Europe is unprepared for rapidly increasing climate risks, researchers say

Europe is the world’s warmest continent, but governments are too slow to take action to reduce these climate risks. According to co-authors Robert Biesbruck and Simona Pedde from Wageningen University & Research, many of these risks, which threaten food security and financial stability in particular, have already reached critical levels and are changing the way we think about emergency response. If there is no change in the situation, it could lead to a catastrophic situation. And decisive action.

Heat waves, droughts, wildfires and floods such as those experienced in recent years will worsen in Europe even under optimistic global warming scenarios, impacting living conditions across the continent. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published the first European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) to help identify policy priorities for climate change adaptation and climate-sensitive sectors.

The assessment shows that European policies and adaptation measures have not kept up with rapidly increasing risks. Gradual adaptation is often insufficient, and many measures to improve resilience to climate change will take a long time, requiring urgent action even for risks that are not yet significant. There is a possibility that

A change in thinking is needed

Simona Pedde, from the Ministry of Environment and Science, said: “EUCRA is committed to ensuring that all the major climate risks facing Europe “This is the first risk assessment that recognizes the risks posed. Climate prediction is fundamental.” However, when planning future adaptations, we must take into account the fact that many risks are already at significant levels. ”

She added: “Why wait for future climate projections to materialize? Given the potential for tipping points, wildcards, and examples of cascading effects throughout the report, decision-makers can… , from responding to the devastating impacts that follow severe floods and droughts to adopting a precautionary approach to climate adaptation. That is the mindset shift we urgently need.”

Further cooperation is key

The EU and its Member States have made considerable progress in understanding and preparing for the climate risks they face. National climate risk assessments are increasingly used to inform the development of adaptation policies. However, policy implementation has been slow and society is inadequately prepared for the rapid rise in risk levels.

Robert Beesbrook, from the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: ‘The widening gap between climate change risks and the slow pace of adaptation is worrying. It is not clear enough when considering the

“While high policy ambitions to reduce risks are common, today these are rarely implemented in practice due to a lack of political will to invest time and resources to create a sustainable future. It won’t happen. Two years ago, we showed this at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).”Europe’s risks are far-reaching, accelerating and impacting every sector and region of Europe. It is reported that they are giving. ”

“The European elections scheduled for June will be crucial to whether and how the recommendations of the European Climate Risk Assessment are implemented.”

risk

• Ecosystems: Almost all risks in the ecosystem cluster require urgent or further action, with risks to marine and coastal ecosystems assessed as particularly severe. The EEA report reminds us that because ecosystems provide multiple services to people, these risks are likely to spill over to other sectors such as food, health, infrastructure and the economy.

• Food: Heat and drought risks to crop production are already at critical levels in southern Europe, but countries in central Europe are also at risk. In particular, widespread and prolonged droughts pose serious threats to crop production, food security and drinking water supplies.

• Health: Heat is the most important and urgent climate risk factor for human health. Those most at risk include outdoor workers exposed to extreme heat, the elderly, and people living in poor housing in urban heat island areas or areas with inadequate access to air conditioning. , a specific group.

• Infrastructure: Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, increasing risks to Europe’s built environment and critical services such as energy, water and transport. Coastal flooding risks are managed relatively well in Europe, but rising sea levels and changes in storm patterns could have devastating effects on people, infrastructure and economic activity. In Southern Europe, heat and drought pose major risks to energy production, transmission and demand.

• Economic and financial: Europe’s economic and financial systems face many climate risks. For example, extreme weather can increase insurance premiums, threaten property and mortgages, and increase government spending and financing costs. The survival of the EU Solidarity Fund is already under serious threat due to the damage caused by floods and bushfires in recent years. Worsening impacts of climate change may also widen gaps in private insurance, making low-income households more vulnerable.

The EUCRA report for the EEA builds on the existing knowledge base on climate impacts and risks in Europe, including recent reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the European Union Joint Research Center. Built on and supplemented by. European Commission (JRC) and the results of EU research and development projects and national climate risk assessments.

First-of-its-kind evaluation knowledge is being synthesized with the aim of supporting strategic policy making.