The EU’s Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change has a concrete objective: to support at least 150 European regions and communities in becoming climate resilient by 2030.
Are we on a correct trajectory to achieve this? Climate change is accelerating, and our traditional adaptation strategies are no longer sufficient.
Enter transformational adaptation – a bold, systemic approach to building climate resilience that goes beyond incremental measures!
Through the Working Group on Transformational Adaptation of the Mission Implementation Platform for Adaptation to Climate Change (MIP4Adapt), CARDIMED and fellow mission projects TransformAr, Pathways2Resilience, Impetus, REGILIENCE, DesirMED TRANSCEND, and CLIMATEFIT prepared a common policy brief highlighting the urgent need for this transformative approach.
This easy-to-read policy brief is targeting actors involved in the implementation of transformational adaptation, at local and regional level in Europe, including authorities at EU, local and regional level. If you really don’t have time to go through, see main points below.
Why Transformational Adaptation Matters
The summer of 2024 was the hottest ever for Europe, while 2023 saw one of the most severe wildfire seasons in Europe’s history. In recent decades, Europe has faced increasingly frequent and intense weather-related natural disasters, including floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. Climate change is expected to even further exacerbate the intensity and frequency of these events.
These extreme events underscore the inadequacy of incremental adaptation efforts. Transformational adaptation aims to create flexible, resilient systems by addressing root causes of vulnerability and steering away from unsustainable path.
While the concept and importance of transformational adaptation has been acknowledged in literature for more than 10 years, in practice it is not (yet) widely applied. This policy brief describes the concept of transformational adaptation, while also describing the first steps to implementation. In the context of the EU Mission on Adaptation, the terms ‘transformational’ and ‘transformative’ climate change adaptation are used interchangeably.
Key Characteristics of Transformational Adaptation
- Depth: Path-shifting, restructuring, innovative, addressing root causes
- Scope: System-wide, multi-scale, scalable
- Impacts: Changes in governance, co-production, shifts in mindsets
- Temporality: Persistent change, future-oriented, flexible
- Inclusivity: Equitable, SDG-aligned, synergetic
For better understanding the brief includes several real-world examples
- Métabief ski resort (France): Shifting from snow-dependent tourism to year-round activities
- Room for the River (Netherlands): Restoring natural river dynamics for flood protection
- Bilbao (Spain): Urban regeneration incorporating flood resilience strategies
What impedes the success of this approach?
Transformational adaptation does not happen without its challenges. The common barriers that often hamper the willingness to engage in transformational adaptation are:
- Institutional organization: Incentives, politics and power
- Transitional costs: high short-term costs
- Uncertainty and long-term vision: decision-makers are risk-averse
The Way Forward
Transformational adaptation offers an opportunity to build a more sustainable, equitable future in the face of climate change. By embracing this approach, we can create truly resilient communities, economies, and ecosystems capable of thriving in an uncertain climate future.
As we confront the growing climate crisis, it’s clear that business-as-usual is no longer an option. Transformational adaptation provides a framework for the bold, systemic changes needed to secure a resilient future for Europe and beyond.
