Adapting to a Changing Climate: EU Strategies for Emissions Reduction and Resilience

Abstract

Climate change presents intensifying challenges for Europe, demonstrated in extreme weather events, energy system stress, and land-use pressures. In response, the European Union has expressed a comprehensive dual strategy: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing territorial resilience. This paper critically examines the EU's evolving climate governance through key frameworks, including the European Green Deal, Fit for 55 package, and the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD 2024). It analyses how these instruments are operationalised across scales, with a particular focus on the integration of emissions reduction and adaptation objectives in building renovation, and spatial planning policies. The analysis foregrounds structural and contextual barriers ranging from institutional fragmentation to social inequalities and explores emerging opportunities in whole-life carbon reduction, sufficiency strategies, digital tools, and nature-based solutions. It reflects on the strategic role of multi-level governance and interregional cooperation in managing systemic risks. The paper offers recommendations for embedding resilience and climate neutrality into regional planning based on recent EU-level assessments. It supports for accelerated switch of EU directives, equitable funding mechanisms, enhanced data transparency, and civic engagement to strengthen implementation. Ultimately, the paper positions the EPBD and related frameworks as critical levers in transforming the built environment into a cornerstone of a just and climate resilient European future.