A survey conducted in 30 European countries by the European Environment Agency about climate adaptation strategies, showed that factors such as time, money or technologies are a barrier to taking action, reports the Guardian. From the surveyed countries, 21 declared national adaptation strategies, and 13 – including the UK – had begun implementing adaptation policies.
According to the report, as weather events increase in severity and frequency, climate change adaptation is increasingly focusing minds in government. Climate change was partly responsible last year for heatwaves in Australia, Korea and Japan, floods in Northern India and a drought in New Zealand, according to a report by the UK’s Met Office and the US’s Noaa.
“Attention is often on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for good reason. But adaptation is inevitable, so it is positive that there is now political focus on this issue across Europe,” said Hans Bruyninckx, the Agency’s executive director. “Many countries now need to turn plans into action.”