Global mean sea level has risen by approximately 20 cm since 1900 – at a current rate of more than 3 millimeters per year – impacting not only marine ecosystems but also coastal communities, global economies and society. At the same time, projections for 2100 show that storm surges which were considered a once every 100-year event could now occur as frequently as every ten years, if not annually, in some parts of the world. CMCC research is not only at the forefront of identifying these risks, but also provides the tools and solutions to deal with the challenges they pose.

Europe is facing escalating costs from climate change, with record-breaking heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires already impacting lives, livelihoods, and economies. The evidence is clear: the financial, social, and human costs of failing to adapt – or implementing the wrong adaptation policies – are rising sharply. As the continent’s climate warms at twice the global average, adaptation is not just a policy option: it is an economic and social necessity.