As extreme weather events and other climate hazards are increasing in frequency and severity across Europe, solid information is needed for assessing climate risks and planning for adaptation. The European Environment Agency鈥檚 (EEA) new interactive report, published today, gives an updated overview of how climate hazards are changing across Europe鈥檚 different regions.
The EEA鈥檚 new听听is an听interactive report听that gives an overview of past and projected changes in Europe鈥檚 most important climate hazards and how they impact European regions. The EEA report is especially valuable for policymakers and experts concerned with听climate risk assessment and adaptation planning听in Europe. EU Member States can also use the information to report on climate-related hazards to the European Commission.
The report, developed with the support of the听听(C3S) and other EEA partners, gives access to both generalised and detailed information on regional climate hazards as well as insights into how these hazards can affect ecosystems and听economic sectors.
The report echoes the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that听climate change is undeniably responsible for an increase in extreme weather events听but provides more detailed information for Europe.
Projected changes include that mean temperatures will continue rising across Europe and hot extremes are expected to increase even faster. Europeans need to prepare for more days with听extreme heat and for more extreme precipitation听events, the report states.
- Southern Europe听should prepare for hotter summers, more frequent droughts and an increased fire hazard.
- In听Northern Europe,听annual precipitation and heavy rainfall are likely to increase.
- Central Europe听is likely to experience lower summer rainfall, but also more frequent and stronger weather extremes, including heavy precipitation, river floods, droughts and fire hazards.
- Sea surface temperature, marine heatwaves and water acidity are projected to increase in all听European regional seas. Sea level rise is accelerating across all European coasts, with the exception of the Northern Baltic Sea.
Further information on many climate-related hazards can be found in the听, jointly developed by the EEA and C3S.
Background
The听,听agreed at the听听of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), emphasises the urgency of scaling up climate adaptation and sharing knowledge and technologies to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate change.听The document also recognises the importance of best available science for effective climate action and policy making, including data on climate hazards, risks, and loss and damages.
The听听aims to forge a climate-resilient Europe by 2050, calling for more reliable information about climate change, its impacts and the adaptation needed.
In accordance with the听, the European Commission regularly reviews Member States鈥� progress in adapting to climate change, including on observed and future climate-related hazards, which countries are asked to report on every two years.
The听听requires EU Member States and other participating states to deliver periodic national risk assessments to the Commission.
