Press
release - Published: 1 October 2008 - Increasing
temperatures, changing precipitation, rising
sea level, more intense and frequent extreme
weather events and melting glaciers, ice
sheets and Arctic sea ice are some of the
challenges for Europe already triggered
by global climate change, says a report
released today by the European Environment
Agency, the World Health Organisation Regional
Office for Europe and the Joint Research
Centre of the European Commission.
The report 'Impacts
of Europe’s changing climate', based on
40 key indicators, stresses the consequences
of both observed and projected changes,
including an increased risk of floods and
droughts, losses of biodiversity, threats
to human health and damage to economic sectors
such as energy, transport, forestry, agriculture,
and tourism.
Adaptation challengesThe
report highlights that vulnerability to
climate change varies widely across regions
and sectors in Europe. It shows that the
main vulnerable areas in Europe are mountainous
regions, coastal zones, the Mediterranean
and the Arctic.
The report underlines that, in addition
to enhanced global greenhouse gas emission
reductions, pro-active adaptation measures
are also needed to moderate effects. Many
of today’s adaptation activities are focused
on flood management and defence so there
is scope for more action in other sectors.
The expected European
Commission paper on adaptation will frame
a European adaptation strategy. Furthermore,
many countries are developing and implementing
national adaptation strategies. The report
will assist in the development and implementation
phase of these plans, for example through
the use across all countries of the indicators
presented in the report.
Too many gaps in climate
change informationThe study also calls for
a co-ordinated effort by countries, the
European Commission and other organisations
to fill key information gaps. We need improved
monitoring and reporting of climate data
and observed impacts, more detailed spatial
and socio-economic scenarios; better information
on vulnerability; more information on good
practices in adaptation actions and their
costs and better information exchange mechanisms.
"This report makes
strikingly clear that many regions and sectors
across Europe are vulnerable to climate
change impacts. Implementation of adaptation
actions has only just started. We need to
intensify such actions and improve information
exchange on data, effectiveness and costs",
says Professor Jacqueline McGlade, Executive
Director of the EEA.
The report proposes
the setting up of a European Clearing House
on climate change impacts, vulnerability
and adaptation to make such data widely
available to users, with the support of
the EU Shared Environmental Information
System (SEIS), the EU Kopernikus programme
on global monitoring for environment and
security, and in collaboration with the
WHO Climate, Environment and Health Information
System (CEHAIS).
Key findings of the
report:Global average temperature has increased
almost 0.8 °C above pre-industrial levels,
with even higher temperature increases in
Europe and northern latitudes.
Annual precipitation
changes are worsening differences between
a wet Northern part of Europe and a dry
South, with some Mediterranean regions receiving
20% less rain than a century ago.
According to satellite
observations, global sea level has increased
up to 3.1 mm/year in the past 15 years.
Uncertainty in the rate of melting of Greenland’s
outlet glaciers makes projections of future
sea level rise uncertain. Sea level rise
can cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion
and increased risk of salt water intrusion
that could damage coastal ecosystems and
wetlands.
The reduction in Arctic
sea ice has accelerated: in September 2007
the minimum surface was only half the normal
minimum measured in the 1950s. Arctic species
such as seals, whales and polar bears are
under threat.
Glacier retreat in Europe’s
mountain systems, and the changes in temperature
and precipitation, will have widespread
consequences. Projections show an overall
increase of river floods across Europe but
an increase in river droughts in the South.
A northward movement
of certain fish species —1000 km in the
past 40 years—can have adverse effects on
fisheries, such as reducing cod stocks in
the North Sea.
Spring phytoplankton
blooms in lakes are now occurring up to
one month earlier than 30-40 years ago,
which may favour harmful cyanobacteria threatening
human health and ecosystems.
Plants, birds, insects
and mammals are moving further north and
uphill. By the end of this century, plant
species may have shifted several hundred
kilometres to the north and up to 60 % of
mountain plant species may face extinction.
The agricultural growing
season is now longer, especially in the
North. Although this may favour the introduction
of new crops, crop yields will become more
variable because extreme weather events
are projected to increase.
Increasing water demand
for agriculture in the Mediterranean region
will lead to unsustainable competition for
water with tourism and households.
The growing season of
forests is also changing and the danger
of forest fires will increase in southern
Europe.
Human health is also
significantly affected by climate change.
The 70,000 excess deaths reported from 12
European countries in 2003 could be an example
of health impacts to come. Climate change
increases the frequency and severity of
extreme weather events. Projected future
effects of heat-waves, floods and droughts,
worsening air pollution and changes in vectors
and plant distribution are likely to harm
the health of many people, if global warming
is unconstrained. Health system will need
to be strengthened and action will need
to be taken for particular vulnerable people,
like the elderly, children or disadvantaged
populations.
Notes to the editor:About
the European Environment Agency (EEA) The
EEA is based in Copenhagen. The agency aims
to help achieve significant and measurable
improvement in Europe's environment through
the provision of timely, targeted, relevant
and reliable information to policy makers
and the public.
About the JRC
The European Commission’s Joint Research
Centre has contributed extensively to sections
of the report on air quality, river floods
and droughts, soil, agriculture and forestry.
The JRC is the reference centre of science
and technology for the European Union, serving
the common interest of the Member States,
while being independent of special interests,
whether private or national.
About the WHO Regional
Office for Europe
The WHO Regional Office for Europe has contributed
to the report’s sections on human health.
WHO Europe supports the 53 countries of
the European Region, representing almost
900 million people, improve the health and
wellbeing of their populations. Its activities
on climate change include support to programmes
to prevent the consequences of heat and
floods, combat infectious disease, improve
water and sanitation services, respond to
natural disasters and provide information
to the public on how to avoid risks. The
Office also coordinates the review of the
scientific evidence on the links between
climate and health.
About the European Topic
Centre
The European Topic Centre on Air and Climate
Change (ETC/ACC) contributed to the report’s
sections on cryosphere, marine and terrestrial
biodiversity and ecosystems. It is a consortium
of European institutes lead by the Netherlands
Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) contracted
by the EEA to contribute to EEA’s work on
air quality and climate change.