Debate: EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change
Date: THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2020
Speaker: Johannes Hahn
Language: EN

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5° Celsius issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change demonstrates that even in a best case scenario of sustained emission limitations, there will be large stress on agri—food systems, infrastructure, ecosystems and human health.  The Union was an early actor on adaptation, with the adoption in 2013 of a Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. This aimed to enhance the preparedness and capacity of all governance levels to respond to the impacts of climate change and make Europe more climate resilient. The new strategy will draw on its evaluation that was finalised in 2018 and, of course, will also take account of the European Green Deal ambitions.  Efforts to measure resilience to climate change need to continue and to be upgraded and linked to a more ambitious monitoring and evaluation system.  The 2013 strategy relied on the scoreboard to assess preparedness. The revised strategy could use a dashboard to assess resilience and subsequently monitor its strength over time, with regular progress reports on specific targets. At the same time, strengthening effective monitoring and evaluation tools for adaptation policies and measures in partner countries will continue to be of central interest for the Union’s international action and support. The Commission’s proposal for a European climate law provides a framework for progress in pursuit of the global adaptation goal established in Article 7 of the Paris Agreement. The adaptation strategy will be designed to support the achievement of the objectives of the proposal. The governance will include a citizens’ dimension through the recently—launched climate pact. The revised strategy will be accompanied by an impact assessment and will draw on the latest available research results. Adaptation action in general, and the strategy in particular, will benefit from the increased climate—related spending target in the next Union seven—year budget, while the European Investment Bank has committed in its recently—adopted climate roadmap to support its implementation. Stakeholders will be empowered to tackle climate impacts like desertification and land degradation.  Climate change adaptation and disaster risk management will be a key priority for the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund in the 2021—2027 period, with a place—based approach to improving the resilience of EU regions and cities.  Today, the speed of adaptation actions varies across the Union, with all Member States having adopted national adaptation strategies or plans. In the EU Member States, most vulnerability assessments are being made, and adaptations identified, in respect of agriculture, health, biodiversity, forestry, energy, oceans and seas. The European Environment Agency concludes that even if the Union and some countries have started to monitor the implementation of adaptation activities, it’s not possible to determine with any certainty whether decisive progress in increased resilience at Union level has been achieved by 2020.  While building resilience and adapting to the impacts of climate change is a challenge for all regions of the world, it’s the poorest and most vulnerable who are least able to adapt, both with the Union and globally, for example because of limited resources, protracted crises or violence.  Globally, the Union and its Member States remain the largest contributor of international public climate finance for adaptation purposes to developing countries, in particular least—developed countries and small island developing states. The Union and its Member States are committed to scaling up their financial assistance in the future.  Water resources, forests and agricultural crops fulfil many critical productive and regulation functions upon which our societies depend, such as clean drinking water, carbon sequestration, abundant food, wood and forest products, outdoor recreation opportunities and habitat. Ensuring water, forests and agriculture can withstand a changing climate is critical to reaching essential goals, including preserving ecosystem services and not least the carbon sequestration potential of forests. The Commission will take this issue up in all fora, including for cities in the global Covenant of Mayors. This issue is essential and the Commission welcomes Parliament’s early engagement and clear signal for ambition.  We look forward to the upcoming parliamentary resolution on the new strategy and to engaging in fruitful discussion on implementation once the Commission adopts the new strategy. But may I say that we also have to take care that the issue of implementation is properly addressed in the different sectoral legislation. The reports I have received so far are not very promising, at this stage at least.