The European Commission has proposed a new European Climate Resilience Law aimed at strengthening the region’s preparedness for climate-related risks, including extreme heat, droughts, floods and wildfires. Announced on 27 October 2026, the proposal seeks to move climate adaptation from reactive disaster response towards more coordinated, forward-looking risk management.

At the centre of the proposed framework is a common global-warming reference trajectory based on warming levels of 1.5°C by 2030, 2°C by 2050 and 3°C by the end of the century, compared with pre-industrial levels. These benchmarks are intended to help public authorities assess future risks and make more informed decisions about policies, infrastructure and investments. They are planning assumptions, not targets endorsing higher global warming.

The proposal would require EU Member States to strengthen their climate-risk assessments and develop national climate resilience plans. Governments would also need to identify responsible authorities for managing major climate risks, helping clarify accountability across policy areas and levels of administration.

The framework is intended to integrate climate resilience more systematically into public planning, budgeting and investment decisions. It would cover risks affecting essential services and sectors such as health, water, energy, transport, buildings, food security and ecosystems. The approach also recognises that climate impacts can spread across interconnected systems, making coordinated risk management increasingly important.

The Commission estimates that Europe will need approximately €70 billion in annual investment to adapt infrastructure, ecosystems and the wider economy to climate change. This figure represents an estimated investment requirement, rather than a new funding allocation established by the proposed law. The initiative aims to encourage better planning and more effective use of available public and private resources.

To support implementation, the Commission has also introduced digital resources intended to help public authorities, businesses and communities understand climate risks and identify potential adaptation measures. These include a European Climate Viewer, a climate-resilience tools navigator and a platform showcasing practical adaptation solutions.

The proposal forms part of the EU’s wider climate adaptation strategy and complements its commitment to climate neutrality by 2050. By establishing a more consistent approach to risk assessment and resilience planning, the Commission aims to help protect communities, infrastructure and economic activity against climate impacts that are already occurring and those expected in the coming decades.

The proposed law must now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. Its provisions and implementation timetable may change during the legislative process, meaning the proposed requirements are not yet final law.