Climate Proofing (Climate Resilience Assessment)
If you need a clear and compliant climate proofing assessment for a funding application, you’re in the right place.
Focus on what matters for funding success.
Sustinere delivers climate proofing assessments aligned with EU technical guidance and national funding authority requirements. We focus on a precise, proportionate assessment that fully meets requirements without unnecessary complexity.
Wide experience in climate advisory and compliance.
Sustinere has advised over 250 companies on sustainability matters over its nearly 10 years of operation, including compliance with EU requirements, regulations, and DNSH assessments that fully meet funding scheme requirements.
When is a climate proofing assessment needed?
Climate proofing assessments are typically required when applying for EU or nationally co‑funded investments involving long‑term assets or infrastructure.
Most commonly, climate proofing is required for:
- EU Structural Funds (ERDF, Cohesion Fund, Just Transition Fund)
- Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) investments
- National support schemes applying EU climate proofing rules
- Infrastructure or asset‑based projects with a lifetime of 5 years or more
For projects where climate proofing is mandatory, a positive funding decision is only possible if the assessment is completed and documented in line with the applicable guidance.
Who typically needs a climate proofing assessment?
Climate proofing is relevant for companies and organisations planning funded investments in:
- Energy and renewable energy projects
- Industrial and manufacturing facilities
- Transport and logistics infrastructure
- Buildings, real estate and construction projects
- Utilities, water and waste infrastructure
- Municipalities and other public sector organisations
In practice, climate proofing applies whenever a funding authority classifies the investment as infrastructure or a long‑lived asset.
Our process
Our climate proofing process follows the EU Technical Guidance on Climate Proofing of Infrastructure (2021–2027) and specific national funding authority practice.
The assessment is carried out through two parallel pillars: climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.
In the end both results are consolidated into a single climate proofing conclusion – a document delivered in a format accepted by funding authorities.
A. Climate Change Mitigation
Step 1 – Screening
We assess whether the project falls under categories where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are relevant and whether a detailed carbon footprint analysis together with mitigation plan is required.
Step 2 – Detailed analysis (if required)
Where necessary, we quantify absolute and relative GHG emissions for a typical operating year and assess alignment with EU climate neutrality objectives.
Step 3 – Mitigation conclusions
We document compliance with mitigation requirements and identify any required emission reduction or energy efficiency measures.
B. Climate Change Adaptation
Step 1 – Climate vulnerability screening
We identify relevant current and future climate hazards affecting the project based on location, type and lifetime. We analyse project’s exposure and sensitivity to all relevant climate hazards, following the list of hazards as defined in the EU Taxonomy regulation.
Step 2 – Vulnerability and risk assessment (if required)
Where vulnerabilities are identified, we assess their likelihood and impact on the project to establish material climate risks affecting the project.
Step 3 – Adaptation measures and conclusions
Where needed, we define proportionate adaptation measures to ensure project is resilient to climate risks now and in the future.
Typical timeline and pricing:
- Around 1 week for a standard climate proofing assessment (express delivery available for urgent submissions)
- Fee for basic-level assessments starts from 1 490 EUR+VAT
Climate proofing is closely connected with Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) assessments. Climate proofing focuses specifically on climate change mitigation and adaptation, while DNSH covers all six environmental objectives.
Sustinere regularly delivers aligned DNSH and climate proofing assessments as a joint project, ensuring full compliance while avoiding duplication
Key benefits for your project
- Clear understanding of climate risks that actually matter
Overview of which climate hazards are relevant for your project location and activity – and which are not. This avoids over‑analysing irrelevant risks and keeps attention on real vulnerabilities.
- Insight into where your project is vulnerable – and why
Overview of how sensitive your assets, operations and location are to specific climate risks (e.g. heatwaves, flooding), helping you understand where problems may arise over the project lifetime.
- Early warning of actual high risk issues
High‑risk climate impacts are clearly identified and prioritised. This allows you to address critical weaknesses early, before they turn into operational, safety or cost issues.
- Better design and planning decisions
Climate proofing supports informed choices on design solutions, materials, layout and operational assumptions, reducing the risk of future retrofits, disruptions or underperforming assets.
- Stronger internal and stakeholder discussions
You receive a clear, structured explanation of climate risks and resilience logic that can be reused in discussions with designers, engineers, management and partners.
- More robust, future proof investments
Overall, the assessment increases confidence that your project remains functional, reliable and fit for purpose under future climate conditions – not just under today’s climate.
Why choose Sustinere?
High accuracy and compliance – climate proofing assessments based on EU and local authority expectations.
Fast turnaround – experience working with tight funding deadlines.
Strong track record – proven assessments for infrastructure, and other innovation and investment projects in manufacturing, real estate, agriculture and other fields.
Ability to combine climate proofing assessment with “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) assessment if the funding measure requires both
Focus on getting things done – minimal time required from your side, our role is to focus on asking information that is truly needed
