In frontline regions of Ukraine, proactive climate planning is increasingly essential. Communities must navigate the combined impacts of war and environmental vulnerabilities — including droughts, floods, heatwaves, and water scarcity — while ensuring access to essential services and safeguarding local livelihoods. Integrating climate change adaptation into recovery efforts helps communities prepare for risks, strengthen resilience, and support the gradual restoration of daily life.

EU4ClimateResilience project facilitated a planning meeting focused on developing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions. Representatives of regional administrations joined the discussions, together with partners from Egis in Ukraine, who previously contributed to the APENA 3 project and supported Covenant of Mayors activities. The meeting was hosted by GIZ.

A First Step Toward Regional Adaptation Strategies

This event marks the initial phase of a longer-term process to design comprehensive climate adaptation strategies for two regions facing both conflict-related challenges and growing climate pressures.

Key Discussion Points

Participants used the meeting to:

• Review current climate risks and vulnerabilities in both regions;

• Identify data gaps, analytical needs, and potential partnerships;

• Draw lessons from other regions that have already developed adaptation strategies;

• Explore approaches to integrating adaptation measures into broader regional planning processes;

• Clarify expectations for community participation and the contribution of national and international experts.

Moving Forward

The meeting laid the foundation for the next stages of work under EU4ClimateResilience to support the development of robust, evidence-based Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy. These strategies will help ensure that resilience and climate considerations are embedded into regional recovery planning from the outset.