Researchers at the World Resources Institute (WRI) are warning that Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent, which is severely impacting cities and leading to tens of thousands of deaths, rising hospitalizations, school closures and people adjusting their lives to avoid inhospitable outdoor conditions.
It is not only cities located in southern Europe, along the Mediterranean, that are experiencing temperatures at oppressive levels, but cities in northern Europe too.
As an example, London recorded an all-time high of 40 degrees Centigrade in July 2022, triggering widespread fires and marking the London Fire Brigade’s busiest day since World War II.
According to the most recent UN Emissions Gap Report, Europe is on a trajectory that could see a rise of approximately 3.1 degrees Centigrade of warming above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100, unless significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are achieved. New data from WRI finds that with such an increase, European cities like London may see more frequent and intense heat waves, leading to increased demand for air conditioning and an increase in heat-related deaths, compared with just 1.5 degrees Centigrade of global warming.
Recommended actions
The WRI researchers advise that to prepare for such increases in temperature, European cities and governments will need to invest in early warning systems, climate adaptation plans and resilient infrastructure. Nature-based solutions, such as green roofs and urban trees will also be critical to help towns and cities to prevent some of the worst impacts from excessive heat.
New guidance from WRI sets out some of the steps that could be taken:
1. Double down on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: National governments must come up with ambitious climate implementation policies and action plans aligned with the international Paris Agreement on climate change; cities can set targets and adopt policies to contribute to meeting these goals.
2. Boost climate adaptation plans and funding to support resilient infrastructure, especially in low-income neighbourhoods: Investments in nature-based solutions are essential for safeguarding health and enhancing urban resilience. Solar reflective surfaces, particularly “cool roof” materials and green roofs can reduce air temperature through reducing the amount of heat absorbed and released by buildings and pavements. Early-warning systems and cooling centres for vulnerable people are also essential.
3. Improve collaboration with cities: Multi-level partnerships and coordination are key to tackling greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience at the pace and scale required to save and improve people’s lives.
4. Take a data-driven approach: Climate-hazard estimates for cities can help them focus on the most likely and urgent climate-related risks while informing targeted investments and policies. City-scale, city-relevant data should be at the centre of planning and budgeting for climate adaptation and resilience.
A 3 degrees C future is not a foregone conclusion, the researchers say, but to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, cities around the world need to both double down on efforts that reduce the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere and enhance their resilience to weather extremes.
In 2025, HEFMA’s Pulse magazine will be looking in more detail at some of these issues, in our features on biodiversity and adaptation.
