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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) reveals that climate adaptation investments yield an average return of €10 for every €1 spent, based on an analysis of 320 projects across 12 countries
• These projects, ranging from health systems and flood defences to climate-smart agriculture, could generate over €1 trillion in benefits within a decade
• The findings underscore that resilience planning delivers substantial value even outside of climate emergencies
🔭 The context: Climate adaptation has long been viewed as a reactive measure, yet mounting evidence shows it can be a driver of sustainable development
• With disasters costing Europe alone over €77 billion in 2023, and projections warning of further economic losses, there is growing momentum to integrate adaptation into mainstream policy
• Despite progress in some areas, such as city-led green initiatives, Europe still lacks a comprehensive strategy to match escalating risks
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Adapting to climate change is not only essential for protecting vulnerable populations and ecosystems but also an economically prudent move
• By focusing on resilience, governments can mitigate future damages, generate employment, and improve public health
• High-return sectors like early warning systems and healthcare expansion offer scalable, low-regret opportunities, especially for regions facing intensifying climate shocks
⏭️ What's next: The upcoming COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, is expected to elevate climate adaptation on the global agenda
• Policymakers are being urged to prioritize resilience as core development policy, backed by economic evidence and scalable success stories
• Innovations such as Nauru’s ‘golden passport’ scheme also highlight the urgent need to bridge adaptation finance gaps through unconventional means
💬 One quote: “Policymakers don’t need a disaster to justify resilience – it’s simply smart development,” said Carter Brandon, senior fellow at WRI
📈 One stat: Health-focused adaptation initiatives deliver an average return of 78%, the highest among all sectors analysed
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