Adaptation to climate change funding programme – Adapt+
The risks posed by climate change are increasing. What does this mean for Switzerland? And how can we face up to these challenges, take action and find solutions? On 2 April 2025, the CO2 Ordinance came into force, thereby providing a legal basis for the Adapt+ climate change adaptation funding programme. This programme, run by the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, provides federal support for the implementation of adaptation measures. Deadline: 31 August 2025
The goal is to support measures to adapt to climate change in Switzerland so that we as a society can adapt more quickly and more effectively to its effects.
Adapt+ in brief
From 2025, the federal programme Adapt+ will promote measures and projects that minimise the risks resulting from climate change, that protect the population, material assets and natural resources, and that increase the capacity of society, the economy and the environment to adapt to the changes ahead.
In this way, the federal government can support the cantons, communes, regions, associations, businesses and organisations in actively adapting to climate change and taking future-proof measures. In addition to this support, Adapt+ will facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the authorities, businesses and research institutions, and help create synergies.
Prospective project organisers can register from May 2025 and must submit an application for funding to the FOEN by the end of August. In 2025 the federal government will only support adaptation measures that have already been successfully applied elsewhere, the aim being to multiply tried-and-tested solutions as quickly as possible. From 2026 onwards it will also support innovation projects that break new ground in overcoming the challenges posed by climate change.
Which projects are eligible for support?
The programme supports measures and projects that strengthen Switzerland's resilience to the effects of climate change and thus contribute to ensuring our quality of life. Here are some examples of the kind of project that will be eligible for funding:
- Action plans to protect the public during heatwaves
- Appropriate management of water resources in risk areas
- Close-to-nature design and networking of watercourses
- Climate-adapted, close-to-nature design of green and open spaces to reduce urban heat islands
- Use of climate-adapted building materials
- Planning and implementation of concepts for sponge towns and cities
- Shading with trees and shrubs adapted to the location and climate
In addition to the planning and application of measures, upstream work such as climate risk analyses, impact analyses, drawing up guidelines, etc. may also be funded. The FOEN publishes a regularly updated list of examples, which can be downloaded below.
