2.2: Vulnerability and Adaptation

To support new EU and European Policy developments on vulnerability and adaptation and on disaster prevention and management by developing online access to relevant environmental information, observations for rapid spatial mapping and decision‑support tools, via SEIS and GMES services to help Member States' meet their objectives for dealing with climate change impacts, adaptation, vulnerability mapping, disaster prevention and management.

Other Information:

Analysis - Vulnerability of natural resources and human activities is increasing in Europe as a consequence of climate change. This includes intensification of extreme temperatures, precipitation, floods, wind storms, droughts, forest fires, intensified land use, industrial development, urban expansion, construction of infrastructure and loss of biodiversity. The EU's 2007 green paper on adapting to climate change stresses the increased risk of damage to people, infrastructure and environment in the EU and draws attention to the need for early action and policy response in Europe. Under the UN FCCC, a 5-year work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation is being implemented. A global post-Kyoto regime is being developed including adaptation to climate change, with agreement planned for end of 2009 in Copenhagen. The European Commission is now preparing a White Paper on adaptation with options for integrating adaptation into EU policies across the most vulnerable regions. The European Commission is also planning a Communication on a Community initiative in the field of disaster prevention aimed at bringing together information in a more systematic way to support actions across the EU. Action - We will achieve our objective by: • collecting, managing and assessing policy‑relevant data on a European level for cross-border environmental vulnerability mapping in EU and neighbouring countries in collaboration with other European organisations (i.e. DG ENV, JRC, EMSA, ESA); • reporting on national climate adaptation plans and provide guidance and support for information exchange on regional prevention, management and adaptation strategies and best practice; • assessing the environmental impacts of natural disasters and industrial accidents in Europe as well as existing measures for their management and prevention, to complement the information on economic loss and social impact collected by other organisations; • supporting the creation of a Community clearing house mechanism for exchanging information and best practice on disaster prevention and management, to be developed with networks of relevant actors in disaster prevention and management across Europe; and • developing of a prototype 'European Clearing House on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation' to provide access to European climate change data and scenarios with information on actions and good practice, including economic costs, linked to the EEA's Climate Change data centre and consistent with a clearing house on disaster prevention and management.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

Content