Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Europe is warming faster than the global average, placing climate change adaptation at the centre of urban policy and planning. This article develops and applies a framework to diagnose the maturity of multilevel adaptation governance across European Union Member States in 2025. Governance is operationalised through eight dimensions: (i) National Adaptation Strategies/Plans; (ii) Regional Adaptation Plans; (iii) Local Adaptation Plans; (iv) Sectoral Adaptation Plans; (v) integration in National Urban Policies; (vi) adaptive content in Long-Term Strategies; (vii) adaptation relevance in climate laws; and (viii) participation in the Covenant of Mayors. Results show pronounced heterogeneity: many systems have up-to-date national strategies but incomplete territorial diffusion, thin legal anchoring, or limited urban-policy standards. By linking auditable rules to urban-facing instruments, the study provides a practical tool for benchmarking capabilities, prioritising reforms, and tracking progress towards integrated, multilevel adaptation systems that support resilient urban development across the European Union.
Source: Urban Science
Authors: Grazia Brunetta, Martina Caputo
Institution: Politecnico di Torino
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,930
OpenAlex ID: W7124158482