Europe’s not ready for a hotter world
POLITICOJul 25, 2022
Experts warn that following a winter heatwave bolstered by a lack of rain and snow, Europe's water levels are significantly lower than normal and countries could face a repeat of the severe droughts of 2022.
France, having gone 32 days without rainfall, is preparing to levy water restrictions on residents. Water usage is already restricted in 87 municipalities across southern France — an action that is usually deployed during the hotter and drier summer months.
Europe's failure on climate change was ever present as the world watched wildfires burn uncontrollably through France, Spain, Greece, and Portugal in 2022. Temps soared and they will continue to soar but what determines how people adapt lies in how well the government does or does not respond. EU governments have simply failed to plan ahead. The EU, by law, requires each country to have the plan to address the changing climate but the distance between the plan and the pace of action is criminal. Until the mindset around climate change is shifted inaction will continue to plague the EU and their failure will remain front-page news.
The EU recognizes the health and economic dangers of climate change and has begun introducing a series of proposals that would result in having a carbon-neutral bloc by 2050. Meeting the goal will require a great sacrifice from Europeans but it is a responsibility to ensure a healthier and more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren. The plans are the most ambitious yet and are likely to face criticism but EU policymakers understand that residents will make sacrifices for cleaner air, lower warming, and sustainability. The EU plans to set the stage for the rest of the world to follow.
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.
There is a 44% chance that wildfires will destroy a total exceeding 10Mha of global tree cover in any year, by the end of 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.