The European Commission has adopted a new EU Strategy on Climate Adaptation, setting out how to prepare for the inevitable effects of climate change. Although the EU is doing everything in its power to mitigate the consequences of climate change both domestically and beyond the Union's borders, we must begin to prepare for the fact that these effects will not be entirely avoidable.

The economic losses caused by more frequent climate-related extreme weather events are becoming increasingly substantial. They already cost the European Union an average of more than 12 billion euros annually. Conservative estimates suggest that a global temperature increase of 3 °C compared to pre-industrial levels would result in losses of at least 170 billion euros per year to the current EU economy.

Climate change does not affect the economy alone. The health and well-being of European citizens are also increasingly suffering from heatwaves. Globally, the deadliest natural disaster in 2019 was the European heatwave, which claimed 2,500 lives.

All groups in society and all levels of governance, both within and outside the EU, must be involved in climate adaptation measures. We will build a climate-resilient society and, to this end:

improve knowledge of climate change impacts and adaptation solutions,
strengthen adaptation planning and
climate-related risk assessments,
accelerate the practical implementation of climate adaptation measures
and help strengthen climate resilience worldwide.

More information on the new EU Strategy on Climate Adaptation is available here: https://ej.uz/klimatastrategija

Frequently asked questions and answers: https://ej.uz/JautAtbKlimStrat