News

EEA fuels debate on adapting water policies to climate change

News Published 30 Apr 2008 Last modified 21 Jun 2016

1 min read

Topics: Climate change mitigation Water and marine environment

Climate change needs to be mainstreamed into water quality, water availability and flooding policies and strategies, according to a new EEA report. The report 'Climate change and water adaptation issues', says that existing adaptive measures are not sufficient, and are concentrated in flood defences.

We — in Europe — need to get our act together on adaptation in the same way as we are leading on mitigation.

Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA

These measures are often directed at reducing vulnerability to current climate variability but not at addressing long-term climate change. Therefore, there is considerable scope for advancing adaptation planning and implementation in other areas including public health, water resources and management of ecosystems.

'We — in Europe — need to get our act together on adaptation in the same way as we are leading on mitigation', says Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA.

The EEA will deliver this message today at the international symposium, 'Time to Adapt — Climate Change and the European Water Dimension', in Berlin. The event is organised under the German EU Presidency, and will discuss the likely effects of climate change on water management and water dependent sectors, such as agriculture, energy and tourism.