Overview
- Advisers set a common planning baseline of 2.8–3.3°C global warming this century, which implies roughly 4°C of warming for Europe, with stress‑testing for even higher scenarios.
- They conclude the EU is ill‑prepared for escalating impacts, citing fragmented governance, weak coordination and insufficient budgets for adaptation.
- Europe faces about €45 billion in weather‑related damages each year and tens of thousands of heat‑related deaths, including an estimated 24,000 in summer 2025, with the WMO identifying it as the fastest‑warming continent.
- Proposed actions include binding sector‑specific adaptation targets for 2030 and 2040, stronger early‑warning systems, avoiding new housing in flood‑exposed areas and drought planning for farmers.
- Financial safeguards recommended by the board include boosting insurance coverage and exploring EU‑level reinsurance, noting that only about a quarter of climate losses are insured.