EU president promises European Heatwave Plan
16th September 2026
FRANCE: Cooling was amongst the main topics of today’s state of the union address by Ursula von der Leyen, with the EU president proposing a new European Heatwave Plan.
In her annual speech before the European Parliament, von der Leyen, reflected on the effects of this summer’s heatwave which saw 660,000 hectares burnt to the ground, some 12 million tonnes of crops lost and more than 35,000 additional deaths.
“Science is clear. Europe is warming at double the global rate,” she said. “Of course, the transition is complex. And we will need to adjust and learn along the way, but there is no doubt: Europe can, must and will stay the course on its climate targets.
“This is not about mitigation or adaptation. We need both. And they need to strengthen each other. This is the only way to reach climate resilience. But we need to step up dramatically on preparedness.”
Von der Leyen promised a new framework for climate resilience next month. “We will identify 100 of the most vulnerable territories in Europe. And we will assess the risks – and at which level they should be managed.”
She said it would aim to make Europe the champion in “huge emerging market” of adaptation technologies.
“Whether drought-resistant crops, flood prevention or energy-efficient cooling, Europe is already a leader. And we must capture this market,” she said.
“There can be no repeat of this summer,” she continued. “This is why we will also soon present a European Heatwave Plan. We need better early warning systems and better health preparedness. We need urban adaptation and cooling. And we need to support the most vulnerable.
