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Coasts and seas - Theme image
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Environmental topics
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Coasts and seas
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Conservation status of 50 coastal habitats
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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Adapting to climate change — key message 3
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Vulnerabilities differ across regions, sectors and communities, with pronounced consequences expected in the Mediterranean basin, north-western and central-eastern Europe and the Arctic. Many coastal zones, mountains and areas prone to river floods are particularly vulnerable, as are cities and urban areas. In some sectors and regions new opportunities may occur. However, with increases in both temperatures and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, adverse effects are likely to dominate in the medium to long term.
Located in
The European environment – state and outlook 2010
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Adapting to climate change - SOER 2010 thematic assessment
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Key messages
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Marine and coastal environment — SOER 2010 thematic assessment
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European marine regions include the north-east Atlantic and Arctic oceans, and the
Mediterranean, Black and Baltic seas. Human activities — such as fishing, aquaculture and
agriculture — and climate change cause large and severe impacts on Europe's coastal and marine
ecosystems. The EU objective of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has not been met in either the
coastal or the marine environment. Recognising the need for an integrated ecosystem-based
approach to reduce pressures, the EU Integrated Maritime Policy allows for the development
of sea-related activities in a sustainable manner. Its environmental pillar, the Marine Strategy
Framework Directive, aims to deliver 'good environmental status' of the marine environment
by 2020, and the Common Fisheries Policy will be reformed in 2012 with the aim of achieving
sustainable fisheries. Complementary policy efforts include the EU Water Framework Directive and
other freshwater legislation, and the Habitats and Birds Directives.
Located in
The European environment – state and outlook 2010
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Thematic assessments
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Adapting to climate change - SOER 2010 thematic assessment
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Climate change is happening and will continue to have far-reaching consequences for human and natural systems. Impacts and vulnerabilities differ considerably across regions, territories and economic sectors in Europe. Strategies to adapt to climate change are necessary to manage impacts even if global temperature stays below a 2 °C increase above the pre-industrial level. The EU adaptation framework aims at developing a comprehensive strategy by 2013, to be supported by a clearinghouse for sharing and maintaining information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.
Located in
The European environment – state and outlook 2010
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Thematic assessments
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Modelled number of people flooded across Europe's coastal areas in 1961-1990 and in the 2080s
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The map shows the modelled number of people flooded across Europe's coastal areas
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Data and maps
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Maps and graphs
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Impacts of Europe's changing climate - 2008 indicator-based assessment
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Publications
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Coastal areas (CLIM 041) - Assessment published Sep 2008
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Coastal flooding can lead to important losses. By 2100, the population in the main coastal European cities exposed to sea-level rise and associated impacts on coastal systems is expected to be about 4 million and the exposed assets more than EUR 2 trillion (without adaptation). Future projections of sea-level rise and associated impacts on coastal systems show potentially large increases in the risk of coastal flooding. These could have significant economic costs (without adaptation), with recent estimates in the range of 12 to 18 billion EUR/year for Europe in 2080 under the IPCC SRES A2 scenario. The same estimates indicate that adaptation could significantly reduce this risk to around EUR 1 billion.
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Data and maps
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Indicators
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Coastal areas
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Climate change: the cost of inaction and the cost of adaptation
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Publications
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EEA Briefing 3/2006 - The continuous degradation of Europe's coasts threatens European living standards
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Located in
Publications