Almost 40 indicators describe observed and projected climate change and its impacts in Europe. Information for each indicator comprises 'Key messages', an explanation of its policy relevance, and an analysis of past trends and future projections, where available. All these indicators are available on the Website of the European Environment Agency (EEA) as well as on Climate‑ADAPT.

The EEA Report Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2016 – an indicator-based assessment provides a recent overview of climate change and its impacts in Europe. It includes the most recent assessments of almost all of the indicators below as well as additional information on the policy context and on cross-cutting climate-related issues that are difficult to cover in an indicator. A few indicators, primarily those belonging to the EEA Core Set of Indicators, have been updated again after the publication of this report.

Most indicators cover all 33 member countries of the EEA. For some indicators, Europe-wide data were not available, so these indicators present information for fewer countries. Furthermore, where indicators have only limited geographical relevance (e.g. glaciers or coastal regions), the aim was for full coverage of the relevant countries and regions. The indicators have different policy purposes, from providing background information on global climate change to assessing impacts and identifying adaptation needs at the regional level. This diversity reflects the cross-cutting nature of climate change and related policies, which comprise dedicated mitigation and adaptation policies, but also the consideration (’mainstreaming’) of climate change issues in many thematic and sectoral policies.