Deadline Date: September 22, 2026
The Climate Change Adaptation strand under the EU LIFE Programme 2026 aims to support projects that strengthen adaptive capacity, build resilience, and reduce vulnerability to climate change in line with the European Climate Law and the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.
The initiative focuses on supporting the implementation of climate adaptation policies and the revision of national, regional, and local adaptation strategies and plans, implementing advanced tools for climate risk assessments and cost-effective adaptation measures, developing and applying nature-based solutions across rural, urban, and coastal areas, climate-proofing infrastructure and buildings, promoting adaptation solutions for agriculture and forestry, improving water management systems, addressing climate adaptation and health challenges, preparing for compound and cascading climate risks, and developing financial instruments, innovative solutions, and public-private collaboration in insurance and loss data management.
The programme is designed to ensure continuous progress in enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience, and reducing vulnerability to climate change while aligning with Article 5 of the European Climate Law and the long-term vision of achieving a climate-resilient Europe by 2050. It also emphasizes reducing vulnerability to risks identified in the European Climate Risk Assessment and integrating adaptation principles from EU policy frameworks on climate risk management.
The indicative available budget for the 2026 call is EUR 60,000,000 across the three topics. Under this allocation, the Climate Change Adaptation topic is assigned an indicative budget of EUR 28,000,000.
Projects are expected to contribute to smarter adaptation by improving access to reliable climate data and risk assessment tools, supporting decision-making processes, and promoting the use of existing climate vulnerability assessments at multiple governance levels. They are also expected to strengthen systemic adaptation by integrating climate resilience into all relevant policy areas, improving spatial planning, enhancing critical infrastructure resilience, and scaling up nature-based solutions to support climate-resilient landscapes. Additionally, projects should accelerate adaptation by developing and deploying solutions that enable faster and more comprehensive responses to climate risks.
A strong emphasis is placed on avoiding maladaptation, ensuring that adaptation measures do not unintentionally increase emissions, shift vulnerabilities, or create inequitable outcomes. Each project must clearly demonstrate its intervention logic, including identification of specific climate risks and vulnerabilities, justification of chosen adaptation measures, implementation strategy within the project duration, and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that extends beyond the project lifecycle.
The programme also encourages collaboration and synergy with EU missions, Horizon Europe clusters, and key European strategies such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy, Forest Strategy, Soil Strategy, Disaster Risk Management framework, and the European Green Deal. Partnerships with public authorities, private sector stakeholders, civil society, research institutions, and international networks are strongly encouraged to enhance impact and mobilize additional climate resilience investments.
For more information, visit European Commission.
