Climate Risks and Climate Resilience

“It is appropriate and required under European law for the EU to take precautionary measures to counter climate risks,” says cep lawyer Götz Reichert. He has analysed the Commission’s latest communication on dealing with climate risks together with cep climate expert Svenja Schwind. In the opinion of the cep researchers, identifying so-called risk owners and clarifying who has to implement adaptation measures at national, regional and local level can eliminate gaps in responsibility, avoid duplication of work and simplify overall coordination.

According to Svenja Schwind, the Commission’s aim to increase knowledge about the expected impacts of climate change and the effects and costs of climate adaptation measures will facilitate efficient decision-making. It also makes sense to increase incentives for insurance coverage against climate risks.

The cep experts are more critical of the definition of climate resilience as a non-price criterion in public tenders. “As an unintended consequence, financially stronger regions could be favoured over financially weaker regions in tenders across the EU,” warns Svenja Schwind.