On the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change
B-9-2020-0422
on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Lídia Pereira, Marek Paweł Balt, Nils Torvalds, Pär Holmgren, Petros Kokkalis
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Parliament's resolution on the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change calls for a new, more ambitious strategy as part of the European Green Deal, presented without delay.¶¶ It asks for climate-proofing of infrastructure, spatial planning and investments, mandatory climate risk assessments, and strengthened governance with regular review under the European Climate Law.¶¶¶ It calls for nature-based solutions, green infrastructure, forest and ocean protection, better water management and an EU strategy to combat desertification.¶¶¶ It demands increased funding for adaptation, a 30 % climate and 10 % biodiversity spending target in the next MFF, and a climate earmarking system that separates mitigation from adaptation.¶¶ It asks for stronger early warning, prevention and rapid response plans for climate disasters, climate-resilient health systems, and more research and awareness-raising.¶¶¶
Key points
- Emphasises that adaptation is necessary for the whole Union and all countries and regions, alongside ambitious mitigation to keep warming below 1.5 °C.¶
- Suggests complementing the reactive European Union Solidarity Fund with proactively planned adaptation to reduce vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity.¶
- Calls for a renewed focus on adaptation and asks the Commission to present a new strategy without delay as an integral part of the European Green Deal.¶
- Calls for climate-proofing of spatial planning, buildings, infrastructure and investments through ex ante examination, and for reform of engineering standards.¶
- Calls for strengthened governance, priority areas, investment needs assessment, more frequent review and indicators, and regular updates in line with the European Climate Law.¶
- Calls for mandatory climate risk assessments in the strategy and national adaptation plans, and for public procurement to use climate-friendly materials and services.¶¶
- Calls for a gender perspective, attention to vulnerable areas such as coastal areas, islands and outermost regions, and cross-border cooperation on adaptation.¶¶
- Calls for greater coherence between adaptation and biodiversity measures, a Trans-European Nature Network, and ambitious action plans on nature-based solutions with adequate funding.¶¶¶
- Calls for more trees in cities, sustainable forest management, an integrated response to forest fires, and strict protection of all primary forests.¶¶
- Calls for better water management, full implementation of the Water Framework Directive, promotion of water reuse, and revision of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.¶¶¶
- Calls for mainstreaming adaptation in all EU policies, assessing climate impact of legislative and budgetary proposals, and ending climate and environmentally harmful subsidies.¶¶¶
- Calls for increased funding, a 30 % climate and 10 % biodiversity spending target in the next MFF, and a policy-specific climate earmarking system.¶¶
Who is affected
- Member States and regions, which are asked to draw up adaptation plans, flood risk maps and early warning systems.¶¶¶
- Vulnerable groups such as elderly people, children, outdoor workers and homeless people, who face climate-related health hazards.¶
- Coastal, island and outermost regions, which are particularly vulnerable and need enhanced preparedness and adaptive capacity.¶¶
- Developing countries and small island states, which should receive technical assistance and capacity-building for adaptation.¶¶
- The European Investment Bank, which is asked to fund adaptation measures and commit to enhanced ambition in its Climate Bank Roadmap.¶
Figures and deadlines
- Buildings are responsible for approximately 40 % of energy consumption and 36 % of CO2 emissions in the EU.¶
- Weather- and climate-related extremes accounted for EUR 426 billion between 1980 and 2017 in the EU-28 Member States.¶
- Current emission reduction commitments will result in global warming of more than 3 °C above pre-industrial levels.¶
- Projected climate change will cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths a year by 2030.¶
- A climate-related spending target of 30 % and a biodiversity-related spending target of 10 % in the next MFF 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU.¶
- Member States committed to achieve land degradation neutrality in the EU by 2030 at the latest.¶