BLOSSOM participated in the Pathways2Resilience (P2R) Summit in Budapest, a flagship gathering under the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. The summit brought together hundreds of European regional governments, city leaders, EU representatives and climate adaptation experts to exchange knowledge and celebrate the progress of 100 regions advancing their transformative climate resilience pathways.
Pathways2Resilience (P2R) supports regions through a structured methodological framework, peer learning, and long-term capacity building. The event convened high-level representatives from the European Commission (including DG CLIMA and the Mission Adaptation Board), the European Committee of the Regions, regional and local authorities, and technical partners from across Europe.
The programme featured reflection circles, high-level panels on P2R’s contribution to delivering the Mission on Adaptation and Climate Resilience and the EU Risk Management Integrated Framework, as well as interactive workshops focused on learning from regional practice. Innovation groups explored key topics such as climate finance, Nature-based Solutions, stakeholder engagement, and climate-proofing investments. Many of the discussions and shared experiences are directly relevant as BLOSSOM accelerates its work on developing bankable climate adaptation solutions.
During the summit, the BLOSSOM team actively engaged with regional and local stakeholders to present the project’s objectives and explore opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. Conversations included technical consultants supporting the Alentejo Central Region in Portugal, representatives from the Emilia-Romagna Region (where BLOSSOM follower city Parma is located), and representatives from Plymouth, UK. These exchanges opened pathways for potential cooperation between BLOSSOM’s frontrunner and follower cities and other European regions working on similar adaptation challenges.
BLOSSOM also met with a representative of the European Investment Bank (EIB) to better understand the institution’s priorities and financing conditions. Discussions covered eligible sectors for EIB support, financing mechanisms available to cities and regions, including project finance and on-lending through intermediary banks, as well as the advisory services offered by EIB teams. These insights will support BLOSSOM’s ambition to structure investment-ready, financially viable climate solutions.
By participating in the P2R Summit, BLOSSOM strengthened its connections with European adaptation actors and financial institutions, reinforcing its commitment to turning climate resilience strategies into implementable and investable actions across cities and regions.
