The European Union is ill-prepared for the escalating climate crisis, according to its independent advisers. They urge the EU to accelerate its efforts in adapting to extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent and severe due to global warming. The economic toll of climate-related disasters on European infrastructure and buildings has skyrocketed to 45 billion euros annually, a staggering fivefold increase since the 1980s. While the EU has set ambitious targets for greenhouse gas reduction, its adaptation strategies fall short, according to the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. This lack of coherence and coordination, coupled with insufficient funding, hinders the EU's ability to safeguard its citizens and infrastructure. Without urgent action, the EU risks further economic and security vulnerabilities, as well as heightened public budget strain. The advisers recommend that the EU prepare for the worst-case scenario of 2.8 to 3.3°C of global warming by 2100, and develop policies to help people and businesses adapt. This includes measures like avoiding construction in flood-prone areas, providing support for drought-affected farmers, and designing cities to withstand extreme heat. Despite the EU's efforts, the global temperature has already risen 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels, and current national climate pledges are insufficient to prevent 2.3 to 2.5°C of warming this century. The EU must also invest in early warning systems and increase insurance coverage, potentially through EU-level reinsurance, as only a quarter of climate-related economic losses are currently insured. The European Commission is set to unveil a new 'climate resilience' strategy later this year, following devastating weather events like the 2023 floods in Slovenia, which cost 11% of the country's GDP, and Europe's worst wildfire season on record in 2025.
