Climate change snares Net-zero champion Europe

The 'June heatwave' that broke temperature records across Europe has brought to light the urgent need for adaptation to global warming.

The European Union has been a leader when it comes to climate change. It was among the first major economies that?set a legal binding target of reaching net-zero emission by 2050. A June heatwave in Europe - which peaked at over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) - revealed that businesses, amenities, and critical infrastructure were not ready for climate change's immediate effects.

Krzysztof Blesta, Poland's Deputy Minister of Climate, said, "We haven't done enough to adapt." This was after power supplies were disrupted in parts of the region, outdoor work in some places was banned, trains in Germany were cancelled, and in Sweden, a cargo train derailled due to extreme temperatures buckling metal rails. Spain, one of the worst-affected countries, reported an excess of 1,000 deaths it attributed to the record heat.

The EU does not have the expertise to adapt buildings and public areas to extreme heat. Instead, it is the national or regional authorities who are responsible for this.

Wopke H. Hoekstra told journalists that it was pointless to try to tell the Greeks and Spaniards how to fight wildfires.

He said that the Dutch were better at building dikes than the rest of us. The EU plan will focus on best practices and common scenarios.

Even though global warming is heating Europe faster than any other continent, the EU still spends little on adaptation.

Official figures reveal that between 2021 and 2025 72% of climate-related expenditures from the EU joint budget went towards mitigation or limiting greenhouse gases which cause warming. Only 18%?went toward adaptation and 9% dealt with both issues.

Incentives for mitigation - Financial incentives

The EU has a number of financial incentives to reduce emissions. These include subsidies for renewable energy and the EU Emissions Trading system, which limits the amount of?emissions that companies can produce, while allowing greener firms to trade their excess permits to pollute at a profit.

Bolesta, a Polish politician, said that there is no similar incentive for businesses to invest in adaption measures.

He said that it was easier to understand the business case of mitigation because there is a cap-and-trade, carbon credits and renewable energy companies.

"Adaptation is mainly regarded as an expense with long-term benefits. So delayed gratification. But it can also be just a policy of insurance - it may or may not kick in."

The Dutch bank ING stated in a report this week that extremes caused by climate change, such as heatwaves and droughts, cost the nearly stagnant European economy 0.3% of its output in 2013.

ING stated that "the uncomfortable truth is heatwaves are now considered macro variables, not just weather events."

The thermometer has, in fact, become a leading indicator.

Costs to economies can range from the threat to tourism and farming in southern countries to the difficulty in working in offices not adapted for hot weather. According to an official estimate, a day of heat over 30 degrees Celsius costs the German economy EUR430,000,000 ($465,000,000) in productivity losses. However, according to the Federal Environment Agency, only 50% of German offices are air-conditioned compared to 90-95% of southern European offices.

Geraldine Dany Knedlik, a researcher at the German Institute for Economic Research DIW, said: "We (Germany), have built for cold but not for heat for decades. This is an adaptation gap."

Irene Seemann, who leads efforts to assist businesses with climate adaption in the large German State of North Rhine-Westphalia said that there are signs of a mindset change.

Seemann explained that, "to use a football metaphor, Germany is one-nil up because heat hasn't been a big issue." "Now, companies are recognizing that it has a direct effect on their operations."

Some simple adaptation fixes can be done for a relatively low cost.

The glass-domed building is protected by laws that prohibit structural changes. German flooring company 'Project Floors' applied reflective film to its Cologne headquarters. Reflective film was applied to the windows of the German flooring firm?Project Floors' Cologne headquarters. The windows were able to reduce indoor temperatures by 10° Celsius.

Bernd Greve, managing director of Project Floors, said: "It's simple, it works, and there is no need for power." Some require fundamental changes in workplaces and labor organisation. For example, rearranging shifts at cooler times during the day or reinventing public transport networks and urban space.

The progress has been made compared to the deadly heatwave of 2003.

World Health Organization published a statement last week that estimated the number of heat-related deaths would have been 80% higher in Europe today, more than 20 years later, if adaptation measures had not been implemented. These include heat-health plans, early warnings and cooling spaces, as well as outreach to the most vulnerable.

Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe said: "They save lives now." We need more in the entire European region.

(source: Reuters)