Climate action - Pathways2Resilience programme names latest cohort
At a glance
Who: EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change; Pathways2Resilience; ICLEI Europe (Local Governments for Sustainability).
What: Sixty-two climate-vulnerable regions across Europe have been selected to strengthen their climate adaptation plans through the EU’s Pathways2Resilience programme.
Why: The programme aims to support local and regional authorities in a range of trainings designed to enhance their approaches to adaptation and resilience to climate change.
Where: A full list of the new regions can be found here.
Sixty-two climate-vulnerable regions across Europe have been selected to strengthen their climate adaptation plans through Pathways2Resilience, a flagship project of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change.
The newly chosen regions – home to around 55 million people – join the 38 regions that have started the programme in October 2024, gaining valuable peer support and experience. Each region will receive €210.000 in grant funding alongside access to tailored tools and guidance, interactive peer learning, mentoring, and expert guidance.
Adaptation and resilience to climate change
Launched in 2023, the programme engages a total of 100 local and regional authorities – representing over 100 million people – in a range of trainings designed to enhance their approaches to adaptation and resilience to climate change.
ICLEI Europe (Local Governments for Sustainability) has been a key partner in this multi-year programme from the outset. Five of the newly selected entities are ICLEI Europe Members, including the municipalities of Aalborg (Denmark), Belfast (United Kingdom), Braga (Portugal), Pescara (Italy), and Tirana (Albania).
“This second cohort brings fresh energy and diverse perspectives, helping us accelerate Europe’s resilience journey at a time when climate impacts are intensifying”
The second round represents the final allocation of the EU-funded project’s €21m cascade funding. The cohort will have 18 months to develop a robust climate resilience strategy, as well as an action and investment plan.
“I warmly congratulate all regions selected in the second Pathways2Resilience cohort,” said Elina Bardram, mission adaptation manager at the European Commission. “As a flagship initiative, Pathways2Resilience helps the EU Mission on Adaptation deliver on its objectives and advance regional climate resilience together, through tailored support and peer learning.”
Among the most pressing climate hazards identified by this cohort were coastal and river flooding (43 per cent), heat stress (36 per cent), and drought (21 per cent). With Europe warming twice as fast as the global average, Pathways2Resilience’s mission to accelerate regional adaptation has never been more crucial.
On 11 February 2026, all 100 regions will gather in Budapest for the Pathways2Resilience Summit. The Hungarian Capital, an ICLEI Europe member, is already confronting floods and heatwaves, while also being recognised for its innovative climate resilience efforts.
The city has moved from fragmented planning to a cohesive resilience strategy, implementing green development initiatives, a rainwater management plan, and measures to combat urban heat and flooding, including the award-winning Pünkösdfürdő Park along the Danube.
“With 100 regions now on board, Pathways2Resilience is creating a powerful network of local communities committed to climate adaptation,” said Thomas Koetz, senior advisor for Climate Resilient Regions at Climate KIC and Pathways2Resilience programme coordinator. “This second cohort brings fresh energy and diverse perspectives, helping us accelerate Europe’s resilience journey at a time when climate impacts are intensifying.
As programme coordinator, Climate KIC is proud of how far we’ve come in turning ambition into actionable plans that safeguard people, economies, and ecosystems.”
“With 100 regions now on board, Pathways2Resilience is creating a powerful network of local communities committed to climate adaptation”
Stephanie Rohr, mayor of the City of Worms, one of the newly selected regions in Germany, said being selected for Pathways2Resilience is a strong recognition of Worms’ long-term work on climate adaptation: “Located in one of Germany’s warmest regions, we will use this support to further strengthen our climate resilience by integrating climate adaptation, heat and water strategies, and by learning with and from other European cities facing similar challenges.”
Berglind Harpa Svavarsdóttir, chair of the Association of Municipalities in East Iceland (SSA), said following Austurland’s selection said that the region facing increasing climate-related challenges, particularly in rural and coastal communities, this collaboration will support efforts to strengthen knowledge, develop practical solutions and build long-term adaptive capacity.
Iryna Vieklich, grant officer from Odesa Oblast, one of the Ukrainian selected regions, said as a coastal and urban region facing increasing climate pressures, it looks forward “to strategic guidance, shared expertise, and tools that will support long-term, integrated climate adaptation planning”.