EU independent advisors warn that Europe is unprepared for worsening climate change and needs to increase investments to protect people and infrastructure from floods, wildfires, and extreme heat waves.
Independent advisors to the EU have issued a stark warning about Europe’s lack of preparedness for the deteriorating impacts of climate change. They highlight the urgent need for increased investments to safeguard people and infrastructure against excessive floods, forest fires, and extreme heat waves. Central to this alarming revelation is the fact that climate change has made Europe the fastest warming continent, leading to more frequent and intense weather-related disasters. In light of these conditions, the annual economic damage from extreme weather to European infrastructure and buildings now stands at an estimated 45 billion euros, a figure that has increased fivefold since the 1980s according to EU data.
Ottmar Edenhofer, the head of the EU’s scientific advisory board for climate change, noted a significant lack of coherence, coordination, and budgeting in the European response to these mounting environmental threats. This disjunction hampers effective preparation and exacerbates vulnerabilities to catastrophic weather systems. The advisors stress that without stronger preparations, extreme weather events will further undermine the EU’s competitiveness, strain public budgets, and elevate security risks across member states.
To mitigate these risks, the advisors recommend proactive measures, including preparing for risks associated with a projected 2.8 degrees Celsius increase in temperatures. This alarming forecast underscores the urgency of implementing strategic climate initiatives across Europe, as delayed investment in climate resilience could lead to irreversible damage, both economically and socially, for the continent.
