Over the past few decades, Europe has had to contend with severe weather conditions and climate-related natural hazards, particularly those related to water. From heavy rainfall and flooding to water scarcity, groundwater salinization, and sea level rise, these interrelated phenomena have an impact on both coastal and continental regions. Their frequency and intensity are expected to increase further due to climate change.
In response to this growing urgency, the European Commission has adopted its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (2021), which sets out the path to climate resilience by 2050.
In this context, seven regional and local authorities from Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Albania, supported by a European network and a think tank as advisory partners, have launched the WaterAdapt project.
Rethinking local water management strategies
As a result of climate change risks, many European regions could find themselves exposed to several water-related risks simultaneously. To address these complex challenges, it is necessary to move from a compartmentalized sectoral approach to a holistic approach to local water management, which integrates comprehensive planning of all public policies (urbanization, land use planning, GHG emissions, etc.) into a coordinated water resilience strategy.
All types of territories, regardless of their size or geography, face the same challenges:
- acquiring in-depth knowledge
- assessing vulnerability
- and providing smart solutions to strengthen overall resilience
Strengthening water resilience through interregional cooperation
The WaterAdapt project aims to improve the implementation of climate change adaptation policies at the regional and local levels in the field of water-related risk adaptation in order to strengthen their overall resilience.
By promoting interregional learning, the project helps public authorities to:
- improve knowledge tools on water-related risks and draw inspiration from the good practices of other partners;
- establish a better link between planning and operational action in territorial adaptation to water-related risks;
- strengthen the capacities of partners and their regional and local actors.
Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation, WaterAdapt is helping to build a Europe that is more resilient to climate change.
The project in brief
WaterAdapt is an operational European project based on the exchange of knowledge and effective practices for better water risk management.
Smarter and better coordinated responses to complex environmental challenges through interregional cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The project brings together eight partners: seven regional and local authorities from Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Albania, as well as a European platform representing more than 150 authorities from maritime regions.
Agency for Sustainable Mediterranean Cities and Territories (AVITEM), Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR), Samsoe Municipality, Regione Emilia-Romagna, Regione Toscana, Provincie Zuid-Holland, Prešov Self-Governing Region, Bashkia Tirane, Région sud – provence-alpes-côte d’azur
- Interreg Europe Programme
- May 2025 > July 2029
