Declining yields due to warmer temperatures and less rain, biodiversity loss, increased risk of floods… the impacts of climate change on European agriculture are irrefutable… But what impact does agriculture have on climate change? And what role can it play in helping address this challenge?

EPRS policy podcast - EU agricultural policy and climate change

Climate change remains a key challenge. The EU and the European Parliament are working to ensure a more sustainable society and economy through ambitious policies at home and close cooperation with international partners. It is already on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2020, and has put forward a plan to further cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

By 2050, Europe aims to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Alongside reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the EU is also taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change. By 2050, Europe aims to be a climate-resilient society. Climate action is at the heart of the European Green Deal – an ambitious package of measures ranging from drastically cutting greenhouse gas emissions, to investing in cutting-edge research and innovation, to preserving Europe’s natural environment.

Climate change

On Thursday MEPs debate how droughts and extreme weather events pose significant threats to local communities and EU agriculture amid climate change. Increasingly frequent and severe droughts are straining water resources, impacting crop yields, and threatening food security across Europe. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, further exacerbate these challenges by causing crop failures, soil erosion, and damage to infrastructure.

Addressing these issues is essential not only for protecting the livelihoods of communities dependent on farming and rural economies but also for safeguarding agricultural productivity.

Droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - The extreme wildfires in Southern Europe, in particular Portugal and Greece and the need for further EU climate action on adaptation and mitigation

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires

EP Plenary session - The water crisis in Europe

REGI Delegation in La Palma - Press Conference and the Meeting with the Spanish Authorities

REGI Delegation at Tacande in La Palma

REGI Delegation at Cruce de la Laguna in La Palma.

REGI in Mirador de Tajuya, La Palma - Volcano aftermath  and reconstruction

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - Natural disasters in Europe

REGI Committee - Exchange of views on natural disasters throughout Europe this summer (floods, fires)

The Spanish and European flags lowered to half-mast following the recent tragic flooding that struck the Baleares Islands and in solidarity with the Spanish people

EP Plenary session: minute of silence for the victims of the tsunami on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia

Plenary session week 37 2017 in Strasbourg - Accessibility requirements for products and services

EP-057874F_PLENARY_Plenary 6

EU and Italian flags at half mast following the earthquake in Italy

DEVE Committee meeting on ' Humanitarian response to the earthquake in Nepal '

Spanish and European flags are at half-mast in front of the European Parliament buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg, following the devastating floods in Valencia and across Spain.

Tribute to the victims of the floods in Spain: Spanish and European flags at half-mast in Brussels and Strasbourg

Closing statement by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture, on droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change. Droughts and extreme weather events pose significant threats to local communities and EU agriculture amid climate change. Increasingly frequent and severe droughts are straining water resources, impacting crop yields, and threatening food security across Europe. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, further exacerbate these challenges by causing crop failures, soil erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Addressing these issues is essential not only for protecting the livelihoods of communities dependent on farming and rural economies but also for safeguarding agricultural productivity.

Droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change: Closing statement by Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI, European Commissioner for Agriculture

MEPs debate on droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change. Droughts and extreme weather events pose significant threats to local communities and EU agriculture amid climate change. Increasingly frequent and severe droughts are straining water resources, impacting crop yields, and threatening food security across Europe. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, further exacerbate these challenges by causing crop failures, soil erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Addressing these issues is essential not only for protecting the livelihoods of communities dependent on farming and rural economies but also for safeguarding agricultural productivity.

Droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change: MEPs debate (part 2)

Droughts and extreme weather events as a threat to local communities and EU agriculture in times of climate change: MEPs debate (part 1)

Closing statements by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, for the debate on the devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, which have claimed lives and displaced thousands. The discussion focuses on the EU's preparedness for handling increasingly severe disasters driven by climate change. The floods, caused by torrential rain, have wreaked havoc across Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria, with entire neighborhoods submerged and widespread damage to infrastructure. Local authorities are describing the floods as the worst in decades, prompting emergency evacuations and calls for EU financial assistance.

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: Closing statements

On Wednesday, MEPs debate the devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, which have claimed lives and displaced thousands. The discussion focuses on the EU's preparedness for handling increasingly severe disasters driven by climate change. The floods, caused by torrential rain, have wreaked havoc across Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria, with entire neighborhoods submerged and widespread damage to infrastructure. Local authorities are describing the floods as the worst in decades, prompting emergency evacuations and calls for EU financial assistance.

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: MEPs debate part 2

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: MEPs debate part 3

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: MEPs debate part 1

The statement by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez LENARČIČ, and the debate among the MEPs focus on the devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, which have claimed lives and displaced thousands. At the heart or the discussion is the EU preparedness in handling increasingly severe disasters exacerbated by climate change. The floods, caused by torrential rain, have wreaked havoc across Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Austria, with entire neighborhoods submerged and widespread damage to infrastructure. Local authorities are describing the floods as the worst in decades, prompting emergency evacuations and calls for EU financial assistance.

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: extracts from the debate

The devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe, the loss of lives and the EU’s preparedness to act on such disasters exacerbated by climate change: opening statements

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, officially opens the plenary session giving a statement on the recent floods in Central and Eastern Europe in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: Statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on the recent floods in Central and Eastern Europe

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated this summer for an increasing number of extreme weather events, including devastating floods (Slovenia, Cyprus, more recently Greece and Bulgaria) and the largest wildfires ever recorded in the EU (in particular in the Mediterranean region). MEPs debate with the Council and Commission better protecting Europeans from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires. Extracts from the debate

Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: extracts from the debate

MEPs debate with the Council and Commission better protecting Europeans from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires. MEPs call for increased action to build a more disaster-resilient EU. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated this summer for an increasing number of extreme weather events, including devastating floods (Slovenia, Cyprus, more recently Greece and Bulgaria) and the largest wildfires ever recorded in the EU (in particular in the Mediterranean region). Closing statements by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management and by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council.

Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: closing statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU and Olivér VÁRHELYI, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management

MEPs debate with the Council and Commission better protecting Europeans from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires. MEPs call for increased action to build a more disaster-resilient EU. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated this summer for an increasing number of extreme weather events, including devastating floods (Slovenia, Cyprus, more recently Greece and Bulgaria) and the largest wildfires ever recorded in the EU (in particular in the Mediterranean region).

Council and Commission statements - Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: MEPs debate (part 2)

Council and Commission statements - Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate with the Council and Commission better protecting Europeans from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires. MEPs call for increased action to build a more disaster-resilient EU. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated this summer for an increasing number of extreme weather events, including devastating floods (Slovenia, Cyprus, more recently Greece and Bulgaria) and the largest wildfires ever recorded in the EU (in particular in the Mediterranean region). Opening statement by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union on behalf of the Spanish Presidency of the European Council and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

Council and Commission statements - Towards a more disaster resilient EU - protecting people from extreme heatwaves, floods and forest fires: opening statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU and Janez LENARČIČ, Europe

Roberta MESOLA, EP President, gives her introductory remarks during the plenary session in Strasbourg on the Morroco earthquake. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Resumption of session: introductory remark by Roberta MESOLA, EP President on the Morocco earthquake

Roberta MESOLA, EP President, gives her introductory remarks during the plenary session in Strasbourg on the recent floods and fires in Europe. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

95 torthaí