Water is coming: the EU Strategy on climate adaptation – focus on coastal erosion and sea level rise

Co-organised with Surfrider Foundation Europe and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions

Monday 29 March 2021 from 14:30 to 16:30 (CET)

Have a look at the recording: HERE 

Climate change is already here: the past six years have been the warmest on record and the UN predicts that the temperature may increase by 1.5°C above pre-industrial era temperatures in the next 15 years. This will only exacerbate the frequency and severity of climate and extreme weather events of which maritime regions and their communities are at the forefront.

More than 200 million EU citizens live near the coastline and are increasingly confronted with sea-level rise, coastal erosion, or coastal floods. It is essential for European citizens to be aware of and prepared for such inevitable climate change effects. Each year, 72 000 of them are exposed to the risks of coastal flooding. If no action is undertaken, by 2100 at least 3 million Europeans will be impacted by it.

The SEArica Intergroup in cooperation with Surfrider Foundation Europe and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions organised an online event to discuss the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change recently published by the European Commission. The webinar was opened by SEArica Vice-Chair MEP Petros Kokkalis and Mr Cees Loggen, President of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions. Ms Elena Višnar Malinovská, Head of the Adaptation Unit at DG CLIMA, delivered a keynote speech followed by a discussion with SEArica MEPs Nils Torvalds, Cyrus Engerer, Stéphane Bijoux as well as Yana Prokofyeva from Surfrider Foundation Europe and coastal regions representatives.

During the webinar MEPs, the European Commission, civil society, and coastal regions representatives outlined their vision on coastal adaptation, discussed challenges and shared examples of local solutions and best practices for a resilient Europe.

Have a look at the recording: HERE