First Ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA)

“Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks”, EEA reports, after publishing the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA). The assessment builds upon the IPCC and the latest insights from many European projects, such as CoCliCo. The report recognises many gaps in our knowledge but highlights just how much we know. 

European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA)

Europe faces escalating climate risks, including extreme heat, droughts, wildfires, and flooding, with projections indicating worsening conditions even under optimistic global warming scenarios. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has introduced the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) to guide policymakers in identifying priorities for climate change adaptation.

The assessment highlights a lag in policy and adaptation actions, urging urgent measures as incremental changes may not suffice. Southern Europe is identified as a hotspot for multiple risks, such as wildfires and agricultural impacts. The EUCRA identifies 36 major climate risks across ecosystems, food, health, infrastructure, and the economy. Urgent action is particularly crucial to conserve ecosystems, protect against heat, floods, and wildfires, and ensure the viability of solidarity mechanisms.

Our colleagues Elco Koks (VU Amsterdam) and Paul Sayers (Sayers and Partners) co-authored, Chapter 15: Major Disruptions of Critical Infrastructure, with contributions from Jaroslav Mysiak (CMCC) and Anna Pirani (CMCC). 

Key Messages from Chapter 15:

Climate Threats to Critical Infrastructure:

Europe’s vital infrastructure faces increased exposure to extreme weather events, posing risks to transport, energy, and communication services.

Interconnected Network Vulnerability:

Infrastructure assets are interconnected, and failures at one point can cascade across the system, necessitating a holistic approach to climate resilience.

Adaptation Deficit and Urgency:

Ageing infrastructure in Europe has a significant adaptation deficit. Proactive measures are crucial, emphasising adapting before system failures occur.

Proactive Adaptation and Transformation:

Long-term infrastructure resilience requires proactive adaptation, with some sectors and locations needing transformational changes rather than incremental adjustments.

Data-Driven Decision-Making:

Better data and analytics are essential for understanding asset conditions, assessing risks, and informing adaptation strategies, including regulatory stress tests.

Policy Implementation and Responsibility:

Policies for infrastructure resilience must account for current and future climatic hazards, with clear responsibilities assigned to owners and managers for effective implementation.

In summary, ecosystems, food production, human health, infrastructure, and the economy face severe risks, requiring immediate attention. There is a strong need for collaboration among EU Member States and involvement of regional and local levels for coordinated action. The EU’s role in addressing knowledge gaps, legislation, governance structures, monitoring, funding, and technical support is crucial for enhancing climate resilience. The EUCRA report serves as a strategic tool, synthesising existing knowledge to effectively support policymakers in navigating climate challenges.

Header image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay.