On 27 October 2026, the European Commission presented its EU Framework for Climate Resilience, a package of legislative and other measures aimed at strengthening preparedness for and management of climate risks across the EU. The initiative seeks to address fragmented approaches to climate risk assessment and management across Member States and encourage more systematic action to adapt to climate change.
The package includes a proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework to enhance climate resilience (European Climate Resilience Law), a Commission Communication setting out a broader range of measures, and three digital tools to support climate risk assessment and adaptation decisions.
The proposed Regulation introduces a common reference global warming trajectory to provide a shared basis for risk assessments, planning and decision-making. It also provides for more regular and comparable climate risk assessments, the identification of policy risk owners, and the development of strategic plans on climate resilience at EU and Member State level. Under the proposal, the Commission would adopt an EU strategic plan by September 2028, while Member States would adopt national plans by the end of 2030.
The framework also includes three digital tools – the European Climate Viewer, Navigator of Climate Resilience Tools and Mission Solutions Explorer – providing information on projected climate hazards, available climate resilience tools and practical adaptation solutions.
Insurance plays an important role in the new EU framework by helping households, businesses and public authorities manage the financial consequences of natural disasters. The European Commission emphasises the need to narrow the climate insurance protection gap. According to the figures cited by the Commission, historically only around 25% of natural catastrophe losses in the EU have been insured.
To address this gap, the Commission plans to establish a Climate Insurance Alliance, bringing together insurers, reinsurers, insurance intermediaries, insurance takers, risk-modelling experts, investors, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and public authorities.
By the end of 2027, the Alliance is expected to deliver a first set of specific and actionable measures in three main areas: increasing insurance uptake, incentivising risk prevention and ensuring adequate insurance capacity to cover natural catastrophe risks. Potential measures include raising risk awareness, improving transparency on insurance policies, including clearer information on natural catastrophe exclusions and deductibles, facilitating quicker payouts through parametric insurance, and developing insurance solutions that encourage preventive action.
The Alliance will also explore opportunities for public-private partnerships at national, regional and EU level to help narrow the climate insurance protection gap.
Another initiative is the establishment by EIOPA of an Observatory for Catastrophe Risk Insurability, which will support the analysis of the drivers of the insurance protection gap and monitor developments in this area. The Commission will also work with EIOPA and the insurance sector to further develop the PROTECT tool, providing property owners with information on climate risks and possible prevention measures.
The proposed Regulation will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU under the ordinary legislative procedure.
European Commission documents:
