EU Resilience Plan, harmonised parameters on global warming

BRUSSELS – The European Commission today, Tuesday 27 October, presented a new framework to better tackle climate change. Among other things, Brussels has proposed legislation to harmonise the projected global warming trajectory at national level. ‘This framework provides a common reference point against which Member States can assess future climate risks when making decisions.’

At a press conference, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, looked back at the events of last summer, which was particularly hot and is estimated to have caused between 30,000 and 50,000 deaths. It is estimated that between 2022 and 2025, the economic losses caused by climate change in Europe amounted to 200 billion euros. ‘The return on investment in climate change adaptation can be more than ten times the value of the losses and damage avoided.’

The communication published in Brussels proposes integrating climate resilience into all key sectors, at both national and European level. It also provides ‘support to local and regional authorities to help them adapt through pilot projects and advisory services’. Brussels’ aim is also to promote economic investment and to further strengthen research and development in the environmental field. ‘Europe cannot be competitive without being resilient’.

According to a report by the insurance company Allianz, cited by the European Commission itself, if the five hottest years recorded by each country between 2014 and 2024 were to be repeated in the period 2026–2030, the cumulative losses in gross domestic product could reach between 5 per cent and 7 per cent for the most exposed economies. France, Italia, Germany and Spain could each suffer losses of between 120 and 240 billion dollars.