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Environmental information systems
The indicator shows total economic losses from weather- and climate-related extreme events (such as windstorms, flooding, heatwaves, cold spells, droughts or wildfires) per country and per year (since 1980). A moving average for the previous 30 years is added because of the large interannual variability of the losses.
This indicator shows a steep drop in climate-related economic losses between 1998 and 2002, whereafter the historical trend line for Belgium over 10 years stays more or less parallel to and underneath the historical trend line for the EU until the floods of 2021. These floods are considered to be the first large-scale episode of a still infrequent phenomenon. Nonetheless, currently, measures are being taken to increase resilience and preparedness in relation to floods and other extreme climate-related events, such as droughts, wildfires, heatwaves and storms. These measures are especially crucial when considering the potentially increased likelihood of such events occurring in the future.
Additionally, it is important to note that not all adaptive actions have outcomes that are measurable in monetary value. For example, the decrease in the loss of human lives when such extreme events occur due to the implementation of effective adaptation actions cannot be expressed in this way. Such outcomes are often ignored when looking at only economic losses. Nonetheless, risk analyses are being executed at the regional and national levels that will allow for the setting of priorities such as increasing both the speed and scope of preventing economic losses.