In a new report published on Tuesday 17 February, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change makes a number of recommendations to strengthen the EU’s legislative framework for adaptation to climate change. These could influence the work of the European Commission, which has undertaken to present a plan for adaptation by the end of the year.
Created as part of the ‘European Climate Law’, the Advisory Board’s top priority is to “harmonise” climate risk assessments across all EU and Member State public policies and to adopt “a common reference” for adaptation planning, taking into account a pathway to 2.8-3.3°C of global warming by 2100.
In Europe, warming will reach “higher” levels, the report points out, due to a temperature rise of around 1°C above the global average.
The Board believes that climate resilience should be embedded into all EU public policies, programmes and investments from the design stage.
The report also stresses the need to define a clear vision for a resilient EU by 2050 and beyond, “supported by sectoral strategies (...) and measurable adaptation targets”, and to mobilise public and private investment.
In addition to adaptation, efforts to mitigate climate change “remain essential to limit climate hazards to manageable levels”, stresses Professor Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board. “Strengthening adaptation alongside mitigation is essential to safeguard citizens, security, and the EU’s wider strategic goals”, she adds.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/krd (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)