EU grants for climate resilience: opportunities for regions and local authorities

EU grants for climate resilience: opportunities for regions and local authorities

On 6 November, MIP4Adapt hosted an event on "EU Grants for Climate Resilience", with the goal of providing regional and local authorities with comprehensive insights into funding opportunities for climate adaptation in Europe. This article offers an overview of the presented available funding streams to finance climate adaptation projects.

Opening remarks

Vanessa Bruynooghe from DG CLIMA opened the session by highlighting the importance of strategic adaptation planning. She emphasised the need to integrate finance into these plans and to promote citizen and stakeholder engagement and noted that investing in climate adaptation can generate significant returns, preventing damages that are approximately eight times the initial investment.

Cohesion policy support

Angela Olcina Sala from DG REGIO highlighted the role of the Cohesion Policy in offering opportunities for regions seeking to advance climate adaptation measures and strengthen resilience against climate risks. Indeed, the Cohesion Policy's specific objective 2.4 targets climate adaptation by funding initiatives that manage natural disasters, such as floods, landslides and fires, as well as broader climate resilience projects. The funding allocations include 30% from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 37% from the Cohesion Fund. However, it is important to note that not all regional programs include this specific objective, which means that budget availability varies by region.

On the EU Regional Policy website, it is possible to find information on the programmes, the beneficiaries, the managing authorities, the national portals and more.

Furthermore, the Cohesion for Transitions (C4T) initiative offers technical assistance in line with the European Green Deal. C4T organises biannual events and supports climate adaptation projects across member states, with the next funding call expected in the first quarter of 2025.

Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)

Anayet Bolea from the Recovery and Resilient Task Force presented the RRF, a mechanism designed to drive climate change adaptation and enhance resilience across Member States. With a budget of €648 billion in grants and loans the RRF supports comprehensive reforms and investments, set to continue through mid-2026. While the Commission monitors these plans, the implementation remains the responsibility of Member States. Detailed information specific to each country can be found on the country-specific pages related to the RRF.

A significant portion of the RRF budget, over €275 billion, is allocated for climate-related initiatives. Specifically, €8.1 billion has been designated for projects aimed at climate change adaptation. These investments focus on enhancing the resilience of ecosystems, infrastructure and capacity-building efforts.

Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Michal Nekvasil from DG CLIMA presented how CAP supports climate actions through its second pillar, which focuses on rural development and includes funding for local and regional projects. Under this pillar, at least 30% of the budget is directed toward environmental and climate-related initiatives, aligning with the EU's sustainability goals.

CAP Strategic Plans are central to this structure, with each Member State defining its priorities and investment areas. These plans can include funding for non-agricultural activities, such as improving basic services in rural areas and supporting stakeholder cooperation through initiatives like LEADER (Community-Led Local Development Approach) or the Smart Villages initiative. Approximately €5 billion from CAP resources is allocated to LEADER projects, many focusing on climate-related efforts.

The new Climate Resilient Landscapes initiative adopts a comprehensive approach to soil health, water retention and forest resilience, combining spatial planning with ecosystem restoration. This strategy goes beyond urban interventions and emphasises the protection of ecosystem services.

In early 2025, expert consultation groups are expected to gather to provide input for the upcoming 2027+ CAP framework. This process will help shape the continued development of climate-resilient rural strategies and reinforce the EU's commitment to sustainable growth and environmental stewardship in rural areas.

LIFE Programme

Clara Hirschmann from DG ENV introduced LIFE, the EU's key funding instrument for climate action, with a budget of €5.4 billion for 2021–2027.

The LIFE Programme is structured into four main sub-programmes:

  1. Nature and Biodiversity: With €2.1 billion budget, this sub-programme is dedicated to the protection and restoration of Europe's natural habitats, with the goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss.
  2. Circular Economy and Quality of Life: Funded with €1.3 billion, this area targets the creation of a sustainable, circular economy and addresses pollution, waste management and urban environmental challenges.
  3. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: This sub-programme, valued at €1 billion, supports initiatives to build a climate-neutral and resilient economy through pilot projects in farming, renewable energy, urban adaptation and infrastructure resilience.
  4. Clean Energy Transition: Also funded at €1 billion, this component focuses on accelerating sustainable energy practices, supporting the EU's Green Deal and promoting energy efficiency through local and regional projects.

The programme funds two primary types of projects. The Standard Action Projects (SAPs) are smaller-scale projects, with average budgets between €3–4 million. SAPs have an implementation period of 3–5 years and a 60% co-financing rate. They are designed to support close-to-market solutions tailored to regional and local needs. The Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) have larger budgets averaging €10–12 million and longer implementation periods of 8–10 years. SIPs focus on large-scale plans and strategies. These projects are typically managed by relevant authorities and aim to mobilise resources and coordinate EU policy frameworks.

Calls for proposals are generally announced each April. SAP proposals must be submitted by mid-September, while SIPs follow a two-step process: initial concept notes are due by mid-September, with full proposals due the following April.

The upcoming 2025–2027 Multiannual Work Programme will introduce new priority topics. Notably, there will be a dedicated call to support cities and municipalities in their ecological, climate, and energy transitions, promoting integrated approaches to urban sustainability and the development of smart cities.

Horizon Europe

Sophie Berger from DG RTD highlighted the adaptation opportunities within Horizon Europe, which has an annual budget of €120 million dedicated to climate projects.

Within Horizon Europe's broad initiatives, several specific areas are crucial for addressing climate-related challenges: the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission, the Restore Our Ocean and Waters Mission, the Soil Deal for Europe Mission, the New European Bauhaus, Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy & Mobility), and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment). These programmes aim to achieve a wide range of objectives, from enhancing climate resilience to promoting sustainable agriculture and effective ecosystem management.

Participation in Horizon Europe is open to diverse types of organisations, including universities, research institutions, private companies and public bodies. Projects are typically conducted by consortia and must include at least three organisations from three different Member States or Associated Countries. The funding provided by Horizon Europe can vary significantly. For instance, grants under the Adaptation Mission can range from €2 million to €30 million. The funding rates differ according to the type of organisation: non-profit entities, such as regions and local authorities, can receive up to 100% funding. Horizon Europe supports a variety of project types. Innovation Actions focus on developing and validating new or improved products, processes, or services. They typically encompass stages such as prototyping, testing, demonstration, pilot projects and large-scale product validation. Research and Innovation Actions aim to generate new knowledge or explore improved technologies, products, and processes. Coordination and Support Actions are centred around activities such as standardisation, dissemination, communication, networking, policy dialogues and mutual learning. Additionally, some projects may feature cascade funding, which redistributes a portion of the budget as subgrants, offering opportunities for smaller entities to receive targeted funding for specific initiatives.

Resources and funding catalogue

Elodie Bossio from FEDARENE concluded with a presentation on how to identify funding opportunities for climate adaptation. Cities and regions can utilise various important databases and official portals.

The CLIMATE ADAPT funding database offers over 270 entries to help Charter Signatories find funding for their Climate Adaptation Pathways (RAST 1 to 6).

Additionally, the Covenant of Mayors database provides a comprehensive overview of financing options for both climate mitigation and adaptation, with an upcoming update expected in 2025.

For broader searches, the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and individual programme portals provide current calls for proposals, while the Guide to EU Funding, 2023 edition, serves as a valuable resource for navigating available opportunities.

The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main resource for offering guidance, practical information and support for all aspects of participating in Horizon Europe. 

 

ERRIN's Project Development Tool serves as a valuable resource for regional and local authorities to explore and engage with various funding opportunities. We encourage you to review the available calls, express your interest on behalf of your organisation or stakeholders and connect with other members to establish new collaborations and partnerships.