Climate change impacts in Europe

Actions should address only one of the following sub-topics:

a) Climate change impacts on health in Europe: Actions should review, report and progress on the current state-of-the art knowledge on the links between climate change and impacts on human health in Europe that have thus far been poorly addressed or understood. Actions should also identify associated costs and suggest effective adaptation strategies, quantify health co-benefits from mitigation and early adaptation, target research actions to address key issues and identified research gaps[[e.g. see the 2016 USGCRP scientific report for the White House on ""Climate Impacts on Human Health"", https://health2016.globalchange.gov/]] and prioritise those that are of significance for Europe. Actions may, where appropriate, cluster with activities of global collaborative research actions (e.g. Belmont Forum) on climate change and health. Applicants are encouraged to seek synergies with relevant actions under Societal Challenge 1.

b) Global climate change impacts from a European perspective: Actions should consider how direct and indirect impacts beyond European borders will affect supply and value chains of relevance for the European economy and society, and related sectors such as finance, business, infrastructure, resources and commodities. Actions should also consider how these impacts will affect relevant European policies, such as those on climate change, foreign affairs, security, agriculture and/or others, and analyse how perceived associated risks may further impact on Europe. Actions should consider different climate (including high-end) scenarios and undertake a risk analysis for Europe at the most appropriate geographic and time scales.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 5 million and EUR 7 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Climate change is likely to make it harder to address inter alia poverty, disease, food and water insecurity in Europe. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation will affect the availability of food, energy and water, leading to likely increased volatility in food prices, and heightened regional tensions, affecting international stability and security. An increased frequency and/or intensity of extreme weather events may adversely affect human, animal and plant health, disrupt the flow of natural resources and commodities, and threaten infrastructure globally. Moreover, the inherent uncertainty of climate impacts is likely to increase risks for the business and financial sectors.

The project results are expected to contribute to:

• improved capability in assessing impacts of climate change;
• enabling evidence-based decision making through better understanding of mitigation and adaptation costs and co-benefits, and of potential new climate-related pressures on the EU;
• enhanced information base relevant for the 2023 global stocktake exercise under the UNFCCC;
• informing major international scientific assessments such as the IPCC reports and the IPBES, as well as to EU and national adaptation strategies and plans;
• cohesive European resilience to climate change.