Impacts

As climate change accelerates, severe impacts are anticipated for natural ecosystems (including substantial losses of biodiversity). Furthermore, future climate change is projected to slow down economic growth, erode food security, and increase global inequalities.

Impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments have been conducted at regional and federal level. This was the first step before developing the regional and federal adaptation plans. The climatic projections used in these assessments were similar and coherence was ensured. However, studies conducted by the different authorities focused on different aspects, in relation to their own specificities (e.g. sea level rise in Flanders, urban area in Brussels, impact on forestry in Wallonia and other specific aspects at Federal level). The results of these studies conducted by the different authorities can be consulted on their respective websites (Departement omgeving, Environment brussels, AwAC, federal).

Various sectors will face very different impacts. A brief description of the major impacts and vulnerabilities is given below for the various sectors affected by climate change in Belgium.

Impacts

Summary of the main impacts and their expected severity in Belgium (adapted from regional impact assessment studies). The top of the table gives an idea of the uncertainties surrounding this data: the change in temperature will be of varying speed and extent depending on the projection used