2024-03-12 20:54:06
The current climate report from the European Environment Agency is tough. Published on Monday, it focuses on the fact that Europe is the continent that is heating up fastest and most in the world – and will continue to heat up. An increase in temperature of three degrees by 2100, if global warming remains limited to 1.5 degrees, is the conservative estimate for Europe. Always assuming: CO2 emissions fall as agreed.
The year 2023 was the warmest on record. At the same time, environmental damage has become increasingly serious economically in recent years. According to the EU Commission, the damage from the floods in Germany and Belgium in 2021 amounted to more than 40 billion euros, fires in Greece resulted in a loss of 15 percent in annual agricultural yield, and the floods in Slovenia last year had just as bad an impact and corresponded to 16 percent of GDP.
Reuters/Borut Zivulovic Floods in Slovenia have caused billions in damage
The impact in the coming years and decades might be many times greater. The EU Environment Agency estimates the damage caused by global warming since 1980 at 650 billion euros. And it compares these costs with new ones for the future: 1,000 billion per year because crops are lost and soil is lost, because diseases are spreading that were previously only known in Europe from long-distance travel, because tax revenues are falling, debts are increasing and more and greater damage is occurring are to be eliminated – more science.ORF.at.
“Wake-up call” is intended to strengthen cooperation and minimize risks
The Environment Agency and the entire Commission speak of a wake-up call. Governments and administrators at all levels are being called upon to work more closely together, from data collection and processing via satellites to more accurate modeling to provide advance warning in the event of a disaster.
A satellite-based warning system is to be introduced in 2025 and will ensure that authorities and the population are not surprised by disasters. A better assessment of existing risks and weaknesses, in the area of infrastructure, for example in construction, is also a declared goal of the Commission. Strengthening “resilience” in Europe is the motto.
Reuters/Yves Herman The EU Commission wants to raise risk awareness and strengthen resilience
Investments for “climate resilience”
“Think regarding risks, clarify responsibilities,” is what the Commission calls for – and sees a need for improvement in planning and implementation, especially in the nation states. She wants to ensure that “climate resilience” is part of all relevant EU spending in the future and work with the financial sector to mobilize public and private investment. In addition, the authority is ready to support member states in incorporating climate risks into national budget processes.
Investments in climate-resilient buildings, transport and energy networks might also be good business opportunities, creating both jobs and clean energy. In the opinion of the authority, climate risks should be integrated more closely into the planning and maintenance of critical infrastructure – such as transport and energy. Infrastructure systems are at considerable risk from floods, forest fires and high temperatures.
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