European objectives in the post-Kyoto period and expectations for Venice

Abstract

In January 2007, the Environmental Directorate of the European Commission released a preview of the results of a study on climate change and its consequences. Climate changes predicted for the next 20 years are already happening, as demonstrated by the latest scientific investigations, and are accelerating faster than predicted. The main novelty of the European report is that the European Union commits itself to promoting and leading the endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EU countries are committed to a 30% autonomous unilateral decrease in emissions by 2020. This ambitious project should be a clear signal to the international community of the leading role Europe intends to play. The increase in temperature has a dramatic effect that will affect people living in coastal areas, and in Italy, the first glance is for the Venice situation. IPCC estimates suggest that increased annual temperatures and an increase in extreme precipitations in the Adriatic Sea will be the likely effects of global climate change. It becomes essential to be able to adapt to climate change and to plan an increase in resilience and a reduction of the costs of environmental damage. It is impossible to predict how climate change will unfold over the next 20-30 years, but it is nevertheless possible to protect our communities from the worst consequences to some extent.