News Archive
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) forecasts, notifies and monitors devastating floods in Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland
11 Oct 2021The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service supports the national authorities with complementary flood forecast information. In July 2021, the EFAS forecasts started indicating a high probability of flooding for several river basins in Europe affecting countries like Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Current practice in flood risk management in the EU
11 Oct 2021The Commission and Member States carried out a survey to gather information about the framework that was established for flood risk management under the Floods Directive in the EU. The final report of the study launched in 2019, on ‘Current Practice in Flood Risk Management’ is based on a review of 34 case study examples from 15 Member States. The objective of this work is to strengthen flood risk management in the EU.
Tackling the effects of climate change on health in the Mediterranean and surrounding regions
11 Oct 2021This workshop report includes assessments from the region and recommendations for policy-makers and the scientific community. The Mediterranean and Middle East regions are “hotspots” and the effects of climate change are greater here than in other regions. Topics addressed during the workshop included the effects of extreme weather events, water shortage, food security, infectious diseases, air pollution, and health issues of displaced populations, among others.
Economic costs of heatwaves to increase five-fold by 2060
05 Oct 2021In the study “Current and projected regional economic impacts of heatwaves in Europe”, scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and other European research institutions calculate that heatwaves, due to their impact on human productivity, are causing significant damage to Europe’s economy. New estimates show that the negative impact is set to increase sharply in the next decades.
Special Report 21/2021: EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results
04 Oct 2021The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published the special report 20/2021 “EU funding for biodiversity and climate change in EU forests: positive but limited results”. Although forest cover in the EU has grown in the past 30 years, the condition of those forests is deteriorating. Sustainable management practices are key to maintaining biodiversity and addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation in forests, and the ECA has made recommendations to the Commission to use its legal options to improve the forest conditions in the EU.
Outcome of online engagement with citizens from Spain
02 Oct 2021On 28 July 2020, 50 participants from Spain took part in a digital citizen engagement event on the European Union Mission on “Adaptation to climate change” Participants were selected randomly from different gender, age and employment situation groups to ensure a variety of views.
Commission launches EU missions to tackle major challenges including on adaptation to climate change
01 Oct 2021The Commission launched five new EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together to tackle big challenges in health, climate and the environment. They include a set of actions, such as research and innovation projects, policy measures and legislative initiatives, as a novelty of Horizon Europe and also an original concept in EU policy, bringing together several Commission services. Among the five missions aiming to deliver solutions to key global challenges by 2030, is the 'Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change and societal transformation', supporting at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030.
Special Report 20/2021: Sustainable water use in agriculture: CAP funds more likely to promote greater rather than more efficient water use
28 Sep 2021The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has published special report 20/2021 “Sustainable water use in agriculture: CAP funds more likely to promote greater rather than more efficient water use”. EU policies are unable to ensure farmers use water sustainably. The impact of agriculture on water resources is major and undeniable. But farmers benefit from too many exemptions from EU water policy that hinder efforts to ensure sound water use.
Call for expressions of interest: Designation of the members of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change
27 Sep 2021The European Environment Agency (EEA) is issuing a call for expressions of interest with the aim of designating the members of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. The Advisory Board will provide independent scientific advice and produce reports on EU measures for climate adaptation and mitigation, climate targets and indicative greenhouse gas budgets and their coherence with the European climate law and the EU's international commitments under the Paris Agreement. Closing Date: 1 November 2021.
Risk analysis report released about climate change in six Italian cities
22 Sep 2021Heat waves and floods are the main climate change impacts on Italian cities. Such impacts are expected to grow, with consequences on people’s health, and episodes of hydro-geological instability. The report “Risk Analysis. Climate change in six Italian cities” concerns an integrated analysis of the current climate risks to future scenarios, and describes the implementation of adaptation and resilience tools to respond effectively to present and future risks.