Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
UPM
Contribuir a la educación superior y a la investigación a niver regional, nacional, europeo y mundial.
ID: 555819220647-67
Lobbying Activity
Response to European climate resilience and risk management law
20 Aug 2025
The Research Centre for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) welcomes this initiative to strengthen and synergise Europes approach to climate resilience and risk management. We particularly encourage DG CLIMA to ensure that the specific challenges of Mediterranean regions are fully reflected in the forthcoming framework, given their high exposure to extreme events such as droughts, heatwaves, and water scarcity. Key messages and recommendations: 1) Agriculture and Food Systems Agriculture in southern Europe is highly vulnerable to rising temperatures and recurrent droughts, which directly threaten food security and rural livelihoods. The framework should promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, including regenerative agriculture, drought- and heat-resistant crops, and improved soil and water management. Risk management tools (e.g. climate risk insurance, index-based insurance, early warning systems) should be explicitly included as strategic instruments to safeguard farmers resilience. 2) Water and Drought Resilience Water scarcity is one of the most pressing risks for Mediterranean countries. The framework should align closely with the EU Water Resilience Strategy, ensuring cross-sectoral coherence. Investment in innovative water-saving technologies, irrigation efficiency, and integrated water resource management is essential. Transboundary water challenges require coordinated EU-level action to ensure equity and sustainability across river basins. 3) Climate Risk Assessment and Digital Tools We strongly support the promotion of satellite and in-situ data, AI, and modelling tools for climate risk assessment. However, sustained investment in long-term monitoring networks (hydrological, agroclimatic, soil health) is needed to provide the evidence base for robust decision-making. Data platforms must be open, interoperable, and accessible to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners at all scales. 4) Socio-economic Resilience and Just Adaptation The framework should recognise the importance of just resilience in rural communities, ensuring that adaptation measures do not reinforce existing inequalities between territories. Support for SMEs, cooperatives, and farmers associations is crucial to foster innovation in climate-resilient products and services, while securing the viability of rural economies. 5) Integration with Risk Management Policies The initiative should explicitly link with EU and national agricultural risk management schemes, building synergies between public policy (e.g. Common Agricultural Policy), insurance systems, and climate adaptation strategies. This integration is key to reducing financial losses, protecting livelihoods, and ensuring long-term competitiveness of the agri-food sector. Conclusion CEIGRAM/UPM strongly supports the development of a comprehensive and coherent European climate resilience and risk management framework. By fully integrating Mediterranean perspectives, with a particular emphasis on agriculture, water, and agroclimatic risk management, the initiative can contribute to building a climate-resilient Europe that safeguards lives, secures prosperity, and enhances competitiveness across all regions.
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