‘Daunting but doable’: Europe urged to prepare for 3C of global heating

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Ajit NiranjanFebruary 17, 2026 at 12:01 AM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The EU's climate advisory board (ESABCC) is urging European countries to prepare for a potential 2.8-3.3C temperature increase by 2100, a scenario double the Paris Agreement's target. Despite current adaptation efforts being insufficient and delayed, a member of the ESABCC, Maarten van Aalst, asserts that adapting to a hotter future is achievable through common-sense measures. This call to action comes as Europe experiences increasingly extreme weather events, including deadly floods in Germany and Spain, heatwaves causing tens of thousands of deaths annually, and record-breaking wildfires. The ESABCC emphasizes the need for officials to stress-test even hotter scenarios, highlighting Europe's vulnerability to climate change impacts. Recently, Portugal was urged to create climate adaptation plans after unprecedented storms caused significant damage and fatalities.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Germany 50% International Red Cross and Red Crescent 50% Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) 50% Spain 50% Paris Agreement 60% Portugal ×270% European Union 70% European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) ×380% Europe ×490% Maarten van Aalst ×390%

Keywords

global heating 100% climate change 90% climate adaptation 80% extreme weather 70% europe 70% rising temperatures 60% esabcc 50% fossil fuel pollution 50% wildfires 40% flooding 40%