Improving climate resilience of navigable inland waterways, their surroundings and related water infrastructure

Expected Outcome:

Successful proposals will support the implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy, the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the European Water Resilience Strategy, the EU Preparedness Strategy and the upcoming European Climate Adaptation Plan. Proposals are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Navigable inland waterways, their surroundings and related infrastructure are managed in a more integrated and sustainable manner across Europe and become more climate-resilient
• Climate and environmental risks to water infrastructure (e.g. droughts, flooding, slow onset events, ecological degradation and cascading and compound events) are more effectively addressed in a systemic way. Safe, efficient and reliable navigability conditions are improved.
• Cost-efficient and environmentally friendly measures -- especially nature-based solutions -- are identified with the involvement of stakeholders. They improve climate resilience of inland waterways while supporting integrated co-benefit and avoiding competing water uses, including between countries and regions.

Scope:

Rationale

There are about 42,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways in the EU, with a network spanning 25 Member States. In 2022, 122.1 billion tonne-kilometres were transported through inland waters, making up 5,1% of the total land freight transport volumes within the EU. Inland waterways are one of the most carbon efficient mode of transportation for freight and their role should be boosted, as highlighted in the 2021 Commission Communication (NAIADES III).

Trimmed here, the full scope, expected outcomes and award criteria are on the official topic page ↗.