Brussels, 01/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - As well as mitigating the effects of climate change (reducing green house gas emissions), adaptation also needs tackling in an effort to meet the inevitable consequences of a phenomenon that has a global reach. Three weeks ago (in Copenhagen) scientists recognised these consequences could be more serious and more fast moving than the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had indicated in their fourth report.
Backed up by these findings, the European Commission on Wednesday 1 April presented the approach it is outlining for the EU to take in a move towards “an action framework”, which will reduce its vulnerability to climate change. This action framework will complete national and regional initiatives, given that it is at a national and regional level that the major part of these adaptation measures will have to be taken. Stavros Dimas, the European Commissioner for the environment informed the press that, “for the last thirty years, the number and intensity of droughts and floods have significantly increased. Since 1998, Europe has had more than 100 floods causing 700 deaths, provoking the displacement of half a million people and €25bn in damages in a third of its territory. At the same time, 14 member states and 100 million European citizens have experienced water shortages. With climate change, this phenomena will become more extreme, with an impact on agriculture, energy, transport, eco-systems, tourism and health. And even if we achieve a zero greenhouse gas emissions rate, it will not be possible to stop the global warning machine. This is why we require urgent action to tackle its impact by way of a strategic, coordinated and early response”. The Commission believes that an integrated European level approach is a way of improving efficiency and improving cross-border cooperation.
In the “Adapting to Climate Change: Towards a European Framework of Action” White Paper, the Commission is proposing a two stage approach: a first phase of the strategy will run until 2012 and will lay the groundwork for preparing a comprehensive EU adaptation strategy from 2013 and beyond. It will focus on increasing our understanding of climate change and possible adaptation measures and how adaptation can be embedded in key EU policies, explained the Commissioner.
The main action hubs proposed are as follows: improving knowledge about risk and the impact of climate change, in the interest of efficient decision making. To this end, the Commission is proposing to set up by 2011 an information exchange centre to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and access to information sources on climate change impact, as well as the regions exposed to and good practices to follow; integrate knowledge about climate change effects into all European policies affected (agriculture, water, fisheries, forests, biodiversity, health, tourism, transport and energy); identify public and private funding sources by exploring the potential offered by new mechanisms such as insurance and market instruments; encourage greater international effort to help third countries adapt, particularly developing countries, by strengthening cooperation with them and pushing forward EU proposals at the UN; combine several measures for obtaining optimal results, act in partnership with national, regional and local authorities.
This document and the results of the international climate negotiations current going on in Bonn (29 March-8 April) aimed at produced a global agreement in Copenhagen in December, will help develop the reflection being carried out by the departments of the environment in the EU27 during their informal meeting on 14-15 April in Prague. (A.N./trans/rh)