94% of Europeans support measures to adapt to climate change, according to EIB survey

Almost three-quarters of people polled across the European Union recognise the need to adapt their lifestyle due to the effects of climate change, according to the annual Climate Survey commissioned by the European Investment Bank. Among the challenges facing their countries, respondents ranked climate change second only to the cost of living.

Many believe that investing in adaptation now will not only boost the economy, but will also prevent higher costs in the future.

On 11 November 2024, the EIB released the results of its seventh annual Climate Survey, which presents the views of over 24 000 respondents from across the European Union and the United States on the topic of climate change. In the EU, 24 148 people took part in the survey, which was conducted in August 2024.

As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, the economic toll of climate change continues to rise. Scientists warn that these disasters will become increasingly costly. According to a report by the European Environment Agency,[1] Europe is currently the fastest-warming continent, with the number of extreme weather events expected to increase as global temperatures rise. A higher number of extreme weather events poses a significant threat to infrastructure and the stability of global water and food supplies, underlining the urgent need for comprehensive climate change adaptation strategies.

European respondents say that climate change is the second-biggest challenge facing their countries, after the rising cost of living.

94% of them recognise the need to adapt to climate change.

• Half of respondents (50%) consider climate adaptation a priority for their country for the coming years. People living in southern European countries[2] are generally more concerned, with 65% considering adaptation to be a priority (15 points above the EU average).

Adaptation to climate change is also seen as an economic opportunity and a long-term investment:

• 86% of Europeans say that investing in climate change adaptation can create jobs and boost the local economy.
• 85% believe that adapting to climate change requires investment now to avoid higher costs later.

European respondents recognise the economic opportunities that climate change adaptation measures present, while first-hand experiences of extreme weather events add to the sense that urgent action is required:

• 80% of EU respondents (89% in southern European countries) have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the last five years. 55% have suffered from extreme heat and heatwaves (that figure rises to 73% in Spain and 71% in Romania), 35% have experienced droughts (62% in Romania and 49% in Spain) and 34% have seen heavy storms or hail (62% in Slovenia and 49% in Croatia).

Extreme weather events have serious, wide-ranging consequences:

• 68% of European respondents reported having suffered at least one direct consequence of an extreme weather event. 21% were impacted by transport disruptions, 20% by power cuts or energy supply issues and 20% by health problems, while 19% saw forests or natural spaces near their homes destroyed.

Europeans are well aware of the need to adapt:

• 72% of EU respondents (81% in southern European countries) recognise that they will have to adapt their lifestyle due to climate change.
• 35% think they will have to move to a less climate-vulnerable place (whether locally or abroad) to avoid floods, forest fires or other extreme weather events.
• 28% say they will have to move to a cooler region or country.

To be able to adapt to climate change, individuals need the right information. Encouragingly, 71% of Europeans feel they are informed about what they can do to adapt their homes and lifestyles effectively. However, a majority (60%) are unaware of public subsidies or financial incentives to support their efforts.

EU respondents identify the following key priorities for local climate adaptation:

• 42% highlight cooling cities down.
• 39% cite improving infrastructure; for example, installing better drainage systems, flood barriers, storm shelters or more resilient power grids.
• 38% note the need to educate the public on which behaviours to adopt in order to prevent or respond to problems caused by extreme weather events.

When asked who should pay for climate change adaptations:

• Over a third (35%) think that the costs should be borne by the companies and industries that contribute most to climate change.
• Another third (32%) think everyone should pay equally.
• 15% say that wealthier individuals should bear the costs through higher taxes.

When asked who should receive support first:

• 38% believe that everyone should benefit equally.
• 28% think that the elderly should be prioritised.
• 23% say that people living in high-risk areas should be the first to receive support.

Concerns about who should benefit from adaptation aid go beyond local priorities. A majority (57%) of EU respondents recognise the need to support global adaptation efforts and believe that their country should do more to help the most vulnerable developing nations adapt to the growing impact of climate change.

[1] Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks | European Environment Agency

[2] Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta.