The European Environment Agency (EEA) published its assessment of climate risks in Europe, which looks at how climate change will impact Europe. Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. Extreme heat is becoming more frequent while precipitation patterns are changing. Downpours and other extremes are increasing in severity, and recent years have seen catastrophic floods in various regions. At the same time, southern Europe can expect considerable declines in overall rainfall and more severe drought.

Among the areas of assessment is infrastructure and tourism: More frequent and extreme weather events increase the risks to Europe’s environment, including energy, water and transport. While coastal flood risks have been managed relatively well in Europe, rising sea levels and changes in storm patterns can cause devastating impacts on people, infrastructure and economic activities. In southern Europe, heat and droughts cause substantial risks.