Contact us T +32 (0)2 626 07 20 | info@europeangreens.eu

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr

Donate

  • Login to your account
  • User account
  • About Us
    • Organisation
    • People
    • Networks and Working Groups
    • Guidelines
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Get involved
    • Climate Action
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
    • Green Talking Heads
    • European Ideas Lab
    • The Green Screen
    • Local Councillors' Network
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
Home
  • About Us
  • Our Positions
  • Get involved
  • Member Parties
  • News
  • Events

Severe floods in Germany, Belgium and France are a stark reminder that climate change is already here

Share
Share on FacebookShare on Twittershare on Linked Inshare on Google Plusshare via email

Since this morning's reporting, at least 95 are dead and hundreds are missing following the days of floods that have devastated German, Belgian and French cities and villages.

In Germany and Belgium, more than 100 houses have been destroyed, with some torn apart by the strength of the torrents. Even more are severely damaged. In some areas, incoming cars and other heavy objects became lodged into building facades. The heavy rainfall has enlarged rivers, and created torrents in what were previously tunnels, pedestrian walkways, and roadways, causing wreckage in its wake.

In Belgium, people report awaking at 3am and seeing the muddy waters rapidly flooding their basements, living rooms, and kitchens. Many did what they could to save their most important belongings and go to higher floors if possible. Some spent the night on their roofs before being evacuated in shock in the morning.

In Germany, 200,000 people lost access to their power. In Belgium, towns were also left cut off from the external world: 21,000 are without electricity and some even cellular coverage – heightening the need for evacuation due an inability to cook, keep food, or reach emergency services.

In France, vegetable fields, homes and a museum were flooded at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Other places in the UK such as London have also been experiencing heavy rainfall due to storms that have caused flooding in tube stations, roadways, and houses. In 48h, some areas received the equivalent of what would normally be one month of rainfall.

How flooding and other extreme weather events are linked to our warming planet

Flooding – the accumulation of water in what is normally dry land – is increasingly affecting coastal and inland communities. It is usually caused by the overflow of inland or tidal waters due to factors such as heavy rainfall or dam breaches.

But in January 2021, the global temperature was the highest on record. And what is clear is that floods are made more frequent and severe due to the increase of extreme weather patterns caused by climate change. Other factors such as the removal of green spaces also increases the risk.

Weaker jet streams due to higher global average temperatures are also to blame. These fast-moving currents of air dictate our weather patterns, but higher average temperatures mean there is a lower temperature gradient between cold air in the polar regions and warm air at the equator, which slows the flow of air. Previously, the jet stream pushed depressions and areas of low air pressure rather quickly across the continent. But today, these take longer to dissipate. Higher temperatures also mean more rainfall; since they increase evaporation and cloud formation.

The reality is that we are already living in a world with 1.1°C of warming. And as global warming increases, so does the likelihood of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, hurricanes, and severe droughts and floods. Just in the last couple of months, we can remember the hurricane that ravaged villages in Czech Republic, as well as the 'largest fire since 1974' in Greece and Cyprus due to heatwaves and longer periods of drought. To reduce the risk of such extreme weather events, we must ensure that we comprehensively tackle climate change.

Facing the floods with solidarity and mutual aid

In Germany, Annalena Baerbock, the Green candidate for the German chancellorship, has expressed her condolences for those mourning their relatives and her worry for the missing and injured. She highlights the importance of helping those affected as quickly as possible: "The people who are standing in front of the ruins of their existence because their belongings, their houses have simply been washed away, must now be helped quickly and unbureaucratically."

Den Menschen, die vor den Trümmern ihrer Existenz stehen, weil ihr Hab und Gut, ihre Häuser einfach weggeschwemmt wurden, muss nun schnell und unbürokratisch geholfen werden.

— Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) July 15, 2021

Katja Dörner, the Green Mayor of Bonn, is leading efforts to help neighbouring cities affected by the floods. The Greens in the city council are mobilising to help with short-term accommodation and transport options. In Belgium, the hashtag #TousSolidaires (solidarity) is trending as people from across the country offer help to those affected.

Quand la solidarité s'organise💚Merci à toutes les personnes mobilisées sur le terrain pour venir en aide aux victimes des #inondations !

Du côté de #Theux, ces images d'un centre de dons improvisé, qui nous parviennent de notre députée Julie Chanson, font chaud au cœur. pic.twitter.com/LFhKqfsnr4

— Ecolo (@Ecolo) July 15, 2021

Toute ma solidarité aux victimes des #inondations en Belgique au Luxembourg et en Allemagne.
Des décennies que les scientifiques nous alertent sur le coût de l'inaction.

En matière d'écologie, c'est l'inaction qui est punitive.

— Julien Bayou (@julienbayou) July 15, 2021

Climate change can either divide us or bring us together, so we should fight to put solidarity and community at the centre of our climate action and our everyday lives. More and more, we will have to learn how to organise to support each-other in the face of disasters. You don't need a natural disaster to connect with your neighbours and local mutual aid groups: building a strong community now will build a resilient future.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by European Greens (@europeangreens)

Photo: Jonathan Ford on Unsplash

Recent News

Icon:
Title:

The end of Roe vs. Wade in the US must push us to defend abortion rights in Europe

Post date:
30 June 2022
Body:

European Greens Co-Chair Mélanie Vogel (France), and Committee Members Mina Jack Tolu (Malta) and Malgorzata Tracz (Poland) speak out on the current state of abortion rights in Europe. Access to safe, legal and free abortion must be guaranteed across Europe and abroad to create a more humane world for all and protect those most marginalised!

Icon:
Title:

Dritan Abazović, the First Green Prime Minister of Montenegro: ‘Nothing is impossible!’

Post date:
23 June 2022
Body:

Dritan Abazović, president of our member party URA and Prime Minister of Montenegro since April 2022, is driving huge changes in a small Balkan country. URA was established in 2015 and represents all ethnicities and stands for a European, ecological and democratic Montenegro. Abazović's plans for Montenegro include ridding the country of corruption and pursuing a pro-European agenda.

Icon:
Title:

The European Greens welcome new candidate member parties Hållbart Initiativ and Progresīvie

Post date:
17 June 2022
Body:

Åland's Sustainable Initiative (Hållbart Initiativ) and Latvia's the Progressives (Progresīvie) have been accepted as our newest candidate member parties by delegates at the 35th European Green Party Council in Riga, Latvia. We are proud to welcome them into our Green family and to interview them to discuss their priorities in their respective countries.

More News

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Flickr
Tweet Contents:

RT @TerryReintke: WE RISE FOR ABORTION RIGHTS 💜🖤

We will not be silenced. No matter how powerful the backlash against our rights will get.…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
13 hours ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @TerryReintke: CN sexualised violence

We cannot just wait and watch what is happening in the US.

We have to act.

We have to strengthe…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
13 hours ago
Tweet Contents:

RT @GreensEFA: #AFutureWithoutManipulation is here!🎉

MEPs just voted for a new standard for the internet: the Digital Services Act. #DSA #…

Tweet Author:
europeangreens
Creation Date:
13 hours ago

Sign up to our newsletter

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Fill in the blank.

Take charge of your future. Donate Green.

Chip in today to help us build a Greener Europe!

Donate

  • Organisation
    • About
    • History
    • Councils
    • Congresses
    • Finance Advisory Board
    • Amendments Committee
    • Conciliation Panel
  • People
    • Committee
    • Team
    • Vacancies
    • Traineeships
  • Networks and Working Groups
    • Networks
      • Balkan
      • Gender
      • tilt!
      • Queer
      • Local Councillors
      • Seniors
    • Working Groups
      • Foreign and Security Policy
      • Future of Europe
      • Trade
  • Guidelines
    • Charter
    • Statutes
    • Rulebook
    • Finances
    • Privacy Policy
  • Our Positions
    • Positions
    • Resolutions
    • Policy Papers
    • Manifesto
  • Member Parties
  • News
    • News
    • Press Releases
    • Brand Assets
    • Communications Team
  • Events
  • Campaigns
    • The Green Screen
    • Climate Action for the People and the Planet
    • Trans-Inclusive Feminist Campaign
    • European Green Recovery Campaign
  • Donate
Home

Rue du Taciturne 34

B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

T +32 (0) 2 626 07 20

info@europeangreens.eu

© European Greens - With the financial support of the European Parliament. Sole liability remains with the author.

cookies