European countries adopting climate adaptation policies

In a clear acknowledgment that climate change is real and significant, 30 European countries have commented on how they plan on adapting to future climate change in a recent report by the European Environment Agency.

The impetus for policy development has been extreme weather events that the countries have already observed, including droughts, heatwaves, rising sea levels, floods, changes in crop growth patterns and species distribution patterns.

Policies for dealing with climate change effects, however, are still in their infancy for the EU countries participating in the report. Most countries plan on information distribution and improvement of their water management as initial climate change adaptation policy adjustments.

Top image: Extreme weather. (Credit: Ben Salter)