Climate adaptation

Adapting to a warming world

The cost of inaction in the face of climate change is too high, not only for the environment, but also for our communities and our economies. We need to do more than reduce emissions. We need to adapt. Which is why we are investing in solutions that will lead us to a safer, more resilient future by helping us prepare for the challenges of a warming world.

What we offer

What is climate adaptation?

As global temperatures rise, climate adaptation means taking action to prepare for and protect against the increased risk of climate shocks such as flooding, wildfires or extreme storms. This can include anything from strengthening defences against natural disasters, to restoring ecosystems or research into climate-smart crops. By investing in adaptation, we reduce vulnerabilities, enhance resilience, and help communities better prepare for the growing risks of climate change.

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A plan to adapt

The EIB Climate Adaptation Plan supports the European Union Adaptation Strategy by outlining how our financial and advisory services can protect infrastructure and ecosystems from extreme weather in the EU and beyond. It also promotes dedicated adaptation investments that help communities and ecosystems prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Explore the plan

IN FOCUS

A deep dive into financing coastal resilience

We brought together climate experts, policymakers, public officials and business leaders for the EC-EIB Adaptation Days to explore solutions to sea-level rise by investing in more resilient coastlines.

Explore the event

Adaptation investments

We finance climate adaptation projects that support our strategic priorities.

Water management

We invest in sustainable water management, storage and drainage systems to reduce vulnerability to droughts and floods.

Social and territorial cohesion

We finance climate-resilient urban renewal, infrastructure upgrades and emergency response systems to help cities and regions adapt to the impact of climate change.

Agriculture and the bioeconomy

We support adaptation in agriculture and the bioeconomy by investing in food systems and value chains that can withstand extreme weather. This includes investments in forestry, land and marine restoration projects.

Energy and transport

We adapt energy and transport networks by investing in critical infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather, support emergency access and ensure reliable services during climate disruptions.

Social infrastructure

We strengthen health, learning and research systems by investing in resilient medical services, upgrading education infrastructure and supporting research into adaptation solutions.

Our adaptation solutions

Learn how our work is paving the way to a safer future.

31 March 2026

How to play defence against climate change

Why climate adaptation matters, how it works in practice, and how finance, planning and policy can help build resilience to climate change across Europe and beyond.

Environment Climate change Climate Podcast Climate action Adaptation Sustainability European Union Climate and environment
10 December 2024

‘A tough decision’

Ischia’s recovery after an earthquake and landslides is backed by a series of EU projects

Urban development Environment Climate Flood risk management Adaptation Reconstruction Italy European Union Climate and environment Social infrastructure
24 May 2024

Financing urban adaptation

Cities are feeling the effects of climate change. To protect citizens, business and infrastructure, we must increase financing to make urban areas resilient.

Infrastructure Climate Adaptation Climate and environment
26 April 2024

‘We need to do more’

Adaptation conference delivers a call for better regulation, higher profile in corporate climate plans, more awareness of extreme weather’s financial impact

Urban development Climate Adaptation Management committee Climate and environment Social infrastructure
9 December 2023

EIB at COP 28: We are moving fast, but so is climate change

The world's multilateral development banks, like the European Investment Bank (EIB), are on target and providing record levels of finance for climate action.

Institutional MDBs Partners Climate Climate finance Ambroise FAYOLLE Adaptation Management committee United Nations Climate and environment
4 December 2023

Impact adaptation

Climate change is already forcing mass migration, particularly within developing countries. Adaptation – and finance for it – is crucial to protect people in the countries at risk

Social sustainability Fragility and conflict Climate Diversity and gender Adaptation Migration Zambia Nigeria Malawi Pakistan Jordan China Bangladesh Philippines Asia and the Pacific Southern Neighbourhood Sub-Saharan Africa Global development Climate and environment
2 November 2023

All hands on deck

Ports in Bulgaria and Portugal are modernising to cut congestion and CO2 emissions, as well as moving Ukraine’s grain faster

Climate InvestEU Adaptation Sustainability Bulgaria Portugal European Union Infrastructure Digitalisation and technological innovation Agriculture and bioeconomy Climate and environment
22 March 2023

Putting our money where the gap is

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war are endangering investment needed for Europe to meet the climate emergency and to build a digital economy.

Mitigation Climate Digital and telecoms Economics EIBIS Adaptation Digitalisation and technological innovation Climate and environment Energy
22 November 2022

Shoring up against erosion

Dobrogea Litoral Water Basin Administration creates a long-term coastal erosion solution to save sea life and boost local tourism in Romania

Infrastructure Climate Adaptation Romania European Union Climate and environment
16 November 2022

Ambroise Fayolle│Digital Conversations @ COP27

We meet with EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle to discuss the role of the MDBs in this COP of implementation and how we can help the most vulnerable countries work on their long-term adaptation strategies.

Interviews Institutional Mitigation MDBs Partners Climate Ambroise FAYOLLE Adaptation Management committee Global development Climate and environment

Our publications

Understanding climate change is key to taking action. Explore our latest research, economic studies, surveys and other resources.

8 April 2025

The state of local infrastructure investment in Europe – EIB Municipalities Survey 2024–2025

The latest edition of the survey asks municipalities across the European Union how they are investing to tackle today’s biggest challenges – climate change, affordable housing and digitalisation – and the obstacles they face.
6 March 2025

European Blue Champions

This report provides market intelligence analysis, based on the findings of an ecosystem mapping, a survey, interviews with experts, and case studies, conducted in the course of the Blue Champions Pilot Advisory Programme, launched jointly by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission.

Oceans Water Environment Wastewater Water, wastewater management Digitalisation and technological innovation Climate and environment
94% of Europeans support measures to adapt to climate change, according to EIB survey

2024-2025 EIB Climate Survey
16 January 2025

EIB Group Environmental Statement 2024

This is the EIB Group’s seventh Environmental Statement validated in accordance to the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).

Sustainability Climate and environment
29 February 2024

Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability: Overview 2024

This publication gives an overview of the European Investment Bank Group’s support to climate action and environmental sustainability.

Climate and environment
26 October 2021

The EIB Climate Adaptation Plan

The EIB’s first dedicated Adaptation Plan will strengthen investment and technical support to protect projects from the impact of more extreme weather and increase climate resilience of existing and new infrastructure.
24 January 2025

EIB Group – EMAS Environmental Policy

The EMAS Environmental Policy is the framework for action and setting strategic environmental objectives and targets for the EIB Group’s internal activities.

Environment Sustainability Climate and environment
14 December 2020

The EIB Group Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025

Our new global plan to tackle the urgent climate challenges over the next critical decade.

Climate and environment
8 May 2025

Estimating the impact of climate change on European healthcare

To help tackle a funding shortage in the healthcare sector, the European Investment Bank developed a tool that quantifies how climate change is influencing people’s health.

Health and life sciences Climate change Climate Climate action Climate and environment Social infrastructure Social and territorial cohesion