Survey: Europeans fear climate change and are not prepared for it

Europe is the fastest warming continent. According to a Europe-wide survey, citizens are especially concerned about extreme heat and wildfires. The survey found that many citizens were also underprepared to deal with the increasing frequency and magnitude of heatwaves, flooding, or water shortages in their own homes.

The results of this survey were analysed in the report ‘Overheated and underprepared’ which was published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) on Wednesday, 4 February.

Results presented in webinar

Water News Europe attended an online webinar about the results. Sasha Mosky from the European Climate and Health Observatory and Michele Consolini from Eurofound presented the results. Mosky said that more than half of the 27,000 respondents are afraid of the impact of heat, but not everyone is taking measures to deal with it. Eastern Europe is experiencing heat, but this region does not have the financial means to take measures, such as shading and air conditioning. “Affordability can be an obstacle for preparing to climate risks”, added Consolini.

Vulnerable groups

After analysing the survey results it becomes clear that people with lower incomes and younger people are most affected by climate change. In addition, climate denialists and people who do not trust the authorities are also at risk. According to the speakers during the webinar every country should have behavioural offices in place to help citizens prepare for extreme weather conditions.

Climate adaptation

Four out of five respondents have experienced at least one climate-related impact, such as heat, flooding, wildfires, water scarcity, wind, or mosquito or tick bites. One in five respondents did not have any of the household measures protecting against extreme weather that were listed in the survey (shading, air conditioning or ventilation, flood proofing, rainwater collection, extreme weather insurance). Over 38% of respondents stated that they could not afford to keep their home adequately cool in the summer. Regionally, the group with the lowest percentage of respondents reporting both climate impacts and the presence of resilience measures listed in the survey was located in northern Europe.

Actions of local authorities

The survey also asked participants whether they were aware of adaptation actions taken by local authorities, and it also uncovered that some of the climate impacts reported affected certain groups differently depending on their income. For example, four times as many respondents from households with the lowest financial means had experienced problems with access to safe and clean water.

Monitoring tool

This report offers policymakers a snapshot of the state of Europe’s resilience and the ability of its citizens to cope with climate change. The aim is to help target efforts under current and future climate resilience and risk management measures. When asked whether this survey will be a monitoring tool, Consolini answered: “We don’t currently have a formal recurring schedule, but we actively monitor stakeholder interest and we are open to consider making it a long-term monitoring tool based on the feedback we receive. Currently, we are preparing to launch a survey this year that examines the resilience of healthcare and educational facilities.”

Managing climate risks

The findings reflect numerous studies, including the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) which points to critical climate risks to people’s health, the built environment, infrastructure and ecosystems in Europe. Managing current and future climate risks is recognised in EU policy as essential for maintaining Europe’s prosperity and the quality of life of its residents.

Online survey

This report is based on an online survey conducted by Eurofound last year involving over 27,000 respondents from across 27 European countries. It presents their experiences of climate impacts, concerns about future impacts and the resilience measures they have taken at home and those they are aware of where they live.