RegionsAdapt Report 2026: 10 Years of Regional Adaptation Leadership
The RegionsAdapt 10-Years Anniversary Report 2026 looks back at ten years of regional climate adaptation, and ahead to what the next decade demands. It traces how states, provinces and regions have moved from the margins of climate discussions to the centre of adaptation delivery, and where the gap between leadership and delivery must now close.
Drawing on ten years of RegionsAdapt reporting, regional stories and collective learning, the report brings together evidence from across the network. It includes Regions in Action, ten adaptation journeys that show where regions started a decade ago and where they are today, from Rio de Janeiro and Catalonia to Gauteng, Jalisco and Québec.
Key Findings: Five Shifts in Regional Adaptation
Regional governments manage the land, water, infrastructure, health and rural and urban systems where climate impacts are felt. Over the past decade, their role has changed profoundly. The report identifies five shifts:
• From recognition to leadership. Regions are now recognised partners in national and global climate governance, and are leading beyond their own borders.
• From risk assessment to mainstream governance. Adaptation is built into laws, budgets and institutions, and must last beyond political mandates.
• From environmental action to resilient development. Adaptation is part of economic and development strategy across sectors, from water and agriculture to forests and health.
• From peer learning to collective innovation. Regions co-develop solutions, adapt each other’s approaches and bring shared evidence into global processes.
• From adaptation plans to bankable projects. Planning has advanced. The priority now is preparing projects and connecting regions with finance.
The report closes with The Way Forward: what the next decade needs from governments, partners and funders, and how RegionsAdapt 2.0, with its new Country Chapters, will support regions in turning ambition into delivery.
The report was developed with the financial support of the Government of Québec. It was launched just before COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, in November 2026.
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- DATE
- 05.11.2026
