Europe 2050–2100: Imagining new lifeways/lifestyles

Abstract

The effects of climate change in Europe vary over space, as biological and physical systems differ in western, central, southern, and northern Europe. Overall, Europe should expect to have more hot summers withWestern Europe to expect even more hot weather than other parts. One of the key questions though is howEuropeans will adapt to climate change. “Europe” even if it is equated with the European Union (EU) is extremely diverse. The European Union alone acknowledges23 languages as“official languages” with Dutch, French, German, and Greek being spoken in more than one of its member states. The 500 million EU-Europeans are living in 27 states thathave distinct histories, which do not only tell of cooperation, but often include wars that different Europeans werewaging against each other.With collective change, cultural shifts may emerge. To envision scenarios that reflect possible European action, the authors focus on peoples’ valuesto environmental issues. Thus, cultural shift accompanying climate change may be non-existent as wesimply choose to keep living theway we knowbest. However, given the dramatic changes in flora movement and water shortage or abundance, it is more likely that people will respond in one of two ways:workcollectively or as fragmented nations. The next decades will prove to be interesting in observing the chain of reactions on how climate change will influence the way people live and respond. Examples of imminent changes may include people migrating from regions significantly affected to winner-regions that benefit from climate variability, changes in consumption habits, or shifts in value patterns.