Analysis of the Potential to Address Climate Concerns in the Rural Development Programs in two European Regions.

Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) are a step to mainstream climatic concerns in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). National and regional RDPs were approved in 2015 and include financial instruments that promote adaptation and Mitigation strategies and stress how climate-smart solutions need to be adopted and adapted to territorial needs. Here we present a comparative assessment of actions undertaken by two EU Member States (NL and HU) and two regions (Emilia Romagna IT and Valencia SP), which represent distinct agriculture and forest systems. In particular, we explore how CAP pillar II policies are targeted to climate objectives through different measures, including compensation for extra cost of environmental and climate services, investments in physical assets and innovation strategies.