As I have mentioned numerous times, climate change affects practically every corner of the planet. In some more vulnerable areas, it's obviously more impacted, and in others less so. But in Europe, the most significant negative effects have and will continue to affect the southern and southeastern regions. This is evident when observing that Germany experiences the effects of climate change in their territory.
The most affected areas are the Mediterranean and coastal areas. In this article about the Arctic we can see what are the closest consequences of the thaw caused by climate change. As we can see, our country is among the first to be harmed by the effects of climate change.
Europe 2016 Climate Change, Impacts and Vulnerability Report
The report was presented on January 25 by the European Environment Agency (EEA). This document is about 420 pages long and summarizes data from hundreds of studies that have been conducted in recent years. These studies have been based on the effects that climate change is having and will have throughout Europe.
Extreme events such as heat waves, heavy rainfall and droughts they will occur more and more frequently. Furthermore, virtually all forecasts for Europe's immediate future are quite pessimistic if greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere are not rapidly reduced. In this regard, It is crucial to understand the differences between climate change and global warming.
Despite reducing greenhouse gases, the effects of climate change will not stop, they just will not increase. However, the effects that we are seeing will already continue to change the ecosystems that we know. The observed changes in climate are already having a considerable impact on ecosystems, the economy and human health and well-being in Europe. Floods are a clear example of this.
Impacts on the planet
Despite the efforts being made, and even if the Paris Agreement is put in place, ever higher annual record temperatures are being recorded, sea level height continues to rise and Arctic ice continues to retreat faster each year. In addition, annual rainfall is changing, with existing European regions becoming more humid and dry ones more arid. This could lead to the disappearance of cities.
Globally, the volume of glaciers and their extension are decreasing, with the serious consequences that we saw in the previous link. At the same time, extreme weather-related events such as heat waves, heavy rainfall, and droughts, they occur with increasing frequency and intensity in many regions. Improved climate projections provide further evidence that climate-related extreme events will increase in many European regions, reflected in the rise in deserts threatened by global warming.
Climate change hotspots
As I have commented before, all regions of the planet are vulnerable to climate changeAlthough it is true that some of them will experience more negative repercussions than others. Southern and southeastern Europe will be the hotspots for climate change. More adverse impacts are expected to occur in these parts of Europe. This is evidenced by the formation of atypical cyclones in the region.
These regions are already experiencing a marked increase in maximum temperatures and a consequent decrease in rainfall and river flow, which also means an increased risk of more intense droughts, a loss of crop yields, a loss of biodiversity and an increase in forest fires. Droughts are increasingly affecting children in various regions.
Climate change in human health and the economy
Above all, the coastal areas and floodplains of western Europe are considered critical points since they have a greater risk of floods derived from the rise in sea level. Changes in the cycles of species, their movement to other areas, etc. They are affecting negatively to various ecosystem services and economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Plant adaptation is crucial.
With climate change, the expansion of diseases closer to Ecuador will be imminent. Its health effects include injuries, infections, exposure to chemical hazards, and mental health consequences. Heat waves have become more frequent and intense, leading to tens of thousands of premature deaths in Europe. This trend is expected to increase and intensify unless appropriate adaptation measures are adopted. Therefore, it is vital to address how climate change affects pregnant women.
The spread of certain species of ticks, the Asian tiger mosquito, and other disease carriers increases the risk of contracting Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile virus infection, dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, and leishmaniasis.
As we can see, we are one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change and I hope that something will be done to curb its devastating effects.
