Published: 19 Dec 2007 -
The future economic costs of climate change
— known as the costs of inaction — will be
significant in Europe, says a new European
Environment Agency (EEA) report, released
today.
The report, Climate change: the cost of inaction
and the cost of adaptation, looks at the economic
costs of climate change (impacts) at a European
level. These costs are increasingly shaping
the climate policy debate but the report highlights
the fact that methodological issues and uncertainties
remain in cost estimation.
Based on a review of existing information,
the report also analyses the economic costs
of climate change at a sector level in Europe,
considering natural ecosystems, coastal zones,
agriculture, energy, tourism, human health,
water availability and the built environment.
Whilst detailed information is still limited,
the report reveals that projected changes
in climate are expected to have wide ranging
impacts and economic effects. The overall
net economic effects are still largely uncertain,
however, there is a strong distributional
pattern, with more adverse effects in the
Mediterranean and south-eastern Europe.
The study also concludes that adaptation
has an extremely important role in reducing
these economic costs. However, a review of
EEA member countries shows that whilst almost
all countries are making progress in terms
of recognizing the importance of adaptation,
only a handful are progressing an economic
perspective. It is crucial that countries
begin to exchange information, share experience
and learn lessons from each other, the report
says.
A major element of the report is a review
of the main methodological issues in estimating
the costs of inaction and the costs of adaptation.
The study shows that the evidence and understanding
of the costs of inaction are still incomplete.
Different assumptions and choices in the methodology
lead to a very wide range of estimates. A
number of challenges and research needs are
identified which should be addressed in order
to improve our understanding of the economic
costs of climate change.
Ultimately, the report calls for improved
information on climate change impacts and
adaptation strategies, and recommends greater
information sharing among EEA member countries.
+ More
New website connects European EPAs
Published: 18 Dec 2007 - A new website connecting
environmental protection agencies (EPA) across
Europe has been launched with the support
of the European Environment Agency (EEA) today.
The website is primarily a tool to increase
cooperation between members of the 'EPA Network'
— an independent coalition between heads of
the various national environmental and protection
agencies. The website, which is hosted by
the EEA, will also allow the public to see
what role EPAs play in countries other than
their own.
EPAs exist in most European countries. They
provide a critical service, both nationally
and on a European level, by continuously monitoring
the state of the environment on the ground.
EPA staff also provide expert advice to policy-makers
in each country. In some cases the EPA is
also responsible for licensing, surveillance
and general enforcement of environmental policy.
The EPA Network provides a forum where members
can discuss policy and implementation. The
network also aims to foster cooperation between
countries and regions.
'The EPA Network is an important forum. Environment
policy designed in Brussels is often implemented
very differently on the ground in individual
Member States. The impact of policy is also
often mixed. We hope the new website will
encourage discussion and highlight.
