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Mayors from the European Covenant of Mayors Board have called on the European Commission to give cities and regions a stronger role in shaping Europe’s response to climate change, with the funding, resources and decision-making powers needed to protect their communities.

In a joint letter sent to the European Commission on 19 October 2026, the mayors welcome the upcoming European Integrated Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Framework, stating the urgent need to strengthen Europe’s preparedness for increasingly frequent heatwaves, floods, droughts and wildfires.

Cities are already taking action to protect residents, adapt public spaces to extreme heat, strengthen flood defences and restore natural ecosystems. However, the mayors warn that national-level decisions on climate adaptation and funding often fail to reflect local needs and responsibilities.

To address these challenges, the letter sets out three priorities for the new EU framework:

• Shared climate risk assessments: Establish common, science-based climate scenarios and accessible data to guide planning and investment across all levels of government, while allowing cities to respond to their specific local circumstances.
• Stronger cooperation between levels of government: Ensure cities and regions have a meaningful role in developing, implementing and reviewing climate adaptation strategies, with clear responsibilities and closer cooperation between local, regional, national and EU authorities.
• Better access to climate adaptation funding: Connect the new Climate Resilience Framework to the next EU budget, ensuring that National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs) reflect locally identified climate risks, build on existing adaptation plans and provide the investment needed to deliver effective solutions.

The letter also highlights the importance of coordinating public and private investment, avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens and ensuring local authorities have the resources to fulfil their growing responsibilities.

The letter follows the 2026 EU Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in Brussels, which brought together hundreds of mayors and senior EU policymakers to discuss Europe’s climate and energy priorities.

Against a backdrop of rising energy costs, geopolitical uncertainty and increasingly severe climate impacts, discussions focused on how cities can strengthen Europe’s climate resilience, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and protect residents.

A central message from the ceremony was that cities are essential partners in delivering Europe’s climate ambitions, but their growing responsibilities must be matched by adequate funding, support and a meaningful role in EU decision-making.

Building on these discussions, the letter calls for an ambitious European Climate Resilience Framework that recognises local governments as strategic partners and enables them to prepare for climate risks, invest in adaptation and protect their communities.