Green infrastructure and climate adaptation

Climate change adaptation actions are closely linked to Green Infrastructure as often Green Infrastructure can serve as an adaptation measure, e.g. floodplain restoration, urban Green Infrastructure to counter-act the urban heat island effect, etc. The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change aims to strengthen Europe’s resilience to the impacts of climate change by:

• Promoting action by Member States: the Commission encourages all Member States to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies and will provide guidance and funding to help them build up their adaptation capacities and take action. The Commission will also support adaptation in cities by launching a voluntary commitment based on the Covenant of Mayors initiative.
• Promoting better informed decision-making by addressing gaps in knowledge about adaptation and further developing the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT) as the ‘one stop shop’ for adaptation information in Europe.
• Promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors through agriculture, fisheries and cohesion policy, ensuring that Europe’s infrastructure is made more resilient, and encouraging the use of insurance against natural and man-made disasters.