Covenant of Mayors’ Annual Report

Abstract

In this report we have analysed the submission of vulnerability risk assessments and adaptation actions of 40 European local authorities in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors. According to the information received from the signatories, Northern Europe and Central North Europe will face a multi-hazard scenario in the future, whereas Central Europe South and Southern Europe are already facing multi-hazard events. Hazardous events are expected to intensify in all regions.

Climate hazards are likely to impact several municipal sectors, especially “land use planning”. Floods, extreme heat, landslides, extreme precipitation, and sea level rise are expected to influence land uses in most regions. Adaptation actions differ depending on the hazard tackled and the climate region considered. However, further “studies” is a common adaptation action proposed across all regions, pointing to the need for additional assessments. Not surprisingly, actions with a large infrastructure component like flood protection systems appear as the most costly action type.

Lastly, a range of remaining gaps have been identified in the analysis, and need careful attention, such as improvement of stakeholder and citizen engagement, improvement of planning actions (which includes reducing the inconsistencies between the risk and vulnerability assessment and the actions proposed), and better address the risk of implementing maladaptation actions.