At COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, the EU and the African Union announced a new Team Europe Initiative on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Africa as part of the EU-Africa Global Gateway Investment Package.

This Team Europe Initiative will bring together existing and new climate change adaptation programmes of over €1 billion and leverage its impact by improved coordination and a reinforced policy dialogue on adaptation between the EU and AU. This includes €60 million for loss and damage from the overall EU contribution.

It will enhance cooperation with African partners to further respond to their adaptation needs and mitigate disaster risks. The Initiative is launched by the European Commission together with Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands and is open to other Member States and development banks, which can further strengthen and accelerate Team Europe’s coordinated action in this field.

The Initiative is structured across four pillars of action:

• Reinforcing early warning systems at regional and national level, strengthening governance, and promoting risk-informed decisions – in line with the UN initiative “Early Warning Systems for All” unveiled by UN Secretary-General Guterres at COP 27;
• Developing and implementing Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) tools and mechanisms – such as innovative climate risk insurance products – to further protect vulnerable populations in support of e.g. the Global Shield against Climate Risks.
• Increasing public sector readiness and supporting mechanisms to mobilise international climate finance on adaptation, including from the private sector.
• Supporting climate risk data collection, aggregation and analysis to improve relevant decision-making processes;