• Policymakers must ‘focus on both reducing emissions … implementing preventive actions and climate adaptation measures,’ says Harmeling

• ‘Countries affected by different types of events, whether it’s wildfires or heat waves, need to assume that it’s coming back next year and likely the year after,’ warns climate expert

LONDON

From wildfires and heat waves to deadly floods, Europe endured another year marked by the devastating effects of climate change, with the series of disasters serving as a stark reminder of ongoing warnings from scientists, activists, and concerned citizens.

Looking ahead, Sven Harmeling, head of climate at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, sees little reason for optimism and believes it is time to “ring the alarm bells for European policymakers at all levels.”

The devastating disasters being witnessed in Europe, said Harmeling, are also happening in many other regions, a sobering confirmation of what climate experts have long predicted.

“We’ve had many scientific studies, findings, and a lot of what we’re seeing now is actually confirming the scientific projections,” he told Anadolu.

“The risk and events of more intense precipitation, which can then cause a lot of damage, like we’ve seen in Valencia, are a clear example,” he added, referring to the October-November floods that killed over 220 people and became the deadliest in Spain’s modern history.

Extreme weather woes and adaptation strategies

In addition to floods, extreme weather events like wildfires and heat waves have sent urgent signals to policymakers.

Emphasizing the need for immediate action, Harmeling said: “It is very important to ring the alarm bells for European policymakers at all levels. They must focus on both reducing emissions – still the primary driver of climate change – and implementing preventive actions and climate adaptation measures.”

He stressed that these measures are not just about curbing emissions but also about protecting cities, infrastructure, and supply chains from climate impacts.

He called it an “important task” for the incoming European Commission to intensify the continent’s response to the climate crisis.

While all EU member states have developed some form of climate adaptation strategy, Harmeling argued that these plans are often underfunded and inadequately resourced.

These strategies sometimes spread responsibilities across too many ministries because they affect so many areas, he said.

Effective coordination within governments and well-structured implementation plans are crucial, Harmeling noted, calling for improvements in adaptation strategies to ensure they are both practical and impactful.

At the EU level, Harmeling outlined a “to-do list” for the new European Commission, including the need to strengthen the bloc’s adaptation approach and deliver a more concrete and binding European adaptation plan.

“It is really important to find ways to strengthen and streamline the implementation across member states,” he added.

Grim future outlook

Harmeling issued a stark warning about the year ahead, citing projections that 2024 is almost certain to become the hottest year on record.

He explained that global temperatures are expected to rise further, exacerbating the impacts of climate change until significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are achieved.

“Unfortunately, there’s no reason to assume that next year we will see less impact than this year,” he said.

Countries already reeling from wildfires, heat waves, and floods should brace for a recurrence of these events in the coming years, Harmeling cautioned.

“The countries that have been quite affected by different types of events, whether it’s wildfires or heat waves, need to assume that it’s coming back next year – and likely the year after as well.”

As Europe looks toward an uncertain future, Harmeling underscored the urgency of preparedness.

“I think it’s very critical to prioritize strong planning now for the next year, especially at the city level,” he said.