The European Union aims to achieve climate resilience and neutrality by 2050, with strategies that apply at the EU level rather than on a member state basis.

A recent report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) revealed significant gaps in the EU's climate change adaptation framework, indicating that nearly 42% of projects had little or no impact on enhancing adaptation capacity.

The ECA's analysis of 36 projects across Austria, Estonia, France, and Poland found that only 19 effectively addressed climate risks, while 13 had minimal or negative impacts on adaptation efforts.

Overall, 53% of the selected projects responded effectively to climate risks, but 42% were deemed ineffective or poorly adapted, leaving the effectiveness of the remaining projects inconclusive due to their recent implementation.

An ECA survey of 400 municipalities highlighted a general lack of awareness regarding climate adaptation strategies and available EU tools among local communities.

Brussels is being urged to improve communication on climate adaptation and to provide practical tools that can assist local communities in their efforts.

The potential economic impact of a global temperature rise of 1.5 to 3 degrees Celsius could lead to annual losses for the EU economy ranging from €42 billion to €175 billion.

The audit also noted that economic losses from climate-related extreme events in the EU averaged €26 billion annually over the past decade.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has identified heatwaves, droughts, floods, and heavy rainfall as the most frequent extreme weather events affecting the region.

The EEA warns that these extreme weather events pose serious risks to health, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, forestry, water resource management, and biodiversity.

To enhance climate resilience, the European Commission is recommended to introduce guidelines for agricultural investments and assess eligibility conditions to avoid funding monoculture forests.

From 2014 to 2020, the EU allocated at least €8 billion for climate change initiatives, with an additional €26 billion earmarked for the period from 2021 to 2027.