The Environmental Atlas

One degree matters: 'One degree matters' follows social and business leaders as they travel to Greenland and experience for themselves the dramatic effects of the melting of the ice cap and come to understand the planetary effects of climate change and the impacts these will have on society and the economy. The film brings to the screen the latest science from the Arctic and shows why a further rise in global temperature of one degree matters for the future of humankind.
Located in Multimedia centre
Effects of climate change: In the past 100 years, the number of cold and frost days has decreased in most parts of Europe, whereas the number of days with temperatures above 25°C and the number of heatwaves have increased. The frequency of very wet days has significantly decreased in recent decades in many places in southern Europe, but increased in mid and northern Europe. Cold winters are projected to disappear almost entirely by 2080 and hot summers are projected to become much more frequent. This will have a continuing effect on mountain regions. For every 1°C increase in temperature, the snowline rises by 150 metres. And by 2050, three-quarters of today's glaciers in parts of the Alps are expected to have disappeared. Source: State of the Environment Report No 1/2005 "The European environment - State and outlook 2005" (published 29 Nov 2005)
Located in Environmental topics › Climate change › Multimedia
Extreme weather variations with climate change: (This video has no audio.) In the past decade Europe has been affected by three remarkable weather extremes. The summers of 1995 and 2003 were extremely hot throughout most parts of Europe. In contrast, 2002 was very wet and saw extreme flooding in central Europe. Changes are also projected for the amount of rainfall in Europe, which could more pronounced flooding. Cold winters (which occurred once every 10 years from 1961 to 1990) are likely to become rare and will almost entirely disappear by 2080. In contrast, by 2080 nearly every summer in many parts of Europe is projected to be hotter than the 10 % hottest summers in the current climate. In southern Europe, these changes are projected to occur even earlier (in Spain by the 2020s) (Parry, 2000). This could have severe consequences for agriculture, water resources and the frequency of forest fires in southern Europe. Source: EEA Report No 2/2004 "Impacts of Europe's changing climate" (published 18 Aug 2004)
Located in Environmental topics › Climate change › Multimedia
Projected impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems: The maps show projected impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystems: forest cover gain, shrub/woodland cover gain, herbaceous cover gain, desert amelioration, grass/tree cover loss, forest/woodland decline, forest type change, according to 2 climate scenarios (SRES B1 and SRES A2).
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Projected ocean acidification by 2100: The maps show projected ocean acidification and related impacts on corals by 2020, 2060 and 2100: from better (blue) to worse (orange) conditions for coral skeletal growth.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Climate refugees: climate refugees
Located in Signals — every breath we take › Signals 2011 › Eyewitness stories
Progress towards halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010: This report assesses farmland, forests, freshwater ecosystems, marine and coastal systems, wetlands of international importance and mountain ecosystems in order to provide evidence of progress — or lack of progress — towards the 2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity.
Located in Publications
The European environment – state and outlook 2010: Synthesis: The SOER 2010 Synthesis provides an overview of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, integrating the main findings of SOER 2010.
Located in The European environment – state and outlook 2010 › Synthesis
Observations and projections of climate change impacts, vulnerability and risks: This map viewer provides access to climate related observations and projections of climate change impacts, vulnerability and risks from the following projects and organisations: ClimWatAdapt, ESPON Climate, JRC-IES and ENSEMBLES. Please note that there are differences in the climate change scenarios and models used across these projects and organisations. Provided by the the 'CLIMATE-ADAPT' portal.
Located in Data and maps › Interactive maps
Photos: Located in The Environmental Atlas › Environmental Atlas of Europe › Ice road