New assessment highlights scale of adaptation investment needs in the EU

A new assessment published by the European Commission estimates that the EU and its Member States need to invest around €70 billion per year in climate adaptation until 2050 to address climate risks and improve resilience across Europe. The results of this evidence-based analysis can help inform policy planning, budgeting and strategic decision-making on adaptation investment at the EU and national levels. For example, the findings will feed into ongoing work to develop a future European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework, expected to be adopted in the second half of 2026. 

The assessment aligns with the European Climate Risk Assessment and provides robust data to guide Member States in developing coherent, cost-effective responses to climate risks.  

Adaptation investment needs were estimated by sector at the EU and national levels, providing the first comprehensive view of the costs associated with implementing adaptation actions across Europe. Of the total annual investment required, the study found that around €30 billion will be needed for infrastructure, €21 billion for ecosystems and €12 billion for food security. 

The underlying methodology and data are fully documented and publicly available, enabling transparency, replication and further analysis by national authorities, researchers and stakeholders.  

Read the complete assessment and supporting materials.