European Climate Change Programme II: Impacts
and Adaptation
 There
is growing evidence that our climate is changing. These climatic
changes are manifesting themselves in different ways. Global
average temperature has already increased by 0.7 °C and
in Europe by 0.95°C above pre-industrial levels. As a
result of this seemingly small increase in temperature, there
is evidence of rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns,
retreating glaciers, thinning of the artic sea ice and increased
incidence of extreme weather or species migrating out of historic
ranges to colder climates and thereby changing ecosystems.
We can expect Europe’s climate to continue to change
over the coming years. There are many scientists across the
EU working to predict these climatic changes. Current levels
of greenhouse gases result in a further increase of 2-6.3°C
in Europe over less than 100 years. Many Europeans that will
be born in the coming years will be faced with the consequences.
In 2004 the European Environment Agency summarized the climate
change impacts in Europe. Changes in the climate are likely
to have knock-on impacts on the EU economy and society including
water, agriculture, forestry, industry and biodiversity to
urban life.
Therefore, in addition to avoiding and reversing climate
change through reducing in emissions of greenhouse gases,
there is an urgent need to ensure that we are able to adequately
adapt to climate changes predicted for the European regions.
Adaptation policy
Adaptation to climate change is a complex area. It involves
considering climate change impacts on a range of sectors,
organizations and people. Making decisions about adaptation
policy involve risk assessments and assessments of costs and
benefits. The main goal of such policies is to ensure that
decisions we make today do not compromise the resilience of
the European Union in the future.
The impacts of climatic changes will hit locally and regionally
in different ways. The majority of adaptation actions will
therefore need to be decided and to be undertaken at the local,
regional and national level.
The European Commission is therefore exploring its role and
the scope for a policy strategy to adapt to the impacts of
unavoidable climate change and how best to assist local, regional
and national efforts. As part of exploring options to improve
Europe’s resilience to climate change effects and defining
the European Union role in climate change adaptation the European
Commission is undertaking the following activities:
The information relating to sectoral meetings and the final
reports are available on the Commission CIRCA
website.
Links
- International bodies:
- EU activities:
- Specific reports:
- Other information:
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