EU Climate Policies and Actions 2020

Information on climate change policies and adaptation in Europe can be found on the websites and in the reports mentioned below.

Websites

EU climate action website of the European Commission

Provides information on:

(1) Key EU legislation and policies:

• EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector, industry and flights within the EU
• National targets for sectors outside emissions trading, such as transport, buildings and agriculture
• Ensuring our forests and land contribute to the fight against climate change
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport, e.g. through CO2 emission standards for vehicles
• Boosting energy efficiency, renewable energy and governance of EU countries’ energy and climate policies
• Promoting innovative low-carbon technologies
• Phasing down climate-warming fluorinated greenhouse gases
• Protecting the ozone layer
• Adapting to the impacts of climate change
• Funding climate action
• International cooperation

(2) Information on policies in key areas:

• Energy
• Environment
• Mobility and transport
• Regional policy and the low-carbon economy
• Sustainable finance
• Industrial policy
• Trade and sustainable development
• International cooperation and development
• Research and innovation on climate change
• Sustainable development goals

Climate adaptation website of the European Environment Agency (EEA)

Provides information on impacts, vulnerability and risks and on policies and actions.

The European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT)

Climate-ADAPT is a partnership between the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA). It is maintained by the EEA with the support of the European Topic Centre on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA). Most information was entered in 2015. Climate-ADAPT aims to support Europe in adapting to climate change by helping users to access and share data and information on:

• Expected climate change in Europe
• Current and future vulnerability of regions and sectors
• EU, national and transnational adaptation strategies and actions
• Adaptation case studies and potential adaptation options
• Tools that support adaptation planning

Climate-ADAPT organises information under the following main entry points:

• EU Policy: EU Adaptation Policy; Adaptation in EU Policy Sectors (agriculture, biodiversity, coastal areas, forestry, water management, marine and fisheries, ecosystem-based approaches, disaster risk reduction, buildings, energy, transport, health, urban), EU regional policy;
• Countries, transnational regions, cities;
• Knowledge: topics, data and indicators, research projects, tools, practice
• Networks

The website provides fact sheets on climate adaptation policies, measures, guidance, case studies, support tools. Fact sheers deal with the following aspects:

• Stakeholder participation
• Success and Limiting Factors
• Costs and Benefits
• Legal Aspects
• Implementation Time
• Life Time

EEA Reports

Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2016

This report is an indicator-based assessment of past and projected climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and society. It also looks at society’s vulnerability to these impacts and at the development of adaptation policies and the underlying knowledge base. It is the fourth ‘Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe’ report, which is published every four years.

Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Europe 2017

This report presents a largely indicator‑based assessment of past and projected climate change, impacts and the associated vulnerabilities of and risks to ecosystems, human health and society in Europe, based on a wide range of observations and model simulations. It identifies regions that are experiencing particularly severe climate change impacts. The report also shows how Europe is vulnerable to climate change impacts outside Europe. The principal sources of uncertainty for the indicators and modelling results are discussed and, where appropriate, reflected in the assessments and key messages of all indicators. The report summarises key adaptation policy developments at European, transnational and national levels and highlights the need for further adaptation actions. Furthermore, the report notes how monitoring, information sharing and research can improve the knowledge base for adaptation.