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Policy Document

Evaluation of the EU Adaptation Strategy Package

Policy Document
1 min read
In November 2018, the EC published an evaluation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. The evaluation package comprises a Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change (COM(2018)738), the Evaluation of the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change (SWD(2018)461), and the Adaptation preparedness scoreboard Country fiches (SWD(2018)460). The evaluation found that the EU Adaptation Strategy has been a reference point to prepare Europe for the climate impacts to come, at all levels. It emphasized that EU policy must seek to create synergies between climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction efforts and sustainable development to avoid future damage and provide for long-term economic and social welfare in Europe and in partner countries. The evaluation also suggests areas where more work needs to be done to prepare vulnerable regions and sectors.

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Indicator Specification Drought impact on ecosystems in Europe The indicator addresses anomalies and long term trends of vegetation productivity derived from remote sensing observed time series of vegetation indices in areas that are pressured by drought. Drought pressure is computed as the combination of significant Pearson correlation coefficients (r) derived between time series anomalies of yearly vegetation productivity and the anomalies of various drought hazards (dH) during the growing season. Drought impact is indicated as the most sever negative productivity anomaly under drought pressured areas as well as long term decreasing linear trends of annual vegetation productivity for areas that are pressured by drought hazards. Detailed indicators’ specifications are presented under Methodology.
Indicator Specification Ocean acidification This indicator illustrates the global mean average rate of ocean acidification, quantified by decreases in pH, which is a measure of acidity and is defined here as the hydrogen ion concentration. A decrease in pH value corresponds to an increase in acidity. The observed decrease in ocean pH resulting from increasing concentrations of CO 2 is an important indicator of global change. This indicator provides information on: - trends in ocean acidity measured at the Aloha station; - yearly mean surface sea water pH levels reported on a global scale, based on information from the Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS), with the estimated long-term decreasing trend.
Indicator Specification Meteorological and hydrological droughts in Europe Observed trend in the frequency of meteorological droughts Observed trend in runoff during the driest month Projected change in the frequency of meteorological droughts Projected change in 10-year river water deficit due to climate change
Indicator Specification Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets Cumulative ice mass loss and sea-level equivalent from Greenland and Antarctica.
Indicator Specification River floods This indicator monitors: observed regional trends in river flood discharges; projected changes in river floods with a return period of 100 years.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Global and European sea-level rise This indicator comprises several metrics to describe past and future sea level rises globally and in European seas. Global sea level rise is reported because it is the second-most important metric of global climate change (after global mean surface temperature), and because it is a proxy of sea level rise in Europe. Past sea level trends across Europe are reported in two different ways: first, absolute sea level change based on satellite altimeter measurements that reflect primarily the contribution of global climate change to sea level rise in Europe; second, relative sea level change based on tide gauges that also include local land movement, which is more relevant for the development of regional adaptation strategies. The indicator also addresses changes in extreme sea level along the European coast. The following aspects of sea level rise are included: observed change in GMSL, based on two reconstructions from tide gauge measurements (since 1880) and on satellite altimeter data (since 1993); spatial trends in absolute sea level across European seas, based on satellite measurements (since 1993); spatial trends in relative sea level across European seas, based on European tide gauge stations with long time series (since 1970); projected change in global sea level for three different forcing scenarios; projected change in relative sea level across European seas; projected change in the frequency of flooding events along European coasts.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Sea surface temperature This indicator monitors trends in average SST anomalies in Europe’s regional seas and in the global ocean.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Forest fires This indicator monitors: the burnt areas in European countries; the current state of and projected changes in forest fire danger.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Ocean acidification This indicator illustrates the global mean average rate of ocean acidification, quantified by decreases in pH, which is a measure of acidity defined here as the hydrogen ion concentration. A decrease in pH value corresponds to an increase in acidity. The observed decrease in ocean pH resulting from increasing concentrations of CO 2 is an important indicator of global change. This indicator provides information on: trends in ocean acidity measured at the Aloha station; yearly mean surface sea water pH levels reported on a global scale based on information from Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS), with the long-term decreasing trend estimate.
Indicator Specification Heating and cooling degree days This indicator looks at the following: Time series of population-weighted heating and cooling degree days averaged over Europe; Observed trends in heating and cooling degree days; Projected trends in heating and cooling degree days.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Arctic and Baltic sea ice This indicator measures: trends in Arctic sea ice extent in March and September; the maximum extent of ice cover in the Baltic Sea; projected changes in sea ice extent in the northern hemisphere in September.
Indicator Specification Heavy precipitation in Europe Heavy precipitation is defined as the maximum annual 5-day consecutive precipitation. Trends are calculated for the period between 1960 and 2015. Projected changes in heavy precipitation are defined as changes in the 95th percentile of daily precipitation (only days with precipitation >1 mm/day are considered). Changes between the 1971-2000 and 2071-2100 are calculated using a multi-model ensemble forced by RCP8.5.

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