European Commission Proposes Plan to Strengthen Europe's Capacity to Cope with Climate Change Risks

Brussels -- The European Commission on Tuesday unveiled a European framework to strengthen the capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and manage climate change risks amid increasing heatwaves, droughts, and floods, which cause growing human, economic, and environmental damage. In a statement, the Commission said that economic losses from climate-related damages amounted to approximately 200 billion euros between 2022 and 2025, averaging 50 billion euros annually. The statement quoted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as saying, “Temperatures in Europe are rising at twice the global average,” emphasizing the need to enhance preparedness for climate risks and integrate adaptation capacity into various European policies to support investment, innovation, and long-term growth. The framework aims to embed climate resilience into the EU’s key policies and support local and regional authorities through pilot projects and advisory services. The Commission explained that adapting European infrastructure and the economy to future climate conditions requires investments of around 70 billion euros annually, noting that investment in climate adaptation can yield returns exceeding ten times its value by avoiding losses and damages. The framework also includes a proposed law to enhance climate adaptation capacity and streamline national planning by adopting a single national strategic plan for each member state, and improving climate risk assessments to strengthen coordination and comparability between European and national evaluations. Additionally, the framework involves developing digital tools that enable public authorities, businesses, and local communities to access information on expected climate risks and identify appropriate adaptation solutions. (End) A.R.N. / N.S.A.