, construction, labor, agriculture). Prioritize the inclusion of vulnerable groups in planning and ensure their equitable access to measures, for example through participation mechanisms. Develop national monitoring frameworks.<\/li>\n
- At the subnational level:<\/strong> Prioritize equity from the beginning of the planning process. Actively and meaningfully engage vulnerable groups, including those with overlapping vulnerabilities. Implement targeted measures that take into account specific needs. Adapt information and capacity building to different abilities and needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In conclusion, achieving a resilient and prepared Europe, where citizens and communities can thrive in the face of climate change, requires comprehensive approach<\/strong>, which integrates justice into all phases of the adaptation cycle and takes into account the unique needs of vulnerable groups. It is essential to address the tension between the urgency of action and the time needed to properly integrate justice, and recognizing justice as a key principle can make adaptation more effective. Spring<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nGlossary of key terms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Adaptation:<\/strong> The process of adapting to current or expected climate change and its effects.<\/li>\n
- Just resilience:<\/strong> A concept that addresses the equitable sharing of the benefits and burdens of climate change adaptation measures and ensuring that vulnerable groups are not disproportionately affected. It is considered the equivalent of a \u201cjust transition\u201d in the context of adaptation.<\/li>\n
- Just transition:<\/strong> A broader term that encompasses justice in adaptation (transitioning to a climate-resilient society) and mitigation (transitioning to a carbon-neutral society), although it is often used to refer to justice in mitigation only.<\/li>\n
- Social vulnerability:<\/strong> The vulnerability of individuals, groups or communities to the negative effects of climate change due to socio-economic, demographic or other factors that limit their ability to adapt.<\/li>\n
- Distributive justice:<\/strong> It concerns the fair distribution of benefits, costs and risks associated with adaptation measures among different groups and individuals.<\/li>\n
- Procedural justice:<\/strong> It concerns the fairness of decision-making processes in planning and implementing adaptation measures, including the meaningful involvement of stakeholders, especially vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n
- Recognitional justice:<\/strong> It concerns the recognition of different values, worldviews, cultures and experiences of different groups and their inclusion in adaptation processes.<\/li>\n
- Maladaptation:<\/strong> Action taken for adaptation purposes that leads to increased vulnerability to climate change or more inequitable outcomes, either immediately or in the future.<\/li>\n
- Nature-based Solutions (NbS):<\/strong> Measures that use ecosystems and natural processes to address societal challenges, including climate change adaptation. These include, for example, green infrastructure, blue infrastructure, etc.<\/li>\n
- Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T):<\/strong> The planned network of roads, railways, airports and waterways in the European Union.<\/li>\n
- Strategic Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP):<\/strong> Plans designed to improve the sustainability and efficiency of urban transport, which should take into account adaptation to climate change.<\/li>\n
- JRC's vulnerability dashboard:<\/strong> A tool developed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre that provides a framework for vulnerability assessment, primarily for disaster management purposes.<\/li>\n
- Drinking Water Directive (DWD):<\/strong> The main EU legislation on the quality of water intended for human consumption, which includes provisions on access to water for vulnerable groups.<\/li>\n
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP):<\/strong> Agricultural policy of the European Union.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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