Strengthening European Climate Resilience through the Built Environment

📆 Thursday 10 December 2026, 11:00 – 13:00 CET

📍Organised at the European Parliament, Brussels, Room ASP 3G3

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The new EU Framework for Climate Resilience is the European Commission’s plan to strengthen how the EU anticipates, prepares for, and manages climate risks. It aims to establish a coherent and comprehensive approach to adaptation, including better risk assessments, stronger governance, and, crucially, the integration of resilience by design across policies and investments.

Against the backdrop of increasing climate risks, this event will focus on the role of buildings as both vulnerable assets and their potential as key enablers. It will address how policy, planning, and investment decisions can better integrate built environment solutions into the EU’s preparedness and risk management approach.

Supported by the right enabling framework, the built environment can make a significant contribution to enhancing climate resilience, helping reduce vulnerability to extreme weather and evolving conditions. Solutions such as high-performance building envelopes, deep renovation, and nature-based solutions like green roofs have the potential to improve thermal comfort of citizens in increasing volatile winters and summers, better manage water flows, and increase energy efficiency. Together, they can create more sustainable and climate-resilient urban spaces.

As the European Commission has just published the new EU Framework for Climate Resilience, this event offers a timely opportunity to address the critical role that the built environment can play in strengthening European climate resilience.

DRAFT AGENDA

11:00 – 11:10: Welcome and opening remarks by MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D)

 11:10 – 11:20: Intervention by Elina Bardram, Director for ‘Climate Resilience and Information Management’ (Dir. E), DG CLIMA, European Commission (tbc)

 11:20 – 12:10: Panel discussion with the participation of:

• Arnas Liauksminas, Attaché for Environment, Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU (tbc)
• Blaz Kurnik, Head of Unit on ‘Climate Risk and Resilience, European Environment Agency (EEA) (tbc)

• David Ducarme, Deputy CEO, Knauf Insulation

• Representative from Eurocities (tbc)
• Representative from EEB (tbc)
• Representative from EurEau (tbc)

 12:10 – 12:30: Reactions by additional Members of the European Parliament:

• MEP Alexander Bernhuber (tbc)
• MEP Hildegard Bentele (tbc)
• MEP Mohammed Chahim (tbc)
• MEP Bruno Tobback (tbc)
• MEP Emma Ytterell (tbc)

 12:30 – 12:55: Q&A session with the audience

 12:55 – 13:00: Closing remarks by MEP Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D)