University of Twente Study Highlights Inconsistencies in Climate Adaptation Plans Across European Cities

University of Twente Study Highlights Inconsistencies in Climate Adaptation Plans Across European Cities

(IN BRIEF) A new study led by Dr. Diana Reckien at the University of Twente has revealed that 70% of climate adaptation plans in European cities are internally inconsistent, which significantly hampers their ability to effectively address rising climate risks. The study highlights key issues such as a failure to engage vulnerable groups and a lack of risk assessment in many adaptation measures. The findings call for stronger integration of risk assessments, social equity, and participatory processes in climate adaptation plans to close the growing “adaptation gap.”

(PRESS RELEASE) ENSCHEDE, 13-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A new study has revealed alarming inconsistencies in nearly 70% of climate adaptation plans across European cities, which severely hampers their ability to effectively address the escalating risks of climate change. As Europe warms at twice the rate of other continents, this “adaptation gap” poses growing threats to the 75% of Europeans living in cities, warns Dr. Diana Reckien, lead author and researcher at the University of Twente (UT).

Key findings of the study highlight several critical issues with the current climate adaptation plans:

• 70% of adaptation plans exhibit significant internal inconsistencies, especially in addressing the needs of socially vulnerable groups. 
• 52% of plans align sector-specific risks with appropriate adaptation measures, but nearly half of the plans fail to follow through on identified risks. 
• 49% of sectoral measures are implemented without proper risk evaluation, particularly in areas like greening and water management. 
• A mere 1% of plans effectively involve vulnerable communities—such as the elderly, low-income groups, and ethnic minorities—in the development and monitoring of climate strategies. 

Despite years of climate planning and institutional support, European cities are struggling to transform their plans into meaningful action. The research team, including experts from various international institutions, introduced a new framework to assess the internal consistency of these adaptation plans, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical plans and real-world implementation.

“Cities often check the box by having adaptation plans in place, but closer inspection reveals that many of these plans are incomplete or misaligned, especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable populations,” says Dr. Reckien.

Actions Inconsistent with Goals

The study, which analyzed 167 local climate adaptation plans from cities across Europe, assessed the consistency of actions according to goals, risks, implementation strategies, and monitoring systems. Researchers focused on five key dimensions of consistency:

1. Alignment of hazard risks with adaptation goals 
2. Coordination of sectoral risks with measures 
3. Addressing risks to vulnerable groups and aligning measures accordingly 
4. Inclusion of vulnerable groups in monitoring and evaluation processes 
5. Participation of vulnerable groups in the development of the plans 

The results revealed that while 52% of the plans align sectoral risks with appropriate actions, almost half fail to implement necessary follow-up actions. Additionally, 49% of sector-specific measures, particularly those related to greening and water management, are implemented without conducting prior risk assessments.

Failure to Address Vulnerable Communities

While many plans align environmental risks with corresponding actions, the study found that only 1% effectively involve vulnerable communities in the development process. This highlights a significant gap in integrating social equity into climate adaptation strategies. Notably, adaptation plans from Eastern Europe—despite being more recent—often fail to account for vulnerable populations. In contrast, older plans from Northern Europe and the UK typically show poor alignment between climate risks and adaptation measures.

This inconsistency not only limits the effectiveness of the plans but also increases the risk of maladaptation—where actions inadvertently worsen vulnerabilities or lead to wasted resources. The study authors urge policymakers to strengthen internal coherence in adaptation plans by ensuring that risk assessments are foundational to all actions, addressing social vulnerabilities explicitly, and creating transparent participation and monitoring processes.

“Climate adaptation must go beyond just creating documents,” said Dr. Reckien. “Without consistent, inclusive, and evidence-based planning, we risk leaving behind the most vulnerable communities in our fight against climate change.”

About the Study:

This research is part of a broader European initiative to evaluate and improve urban climate resilience, setting a new benchmark for evaluating the consistency of climate adaptation plans. The findings offer practical tools to close the adaptation gap and assist cities in creating more resilient and equitable futures. This work is part of the Euro-LCP Initiative (EURO LCP Initiative – Local Climate Plans), which can be accessed at lcp-initiative.eu.

Dr. Diana Reckien, the lead author of the study, is an Associate Professor in Climate Change and Urban Inequalities at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente. The article, entitled “Explaining the adaptation gap through consistency in adaptation planning,” was published in Nature Climate Change.

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-025-02334-w

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SOURCE: University of Twente