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Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability and people’s health.

Extreme weather and climate-related hazards, such as heat waves, floods and droughts will become more frequent and intense in many regions. Some regions in Europe are hotspots for multiple climate risks. Southern Europe is particularly at risk from wildfires and the impacts of heat and water scarcity on agricultural production, outdoor work and human health. Flooding, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion threaten Europe’s low-lying coastal regions, including many densely populated cities. For further information on Europe’s changing climate hazards, please explore our interactive report.

Many climate risks in Europe require urgent and targeted actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Adaptation must be tailored to the specific circumstances in different regions and cities of Europe, and cooperation between EU Member States is crucial. The EEA has published the first ever European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) to help identify policy priorities for adaptation in climate-sensitive sectors. According to our assessment, Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks, several of which could reach catastrophic levels without urgent and decisive action.

Further information is also available in our topic pages on Extreme weather.