In response to an invitation to all stakeholders and citizens in EU to participate in the online consultation on shaping our future climate resilience, the Board of the EGC has concluded that the EGC shall not enter discussions about climate adaptation but remains focused on prevention of global warming and the phasing out of fossil fuels.
Statement
Because of human-induced climate change, Europe and the whole world face growing damages and costs from extreme weather events. From heatwaves to floods, the impacts affect health, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the economy. If not decisive steps are taken to protect the climate these damages and the accompanying costs will multiply.
According to the European Climate Risk Assessment the extent to which we can avoid damages will largely depend on the following:
• how quickly we can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions;
• how fast and effectively we can prepare our societies and adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
Without urgent action, these risks could soon reach irreversible tipping points and catastrophic levels by the end of the century. Millions of people would die from heatwaves or become climate refugees. Economic losses from coastal floods alone could exceed EUR 1 trillion per year.
While acknowledging the need for urgent action on climate adaptation, the European Grandparents for Climate hold the opinion that treating the fundamental cause of the problem, greenhouse gas emissions, is of paramount importance. The phasing out of fossil fuels as soon as possible is essential. In dealing with climate adaptation, focus on this aspect should not be lost. Therefore, we urge the EU to put the unwavering focus on climate protection and to pursue a more consequential policy in that field instead of dismantling existing protection measures.