by Fani Gelagoti
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As climate change intensifies, infrastructure systems across Europe face increasing exposure to extreme weather events and long-term climatic shifts. Ensuring that new investments are resilient to these evolving risks is essential for protecting public assets, sustaining services, and maintaining economic stability.
This JASPERS Practical Guidance on Climate Change Resilience Proofing provides technical and operational support for the implementation of the European Commission’s Technical Guidance on the Climate Proofing of Infrastructure in the 2021–2027 programming period. It is designed to help project developers, managing authorities, and technical experts systematically integrate climate resilience considerations into infrastructure projects co-financed by the Cohesion Fund and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in line with the requirements of Article 73(2)(j) of the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR).
Focusing on the second pillar of climate proofing — climate resilience and adaptation, the guidance helps decision-makers and practitioners identify vulnerabilities, assess climate risks, and embed resilience across the full project cycle — from initial concept and feasibility assessment to design, implementation, and monitoring.
The document begins with a flow-chart presentation of the overall framework, providing clear process steps and key definitions to ensure a consistent understanding of resilience proofing. It then details sector-specific methodologies for Energy, Municipal Solid Waste Management, and Transport, offering:
- Identification of key climate hazards, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts for each sector;
- A comprehensive list of adaptation measures to enhance climate resilience and reduce exposure to physical risks;
By following this guidance, stakeholders can strengthen the resilience and sustainability of infrastructure investments, improve decision-making under uncertainty, and ensure that projects contribute effectively to Europe’s climate neutrality and adaptation objectives. Beyond supporting EU co-financed projects, the document also serves as a reference for good practices applicable to national and private investments, promoting a culture of proactive and evidence-based climate risk management across the infrastructure sector.
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