The EU’s Strategic Guidelines assume that climate change will be a factor of instability and conflict worldwide in the coming decades. This issue is already being felt today. Changes in climate patterns are expected to increase tensions and violence, and consequently, humanitarian needs may multiply. The impact of the growing frequency and intensity of extreme events affects natural and historical heritage, but also — and above all — human heritage. These factors pose challenges in terms of defense and security at local, national, regional, and even international levels, requiring efforts to identify good practices and, above all, to implement adaptation and mitigation measures.
In Europe, direction has been set through the adoption of the Paris Agreement and adherence to the principles of the 2030 Agenda, with a commitment to linking resilience and sustainability. Joint measures have been proposed, debated, and approved, such as the creation of the European Green Deal, the adoption of the European Climate Law, and the European Climate Pact.
The questions that arise, and which we seek to analyze and discuss, are: what challenges do European states face? How do international cooperation mechanisms help bridge the gaps in meeting the commitments made?