Publications

Water-limited crop productivity (CLIM 032) - Assessment published Nov 2012: Yields of several crops (e.g. wheat) are stagnating, whereas yields of other crops (e.g. maize in north Europe) are increasing; both effects are partly due to the observed climatic warming. Extreme climatic events, including droughts and heat waves, have negatively affected crop productivity during the first decade of the 21st century, and this is expected to further increase yield variability under climate change. Crop yields will be affected by the combined effects of changes in temperature, rainfall and atmospheric CO 2 concentration. Future climate change can lead to yield decreases or increases, depending on crop type and with considerable regional differences across Europe.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Water-limited crop productivity
Trend in absolute sea level across Europe based on satellite measurements (1992–2011): Based on satellite data; trends in mm/year, inverted barometer included, seasonal signal removed
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) data from Member States: A compiled dataset on renewable energy trajectories extracted from the submissions of the Member States to the European Commission, and an accompanying document which summarises the main points of the data.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Big potential of cutting greenhouse gases from waste: There is a big potential to cut greenhouse gases (GHGs) from municipal solid waste management, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report, 'Waste opportunities – Past and future climate benefits from better municipal waste management in Europe', covers the EU-27 (excluding Cyprus), Norway and Switzerland. It estimates that these countries could make GHG savings of up to 78 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) by 2020, or 1.53 % of Europe's emissions in 2008.
Located in News
The fourth assessment: Presentation of the report at the Belgrade conference: Subtitled movie of the speech hold by Executive Director of the EEA Jacqueline McGlade during the presentation of the 4th pan-European assessment at the UNECE 6th Мinisterial Conference "Environment for Europe", in Belgrade, 10th of October 2007.
Located in Environmental topics › … › Archive: the Belgrade ministerial conference › Videos and interviews
Global and European temperature (CSI 012/CLIM 001) - Assessment published May 2011: Global The global (land and ocean) average temperature increase between 1850 and 2010 was 0.81 0 C using combined UK Met Office Hadley centre and University of East Anglia - Climate Research Unit HadCRUT3 dataset compared to the 1850 - 1899 period average temperature and 0.89 0 C using Goddard Institute for Space Studies - GISS dataset compared to the 1880 - 1899 period average temperature. All used temperature records show the 2000s decade (2001 - 2010) was the warmest decade. For the HadCRUT3 and GISS datasets the rate of the global average has increased from around 0.06 0 C per decade over last 100 years, to 0.18 - 0.22 0 C in last decade. The best estimates for projected global warming in this century are a further rise in the global average temperature from 1.8 to 4.0 0 C for different scenarios that assume no further/additional action to limit emissions. The EU global temperature target is projected to be exceeded between 2040 and 2060, taking into account all six IPCC scenarios. Europe Europe has warmed more than the global average. The average temperature for the European land area for the last decade (2001 - 2010) was 1.2 °C above the 1850 - 1899 average, and for the combined land and ocean area 1.0 °C above. Considering the land area, 8 out of the last 13 years were among the warmest years since 1850. High-temperature extremes like hot days, tropical nights, and heat waves have become more frequent, while low - temperature extremes (e.g. cold spells, frost days) have become less frequent in Europe. The average length of summer heat waves over Western Europe doubled over the period 1850 to 2010 and the frequency of hot days almost tripled. The annual average temperature in Europe is projected to rise in this century with the largest warming over eastern and northern Europe in winter, and over Southern Europe in summer. High temperature events across Europe including temperature extremes such as heat waves are projected to become more frequent, intense and longer this century, whereas winter temperature variability and the number of cold and frost extremes are projected to decrease further. According to the projections, the most affected European regions are going to be the Iberian and the Apennine Peninsula and south - eastern Europe.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Global and European temperature
Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations (CSI 013) - Assessment published Nov 2010: The global average concentrations of various greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere reached their highest levels ever recorded, and continue increasing. The combustion of fossil fuels from human activities and land-use changes are largely responsible for this increase. The concentration in 2008 of the six greenhouse gases (GHG) included in the Kyoto Protocol has reached 438 ppm CO 2 equivalent, which is an increase of 160 ppm compared to the pre-industrial level. Considering all GHGs (incl. ozone and various cooling aerosols), the concentration has reached a value of 399 ppm CO 2 equivalents in 2008, which is 121 ppm higher than in pre-industrial times. The concentration of CO 2 -the most important greenhouse gas- has reached in 2008 a level of 385 ppm, and in 2009 387 ppm. This is an increase of nearly 110 ppm compared to the pre-industrial level. Without climate policy, the overall concentration of the six Kyoto gasses is projected to increase up to 638-1360 ppm CO 2 -equivalent by 2100, whereas the concentration of all GHGs may increase up to 608-1535 ppm CO 2 -equivalent. The global atmospheric GHG concentration of 450 ppm CO 2 -equivalent could already become exceeded up 2015 (depending on climate policy and definitions)
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations
Agriculture and forestry (CLIM 042) - Assessment published Sep 2008: The hot summer of 2003 in Europe is estimated to have led to EUR 10 billion in economic losses to farming, livestock and forestry from the combined effects of drought, heat stress and fire. Climate-related increases in crop yields are expected mainly in northern Europe (by about 10 %) with reductions (of 10 % or more) in the Mediterranean and the south-west Balkans. There are likely to be changes in forest growth with climate change, and related economic consequences, though projections of future net changes in Europe are uncertain.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Agriculture and forestry
Air pollution by ozone (CLIM 006) - Assessment published Sep 2008: Climate variability and change has contributed to an increase in average ozone concentrations in central and South-Western Europe (1-2 % per decade). During the summer of 2003, exceptionally long-lasting and spatially extensive episodes of high ozone concentrations occurred, mainly in the first half of August. These episodes appear to have been associated with the extraordinarily high temperatures over wide areas of Europe and illustrate the expected more frequent exceedances of the ozone information threshold under projected climate change. The projected climate-induced increase in ozone levels may result in current ozone abatement policies becoming inadequate.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Air pollution by ozone
Animal phenology (CLIM 025) - Assessment published Sep 2008: Climatic warming has caused advancement in the life cycles of many animal groups, including frogs spawning, birds nesting and the arrival of migrant birds and butterflies. Seasonal advancement is particularly strong and rapid in the Arctic. Breeding seasons are lengthening, allowing extra generations of temperature-sensitive insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and pest species to be produced during the year. These trends are projected to continue as climate warming increases in the decades to come. Populations may explode if the young are not exposed to normal predation pressures. Conversely, populations may crash if the emergence of vulnerable young is not in synchrony with their main food source or if shorter hibernation times lead to declines in body condition.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Animal phenology