A survey by the European Commission shows that many respondents see that the EU authorities are well prepared to respond to the increase in natural risks due to climate change in Europe. In addition, respondents believe that the EU's coordinated preparedness and response should prioritize forest fires, floods and climate change-related cyclone disasters over health emergencies, earthquakes and other types of disasters. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

Negotiators from the Parliament and the Council reached a provisional political agreement on Tuesday on new measures to (more…)

How will climate change change the Earth in the future? Or what would have happened if we had taken action 20 years ago?  (more…)

Democracy is critical in a climate-endangered world. We will lose him (more…)

Droughts have a major impact on almost all regions and many critical sectors in the EU, and climate change will exacerbate these drought risks, prompting several EU Member States to implement or further develop drought management and adaptation plans and measures.

To support this objective, the European Drought Impact Database (EDID) establishes operational conventions and procedures for the collection and categorization of drought impact data. For the first time, the European Drought Risk Atlas offers a detailed and regionally disaggregated view of drought risk in different but interconnected systems using impact chains and quantitative risk analyzes for the different affected systems.

There remains a need to build a community of practice on drought impacts and risks. The EU Network of Drought Observatories provides technical and scientific support to further collect and analyze data on the impact of drought and produces tailored sectoral and regionally disaggregated drought risk assessments. These initiatives represent an urgently needed first step in the transition from a mostly hazard-based drought risk assessment to a more impact-based assessment, as the EU develops plans and implements measures to become more resilient and adapt to the risk posed by droughts. and water scarcity in the current climate and in the future. (More on publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu)

The Atlantic Meridional Circulation (AMOC) is a system of ocean currents in the Atlantic Ocean, which includes the well-known Gulf StreamWarm salt water flows near the surface from the tropics northward to Europe, where it (more…)

Satellites measure daily how much sea ice there is in the Arctic. The data shows that the area covered by the ice has been shrinking for decades - an effect that exacerbates climate change.

In the coming decades, something will happen that hasn't happened in millions of years: there will be virtually no sea ice left in the Arctic. The following graphic shows the ice area during the year. It is normal for the North Pole to have less ice in summer than in winter. But the ice has been shrinking in both summer and winter for years. Years starting in 1980 can be seen in very light blue, when there was even more ice in total during the year. Recent years are usually a slightly darker blue. (Lalon Sander, more at ndr.de)

The EIT, in agreement with the European Commission (DG GROW) as part of the Single Market Programme (SMP COSME), is launching a call (more…)

The Green Deal, spearheaded by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was meant to push through the EU’s ambitious environmental goals, heralding sweeping reforms in transport and energy before encountering resistance from farmers. Of the 70 specific regulations in the deal, which aim to make the bloc carbon neutral and preserve its biodiversity, most have been adopted or are in the pipeline. But a number have stalled or been postponed altogether.

Here is an overview of the key measures taken so far:

– Automobile: the bloc has taken a major decision to phase out internal combustion engines in all new cars from 2035, along with ambitious goals to create a network of electric and hydrogen charging stations.

– Trucks: from 2030, carbon emissions from new trucks will have to be 45 percent lower than in 2019. All new city buses must be zero-emission from 2035. (Julien GIRAULT, more on barrons.com)

When psychotherapist Caroline Hickman was asked to help a child overcome their fear of dogs, she introduced them to her labradoodle, Murphy. “You make the child feel confident around the dog, and you teach them the skills to handle the dog,” she says. “You build skills, you build competence, you build confidence, and then they’re less afraid of dogs overall.” Climate anxiety is a different beast, says Hickman. “We don’t know 100% how to deal with it. And it would be a huge mistake to try to treat it like other anxieties that we know very well and have been around for decades. This one is much, much worse.

In the most severe cases, climate anxiety interferes with the ability to function on a daily basis. Children and young people in this category experience alienation from friends and family, distress when thinking about the future, and intrusive thoughts about who will survive, according to Hickman's research. (Olivia Rudgard, Jack Wittels, Bloomberg News, medicalxpress.com )

Floods still impose major costs on economies, livelihoods and the well-being of communities, and flood risks and impacts will continue to increase due to climate change. Environmental management professor Lindsey McEwen explains how many experts now believe that local communities play a critical role as key actors within flood risk management a disaster risk reduction .

Professor McEwen said: “Flood risks are becoming increasingly diverse, as are the communities they affect. The question is, how can communities become more resilient?” (Taylor & Francis, more on phys.org)

Climate change is the biggest threat to human health in the 21st century, according to the WHO. The project will work with policymakers and key stakeholders at EU, national and international levels to understand their evidence needs on climate and health. We will then summarise the scientific evidence on climate change and health linkages, identify knowledge gaps and translate the evidence into outputs relevant to EU, national and regional policies to shape low-carbon economies and build climate resilience. 

The key thematic focus is on environmental and occupational heat, air pollution (including forest fires) and climate-sensitive infectious diseases, with particular attention to high-risk groups and populations. (More on enbel-project.eu)

Superstorms, drastic climate change, and New York frozen in ice. This is how the Hollywood blockbuster "The Day After Tomorrow" depicted the sudden cessation of Atlantic Ocean circulation and the catastrophic consequences.

While Hollywood's vision was overblown, the 2004 film raised a serious question: If global warming stops the Atlantic meridian circulation, which is crucial for the transfer of heat from the tropics to the northern latitudes, how sudden and severe would the climate change be?

Twenty years after the film's release, we know much more about the circulation in the Atlantic Ocean. Instruments deployed in the ocean since 2004 show that the circulation of the Atlantic Ocean over the last two decades  noticeably slowed down , maybe on the weakest state in almost a millennium Studies also suggest that circulation reached its peak in the past. dangerous tipping point , which sent it into a sharp and unstoppable decline, and that it could hit this tipping point again as the planet warms and glaciers and ice sheets melt. (by René van Westen, Henk A. Dijkstra and Michael Kliphuis The Conversation, more at phys.org)

The Arctic is experiencing a disproportionately higher increase in temperature compared to the rest of the planet, triggering a series of cascading effects. This rapid warming has profound implications for global climate patterns, human populations, and wildlife. The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) mission will provide decision makers measurements with evidence of changes and impact in polar regions – with a focus on the Arctic.

The mission has the largest radiometer developed by ESA and will provide high-resolution measurements related to sea ice, ocean, snow and ice sheet surfaces. This will be crucial for understanding the evolution of climate in the polar region. ( from the European Space Agency, more at phys.org)

Afforestation affects the Earth's climate system by changing the biogeochemical and biogeophysical characteristics of the Earth's surface. While the regional effects of afforestation are well known in the tropics and high latitudes, its climatic impact in mid-latitudes is still a matter of scientific debate. This study examines the general impact of afforestation on regional climate conditions in Europe over recent decades. For this purpose, regional climate simulations with different fractions of forest stands are carried out in Europe. In the first simulation, afforestation in Europe is considered, while in the second simulation this is not the case. We focus on the years 1986–2015, a period in which forest cover in Europe increased relatively significantly, accompanied by a strong general warming over the continent. (Marcus Breil, Vanessa KM Schneider a Joaquim G. Pinto, more on bg.copernicus.org)

In response to demand from our Charter signatories, those with a population of 20,000 or more are now eligible for support. A decision has been made to lower the threshold from 50,000 to maximise the number of citizens benefiting from technical assistance.

MIP4Adapt Technical Assistance provides charter signatories with tailored technical support in planning and implementing the adaptation process. Since its launch in 2023, the programme has received 76 applications, with 32 regions initiating support.

Applications from Charter signatories are welcome throughout the programme with regular deadlines for the assessment of applications. The nearest deadline is 31 March 2024.

If you are a signatory to the Charter, please log in to the EU Missions Adaptation Online Community to find out more about the support available and the application process. If you have any questions, please contact the Helpdesk. More information on the Technical Assistance Programme can be found on the Missions Portal. (More on climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu)

Decarbonization is a necessity for environmental sustainability. Companies are turning to renewable energy and natural gas, while innovative platforms are transforming access to clean energy. The focus on lower carbon emissions and sustainable energy is reshaping the global marketplace. In an era where environmental sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, businesses around the world are taking significant steps to minimize their carbon footprint and champion the cause of decarbonization. Among them, a company known for its extensive network of gas stations is taking a prominent initiative. Rooted in the oil and gas industry, this entity is moving towards a future where energy production and delivery are not only efficient but also environmentally friendly. By incorporating a mix of renewable energy and natural gas into its portfolio, they are paving the way for a transformative approach to energy consumption, with a strong focus on climate strategy and lower carbon emissions. (Rafia Tasleemová, more at  bnnbreaking.com)