Europe is facing worsening climate challenges including extreme heat, droughts, wildfires, and floods, which will impact living conditions across the continent. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released the first European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) to aid in identifying priorities in policy for climate change adaptation and for sectors sensitive to climate.
The assessment reveals that Europe’s policies and adaptation efforts are lagging behind the rapidly growing risks. Urgent action may be necessary even for risks not yet critical, as many adaptation measures require significant time. The report states that certain regions, like Southern Europe, are particularly vulnerable to wildfires, heat-related impacts on agriculture and health, and water scarcity. Coastal areas would face threats from flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion, affecting densely populated cities.
The EUCRA identifies 36 major climate risks across ecosystems, food, health, infrastructure, and economy. Over half require immediate action, including measures to conserve ecosystems, protect against heat, floods, and wildfires, and ensure the viability of solidarity mechanisms like the EU Solidarity Fund.
Drawing from various sources including IPCC reports, Copernicus Climate Change Service, and EU-funded projects, the EEA’s report aims to support strategic policymaking by synthesizing knowledge on climate impacts and risks in Europe.
To find out more information, click here! To read the full report, click here!