European nations are experiencing yet another year marked by intense heatwaves, droughts, and other severe weather conditions. How equipped and resilient are they in facing these challenges? A newly released interactive tool by the European Environment Agency (EEA) examines key climate change impacts, and the actions in place for adaptation and preparedness.
The climate impacts and preparedness assessment investigates the increasing influence of heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires across Europe. Using interactive maps and charts, users can review past events, projections for the future, and examples of preparation efforts across the continent. The tool seeks to heighten awareness among European policymakers and the public about the critical need for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the importance of strengthening resilience.
Economic Costs Soar, Insurance Gap Widens
A separate EEA briefing on ‘Economic losses and fatalities from weather- and climate-related extremes’ released today reveals that economic losses from such extremes reached over 45 billion euros in 2023 across 38 European countries, including EU and other EEA member states. Between 1980 and 2023, total economic losses from these events exceeded 790 billion euros across the EEA-38 member and cooperating countries, including data from six Western Balkan countries for the first time.
Losses were highest in Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, with Slovenia showing the highest per capita losses. Floods, storms, wind, and hail were the primary causes of damage, compared to other hazards like wildfires or droughts. Less than a third of non-human losses were covered by insurance, with over 50% of losses uninsured in most countries, and in many instances, this figure exceeded 90%.
Most fatalities between 1980 and 2023 were attributed to heatwaves, cold waves, droughts, and forest fires, with heat causing the majority of deaths in western, southern, and northern Europe.
Background
The European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA), published in March, aids in identifying policy priorities for climate change adaptation and sectors sensitive to climate impacts.
Leave a Reply