The increasing frequency of heatwaves, droughts and wildfires is reinforcing the need to integrate climate adaptation into urban planning. Through Horizon Europe and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, various projects are developing tools to identify risks and guide interventions tailored to local conditions.

Initiatives such as IMPETUS4CHANGE and MULTICLIMACT are working with cities and local authorities to design adaptation strategies, testing solutions in Barcelona, Paris and Prague that can help inform both urban planning and housing renovation policies. In parallel, projects such as HealthRiskADAPT, AURORA and CARMINE are analysing urban heat at higher resolution, combining information on exposure, vulnerability and health impacts.

The article also highlights other EU-funded advances, ranging from early warning systems and critical infrastructure protection to nature-based solutions and measures to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat. Taken together, they show how European research is translating climate adaptation into concrete action across buildings, cities and territories.