The European Commission will soon present a European Heatwave Plan aimed at improving early warning systems, health preparedness, urban adaptation and cooling, and support for vulnerable people. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan in her 2026 State of the Union address to the European Parliament on September 16.
Von der Leyen said Europe experienced its hottest summer months on record, with more than 35,000 additional deaths during heatwaves. She also pointed to dangerous overheating in care homes and hospitals and said Europe is warming at twice the global rate.
The Commission will also present a new framework for climate resilience next month. It will identify 100 of Europe’s most vulnerable territories and assess climate risks and the level at which they should be managed. The framework will cover adaptation technologies including drought-resistant crops, flood prevention and energy-efficient cooling.
The Commission also plans to establish a Climate Insurance Alliance. According to von der Leyen, only around 25% of catastrophe losses in Europe are currently covered by private insurance.
“There can be no repeat of this summer. 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,” von der Leyen said.
