Draft Report Warns EU of Climate Change Risks, Urges Stronger Preparations
Source: The DairyNews
According to a draft report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), Europe faces urgent challenges in preparing healthcare systems, farming, and critical infrastructure for escalating climate change risks.
Reuters reports that as the planet experiences more frequent heatwaves, droughts, and floods, the European Union is working on its first comprehensive analysis of climate-related risks to inform future policies and spending decisions.
The draft report, seen by Reuters, highlights the significant economic toll of climate change, with weather and climate-related extremes costing EU countries over 650 billion euros ($708.11 billion) between 1980 and 2022. Notable incidents include the 2021 floods in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, which incurred costs of 44 billion euros, and flash floods in Slovenia in the previous year causing damage equivalent to over 10% of the country's GDP.
Urging the EU to integrate climate risk considerations into budgets and policies across various sectors, the draft emphasizes the importance of accounting for worst-case scenarios to mitigate extreme impacts.
Among the recommendations are proposals for mandatory requirements to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat and designing EU funding instruments to help healthcare systems cope with climate change impacts, especially affecting vulnerable and elderly populations. The report also stresses the need for stronger measures to address the increased threat of droughts to agriculture, with less than 2% of EU farming subsidies currently allocated to risk management for farmers.
Furthermore, the report highlights mounting risks to critical infrastructure, such as floods damaging roads and extreme heat affecting train tracks. To mitigate these risks, the EEA suggests updating standards, such as Eurocodes, to incorporate forward-looking climate data.
With climate change-related deaths on the rise, and infrastructure vulnerabilities becoming increasingly apparent, the draft report underscores the necessity for proactive measures and comprehensive planning to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
The draft report, seen by Reuters, highlights the significant economic toll of climate change, with weather and climate-related extremes costing EU countries over 650 billion euros ($708.11 billion) between 1980 and 2022. Notable incidents include the 2021 floods in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, which incurred costs of 44 billion euros, and flash floods in Slovenia in the previous year causing damage equivalent to over 10% of the country's GDP.
Urging the EU to integrate climate risk considerations into budgets and policies across various sectors, the draft emphasizes the importance of accounting for worst-case scenarios to mitigate extreme impacts.
Among the recommendations are proposals for mandatory requirements to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat and designing EU funding instruments to help healthcare systems cope with climate change impacts, especially affecting vulnerable and elderly populations. The report also stresses the need for stronger measures to address the increased threat of droughts to agriculture, with less than 2% of EU farming subsidies currently allocated to risk management for farmers.
Furthermore, the report highlights mounting risks to critical infrastructure, such as floods damaging roads and extreme heat affecting train tracks. To mitigate these risks, the EEA suggests updating standards, such as Eurocodes, to incorporate forward-looking climate data.
With climate change-related deaths on the rise, and infrastructure vulnerabilities becoming increasingly apparent, the draft report underscores the necessity for proactive measures and comprehensive planning to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
