Environment Agency warns
Agency warns: climate extremes are getting worse
Europe urgently needs to prepare for "catastrophic" consequences of climate change, the European Environment Agency (EEA) announced on Monday. Global warming will exacerbate extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, forest fires and floods.
This will "affect living conditions across the continent" - even in "optimistic scenarios", according to the EEA's first report. It lists 36 important climate risks for Europe, 21 of which would require additional measures and eight of which require urgent action. According to the agency, one example of the urgent need for action is the risks to Europe's ecosystems, particularly in the seas and coasts.
Warning of mass extinction
They are in danger due to warmer water, a lack of oxygen and acidification. Added to this are environmental changes caused by humans, such as fishing and pollution. "This can lead to a significant loss of biodiversity, including mass mortality events," it says.
Heat is the greatest risk to health
Heat is described as the greatest risk to people's health. This is especially true for those who work outdoors, are elderly or live in poorly insulated homes. Europe is the continent that is currently warming up the fastest compared to the others (see video above). Southern Europe is the most at risk, with the threat of fires in addition to heat and water shortages. According to the EEA, this affects people's health, their work and agriculture.
However, the risks also affect Central and Northern Europe, as recently demonstrated by floods in Germany and forest fires in Sweden, for example. Extreme weather events are already "the new normal", said Leena Ylä-Mononen, head of the EEA. "They must also be a warning shot. We need to do more and have a stronger policy."
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