A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that Europe is facing the most severe weather changes in the past 5,000 years.
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Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe |
The average temperature in Europe is rising significantly faster than the global average.
The last three years have been the hottest on record. Over the past century, Europe’s temperature has increased by nearly 1 degree Celsius. While this may seem small, it is 35% higher than the global average and is beginning to cause alarming consequences.
Glaciers are rapidly melting in the North, while droughts are expanding deserts in the South. Just in the summer of 2003, about 10% of the ice in the Alps melted.
Europeans are consuming natural resources at double the global average. Jacqueline McGale, director of the European Environment Agency, stated: “By the end of this century, we will witness the disappearance of the majority of glaciers in the Alps.” “More importantly, we are losing a precious source of clean water in the heart of Europe.”
Many Europeans are living longer and increasingly alone, leading to heightened environmental demands. However, meeting these demands is becoming increasingly difficult.
