“Mediterranean cities and regions must be at the heart of EU and national adaptation policies. We are already innovating—redesigning public spaces to cope with heat, adapting housing to new climate realities, and managing scarce water resources more efficiently. But to scale up these efforts, we need real recognition in the EU and national legislative frameworks, and stronger multilevel governance mechanisms that give us a seat at the table. The EU must also ensure that adaptation finance truly reaches the ground.” Kostas Bakoyannis, President of the European Committee of the Regions’ ENVE Commission, made these remarks at the Mediterranean Forum for the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change in Bologna.
During his keynote address, Bakoyannis stressed that adaptation to climate change is no longer merely an environmental issue; it is “a fundamental condition for economic stability, territorial cohesion, and long-term prosperity.” He warned that, as extreme weather events grow more frequent and severe, the cost of inaction will rise sharply for cities, regions, and national economies across Europe. “Investing in adaptation today,” he argued, “means avoiding far greater costs in the future.”
He went on to explain that safeguarding Europe’s competitiveness requires treating adaptation as a core economic concern. According to Bakoyannis, this means embedding climate resilience “into every level of decision-making, from national industrial strategies to local urban-planning rules and infrastructure investments.”
Turning to the role of sub-national governments, Bakoyannis emphasised that regional and local authorities are “on the front line of climate impacts and closest to citizens,” enabling them to tailor solutions to local needs. He highlighted nature-based actions—urban greening, sustainable water reuse, large-scale tree planting—as examples that both reduce climate risk and generate social and economic benefits such as new jobs, better public health, and higher quality of life.
Bakoyannis applauded Mediterranean municipalities that are already redesigning public spaces to mitigate heat, upgrading housing for greater climate resilience, and managing scarce water resources more efficiently. However, he cautioned that scaling up these efforts will require “structural support”: clear recognition of local actors in EU and national legislation and robust multilevel governance that gives them a formal voice in policy-making.
Access to finance remains the chief obstacle, Bakoyannis noted. Many cities, he said, “are eager to act but face complex application procedures, limited administrative capacity and funding streams that don’t match local priorities.” He called on the European Union to ensure that adaptation funds are streamlined and truly reach communities on the ground.
Looking beyond the Mediterranean, he cited the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change as flagship initiatives that demonstrate how EU-level support can unlock local ambition. He also pointed to Athens’ #CoolAthens campaign as a model of place-based adaptation, combining public awareness, early-warning systems and nature-based cooling measures to protect citizens during extreme heatwaves.
In closing, Bakoyannis reminded participants that climate adaptation is a shared responsibility—and a strategic opportunity to build a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous Europe.