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Additional tools
Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause. Early action will save on damage costs later. Adaptation strategies are needed at all levels of administration, from the local up to the international level.
Examples of adaptation measures include using scarce water resources more efficiently, adapting building codes to future climate conditions and extreme weather events, building flood defences and raising the levels of dykes, developing drought-tolerant crops, choosing tree species and forestry practices less vulnerable to storms and fires, and setting aside land corridors to help species migrate.
Why should the EU intervene?
Due to the varying severity and nature of climate impacts between regions in Europe most adaptation initiatives will be taken at national, regional or local level. Likewise, the ability to cope and adapt also differs across population, economic sectors and regions within Europe.
By complementing the activities of its Member States, the European Union can support action by promoting greater coordination and information sharing between Member States, and by ensuring that adaptation considerations are addressed in all relevant EU policies.
The EU’s role can be particularly relevant when climate change impacts transcend borders of individual states – such as with river basins — and when impacts vary considerably across regions. The role of the EU can be especially useful to enhance solidarity among Member States and ensure that disadvantaged regions and those most affected by climate change are capable of taking the necessary measures to adapt.
The EU approach explained
In April 2009 the European Commission presented a policy paper known as a White Paper which presents the framework for adaptation measures and policies to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
The framework focuses on the following key areas:
- building a stronger knowledge base since sound data is vital in the development of climate policy
- taking climate change impacts into consideration in key EU policies
- financing climate change policy measures
- supporting wider international efforts on adaptation by helping for example non-EU countries to improve their resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change.
