According to the latest assessment by the European Environment Agency, climate change is already having a marked effect on Europe's society and environment. The Agency's report was published on Wednesday 21st November, as heavy rains began to batter the South West of the UK; in the intervening week, flooding has caused widespread damage and disruption throughout the country.

image expired

The report, Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012, was created to provide an overview for the EU commission and parliament, outlining the effects of climate change on the bloc with a view to influencing the Commission's 'Adaptation Strategy,' which is set for publication in March. It revealed higher average temperatures have been observed across Europe as well as unbalanced rainfall across the continent, with Southern regions becoming drier and rainfall increasing in Northern Europe. This year alone, this pattern has proven a major hindrance for agricultural producers throughout the EU.

Furthermore, the EU agency said that Europe's ice sheets and permafrost are also decreasing and warned that "Extreme weather events such as heat waves, floods and droughts have caused rising damage costs across Europe in recent years… growing human activity in hazard-prone areas has been a key factor [in this trend]."

The report was compiled by over 50 authors, working with experts at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Authors examined the period 2002-2011 and concluded it was the warmest on record. They said experts have posited that "Europe could be 2.5–4° C warmer in the later part of the 21st Century, compared to the 1961–1990 average," and added their research shows heatwaves have increased in frequency and length and droughts and flooding are expected to increase in frequency as a result of changing rainfall patterns.

Effects on agriculture

Based on their research, looking at trends developing in the past few years, EEA said that, as well as the effect on agriculture systems; which will require growing methods and crops to adapt to the changing climate, different weather patterns will mean agriculture and the environment may come into conflict for increasingly scarce water supplies. Agency reporters added that animal and plant behaviours will change, with plants flowering earlier in many areas and "The pollen season [will lengthen] and arrive 10 days earlier than 50 years ago, also affecting human health."

However, the authors did state "The growing season for several crops in Europe has lengthened and this is projected to continue, alongside the expansion of warm-season crops into more northerly latitudes. However the yield is projected to fall for some crops due to heat waves and droughts in central and southern Europe."

Worryingly, although the EEA said the effects of climate change are likely to increase and urged preparedness, the report's authors stated "Some regions will be less able to adapt to climate change than others, in part due to economic disparities across Europe… The effects of climate change could deepen these inequalities."

Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director commented upon the report's release, "Climate change is a reality around the world, and the extent and speed of change is becoming ever more evident. This means that every part of the economy, including households, needs to adapt as well as reduce emissions."

The EEA advocated greening food production as a priority; the agency said that of the four categories of natural resources humans rely on to survive, "The food system may well be the most vulnerable of all [to the effects of climate change]." The EEA said, "The reform of the CAP is a timely opportunity to provide a coherent set of interventions that address two key challenges simultaneously: 'greening' the agriculture sector and ensuring food security."

Environment minister talks climate justice

Scottish Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse, spoke on Wednesday (28th November) about the Scottish Government's role in delivering climate justice at an event hosted by several NGOs, including Amnesty International, the University of Edinburgh and WWF. The event, which coincides with the UN Doha Climate Change Conference, looks at not only Scotland's commitment to tackling climate change, but reducing impact in order to deliver climate justice to the world's poorest people, who will bear the brunt of its effects.

Earlier this year, the Scottish government was the world's first to hold a parliamentary debate on the subject of climate justice.

Amnesty International spokesperson Siobhan Reardon, commented, "Climate change adversely impacts the most fundamental of human rights, including the right to life, health, housing, food and water; with the most devastating results being felt by women and children. Climate justice makes this crucial link between the environmental effects of climate change and human rights.

"Amnesty International welcomes the Scottish Government's human rights approach to climate justice. This approach must now be turned into clear policies putting human rights at the heart of Scotland's international economic framework."

Tweet