Building climate resilience – turning ambition into action
Climate change is fundamentally transforming Europe’s risk landscape, bringing more frequent and severe floods, storms, heatwaves, and droughts. Strengthening resilience has therefore become an urgent economic, social, and environmental priority.
from left to right: Florian Wimber (GDV), Tilman Lueder (European Commission, DG FISMA), Stine Bosse (Member of the European Parliament), Götz Treber (GDV)
In this context, we invited Stine Bosse, Member of the European Parliament; Tilman Lueder, Head of Unit for Insurance and Pensions, DG FISMA; and Götz Treber, Head of Centre of Competence Corporate Management and Regulation at GDV to explore how to translate Europe’s climate goals into practical measures for a more resilient economy. The panel discussion was accompanied by an exhibition showcasing key findings of the GDV Sustainability Report 2025.
From ambition to implementation
Participants agreed that Europe must now move beyond setting climate ambitions and focus on delivering concrete results. While the EU has made notable progress on mitigation, the growing number of weather-related disasters shows that adaptation and resilience need equal focus. Building climate resilience was described as both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity, a way to strengthen competitiveness while preparing societies for future risks.
The forthcoming European Integrated Framework for Climate Resilience will set out how local communities can prepare for climate impacts, how financial systems can better support resilience, and how public and private actors can work together more effectively. Participants emphasised that Europe should aim to lead globally, not just by responding to disasters, but also by preventing them with targeted investments and strategic planning. Turning ambition into action means translating strategy into tangible outcomes that make resilience visible on the ground.
The economic dimension of resilience
Speakers underlined that climate resilience is not only an environmental goal, but also an economic necessity. Investing in prevention and adaptation reduces future losses and creates opportunities in sustainable infrastructure, green technologies, and innovation. Strengthening resilience is a strategic investment in Europe’s competitiveness and long-term prosperity.
At the same time, participants warned that Europe risks falling behind actors such as China and California, which are already advancing rapidly with green investments and data-drive climate policies. To remain competitive, the EU must not only set ambitious goals but also deliver visible progress and attract private capital into resilience projects.
A predictable policy framework and effective, market-based insurance solutions were identified as essential tools for unlocking investment, sharing risks, and narrowing protection gaps without relying solely on public backstops. Participants agreed that resilience must be viewed as both an economic and moral imperative.
Prevention and sustainable construction
Prevention was identified as one of the most underestimated yet critical pillars of climate resilience. Participants stressed that resilience begins long before disasters strike, starting with the decision about where and how we build. Local authorities, through effective building codes and planning rules, play a decisive role in reducing future losses. While construction standards remain a national responsibility, greater coordination and knowledge-sharing across Member States could significantly enhance overall preparedness.
Several examples highlighted how prevention and innovation go hand in hand: Austria’s HORA platform demonstrates how risk data and mapping can guide more climate-resilient planning. Similarly, the New European Bauhaus was cited as an inspiration for integrating sustainability, functionality, and aesthetics in modern architecture. Participants encouraged Member States to learn from one another and to create a “library of initiatives” to share practical solutions across borders, recognising that climate impacts do not stop at national boundaries.
Beyond infrastructure, prevention also depends on people. Raising public awareness and educating citizens, planners, and local authorities about climate risks and adaptive construction practices key to long-term resilience. Preventive behaviour should not be an isolated measure, but a shared societal responsibility, embedded in how Europe plans, builds, and rebuilds for the future.
The German Insurance Association thanks all participants for their valuable contributions to this timely discussion. Their insights highlighted the importance of collective action, innovation, and investment in strengthening Europe’s climate resilience. Together, these efforts can help turn ambition into lasting progress for a more sustainable and competitive Europe.