Are EU regions ready to tackle climate change?

This paper provides quantitative evidence on the geography of regional readiness to tackle climate change using data from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. Following Cappellano et al. (2022), we estimate a composite indicator that reports the situation of regions in these countries between 2009 and 2020 regarding the directionality of their Science and Technological Innovation and policy priorities to fight climate change. Using regression analysis, we assess the relationship between such directionality and the degree of risk of disasters (coastal floods, river floods, and landslides) they face in the short, medium, and long-term as a result of climate change effects. Results shows a positive relationship between estimated risk and climate change preparedness. However, a more in-depth analysis demonstrates the complexity of such geographical "problem-solution convergence". Indeed, more developed regions are the ones that appear more ready to tackle climate change effects compared with transition and less developed regions. Policymakers should be aware of these differences in the readiness to tackle climate change to make sure everyone is on board for today's most pressing challenge.