Adaptation to climate change is complex because the severity of the impacts will vary from region to region, depending on physical vulnerability, the degree of socio-economic development, natural and human adaptive capacity, health services, and response mechanisms.

To address this variability, multilevel governance is emerging and involves a wide range of stakeholders from the individual citizens, private sector, NGOs, national public authorities, decision makers and EU level decision makers.

Actions to adapt to climate change will not only need to be taken at EU and national level, but also at a very local and regional level to match the specific conditions therein. Moreover, actions will be needed in areas where the competences lay with regional authorities. Therefore regions have a very significant role to play for adaptation to climate change.

Some regions or cities have already produced regional adaptation strategies; others are in the process of doing so. Still many regions would benefit from assistance for capacity building and best practice sharing.

More information concerning the expert workshop in Brussel 17- 18 June 2009 are available for download.