The Commission presented a new interactive web-based tool on adaptation to climate change. CLIMATE-ADAPT has been developed with the support of the European scientific and policy making community, and will help users to access, disseminate and integrate information. It is hosted and managed by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

CLIMATE-ADAPT, the European Climate Adaptation Platform, is an interactive web-based tool on adaptation to climate change with the aim to support policy-makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in the development of climate change adaptation measures and policies. According to the Commission, adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause. Recently, EU Ministers committed to work on potential pathways for long term finance to fight climate change.

The platform is created to help users to access, disseminate and integrate information on expected climate change in Europe, the vulnerability of regions, countries and sectors now and in the future, information on national, regional and transnational adaptation activities and strategies, case studies of adaptation and potential future adaptation options, online tools that support adaptation planning, adaptation-related research projects, guideline documents, reports information sources, links, news and events.

The new Commission's tool will support the generation of the knowledge-base required to support the development of evidence-based adaptation policies. Its contribution will inform the development of a comprehensive EU Adaptation Strategy that the Commission plans to adopt in the beginning of 2013, with the goal of supporting the needs of Member States, transnational organisations and local stakeholders with appropriate actions at EU level.