Creating a powerful European climate resilience network

The P2R project team has selected 62 new regions across Europe to join it in the fight against climate change.

Since its launch in 2023, the EU-funded P2R project has been supporting regions and communities across Europe on their journey towards climate resilience. Now, sixty-two of the continent’s most climate-vulnerable regions have been selected to join the project in an effort to strengthen their climate adaptation and resilience plans. This new cohort brings the total number of participating regions(opens in a new window) from thirty-eight European countries to one hundred, all committed to the EU’s climate change adaptation mission(opens in a new window). As Elina Bardram, Director of Adaptation and Resilience, Communication and Civil Society Relations at the European Commission, points out in a news item(opens in a new window) published on the P2R website: “I warmly congratulate all the regions selected for the second Pathways2Resilience cohort. As a flagship initiative, Pathways2Resilience helps the EU Climate Change Adaptation Mission to achieve its objectives and advance regional climate resilience together, through tailored support and peer learning.”

Valuable support for effective action

The 62 selected regions face three main hazards: coastal and river flooding, heat stress and drought. With P2R’s support, these regions will be able to take action to address the climate threats that affect infrastructure and endanger the lives and health of their citizens. Rastislav Trnka, President of the Slovak region of Košice, comments: “The increasing risks of drought and extreme rainfall, combined with our above-average vulnerability, highlight the need for systematic adaptation measures. This project will enable us to modernise the region’s adaptation strategy, draw on the expertise of specialists and participate in a significant knowledge exchange with partner regions.” Košice is part of the second cohort and is one of three Slovak regions participating in the project. In addition to EUR 210,000 in grants, each participating region receives mentoring, tools and guidance for region-specific climate planning, and interactive peer-to-peer learning opportunities. With this support, each region has 18 months to develop a robust climate resilience strategy, as well as action and investment plans. To assist in this process, the P2R team has recently published a document(opens in a new window) explaining how using a financial and economic process called the Adaptation Investment Cycle as part of broader adaptation planning processes can address barriers to adaptation financing. “With 100 regions on board, Pathways2Resilience is creating a powerful network of local communities committed to climate change adaptation,” says Thomas Koetz, Climate KIC project coordinator in the Netherlands. This second cohort brings fresh energy and diverse perspectives, helping us to accelerate Europe’s resilience journey at a time when climate impacts are intensifying.”

A summit for resilience

On 11 February 2026, the 100 regions gathered for the P2R summit in Budapest, which was chosen for a reason. As a city facing increasingly intense heatwaves and floods, it has managed — thanks to its participation in P2R — to adopt cohesive climate measures in the form of nature-based solutions, green development initiatives and stormwater management. The summit highlighted the achievements of the first cohort and welcomed the second, reinforcing the goal of the P2R (Pathways2Resilience: Co-developing pathways towards Climate resilient regions in Europe) project to accelerate adaptation across Europe.

Further information: European Commission