Europe: civil society and climate change adaptation on the agenda in may

Civil Society and EU Environmental Policy

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) held its annual conference on 13 May 2024 at Brussels Environment, celebrating the organisation's 50th anniversary. During the event, EEB members and experts discussed climate adaptation, pollution, the circular economy and social justice. Participants also discussed the future of European environmental policy in light of the upcoming European elections.    

The EEB is an NGO founded in 1974 and has its headquarters in Brussels. It is a network of around 180 environmental citizens’ organisations based in more than 40 countries.

What exactly is civil society? Civil society organisations are communities of citizens linked by common interests and collective activity. Some of them seek to influence the development of EU policies. This is the case of the EEB, which focuses on various environmental issues and closely monitors European policies on these subjects. This includes issues such as climate change, biodiversity, the circular economy, air, water, soil and chemical pollution, as well as policies on industry, energy, agriculture, product design and waste prevention.     

Why is civil society important? All over Europe, civil society actors promote and protect democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, amplify the voice of citizens, and support governments and institutions to respond to people’s needs. 

Mission Adaptation: improving our resilience to climate change

Climate change affects regions, sectors of the economy and members of society in many ways, and EU regions and cities have different climate vulnerabilities and levels of preparedness. Adapting to climate change means taking action to prepare for and adjust to both the current effects of climate change and the predicted impacts in the future. This is why the European Commission set up the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change which focuses on supporting EU regions, cities and local authorities in their efforts to build resilience against climate change impacts.

Stakeholders met on 23 May 2024 at Brussels Environment as part of the Third Forum of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The event gathered 300+ national, regional and local authorities, friends of the mission, European institutions and research organisations. Discussions focused on ways to help regional and local authorities prepare for climate change impacts. 

Inspiring field visits

On the eve of the forum, participants took part in field trips to Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels to discover local climate change adaptation projects. Two visits were organised in the Belgian capital: one to the Sonian Forest and the other to Tour & Taxis, including the port area of Brussels.  

The first visit consisted of a walk through the Sonian Forest. This exceptional forest on the outskirts of the city is a Natura 2000 and UNESCO World Heritage site. During the walk, participants tackled a number of questions: how can forests be made more resilient to climate change and the growing urban population, how can Urban Forest-Based Solutions (UFBS) help to enhance the well-being and resilience of urban life, and how can innovations in a circular economy support sustainable forest management? The second activity included a visit to Line 28, a new park where nature-based solutions are improving the quality of life, to Tivoli, a former industrial district which has been transformed into a pioneering sustainable neighbourhood, and to BC Materials, a company which transforms waste into carbon-neutral building materials.