During the Brussels plenary session on Thursday, April 10, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on adaptation to climate change with 516 votes in favour and 47 against. The resolution was in response to the European Commission’s Green Paper on ‘Adapting to climate change in Europe - options for EU action.” The Parliament welcomed the document, while calling for: further measures to ensure security of food and energy supplies, and the availability, accessibility, use and conservation of water; urging for more action to strengthen the capacity of health systems to cope with the adverse effects of climate change as well as allocation of additional resources for innovative solutions.

MEPS also call on the Commission to carry out "a study on the economics of adaptation", including a balance sheet of costs and benefits. They ask the Commission "to consider including financial measures for adaptation in the next financial perspectives for regional policies." The resolution  also says that climate change  must be mainstreamed into all EU development co-operation". The European Parliament regrets that the Commission's Green Paper does not sufficiently address the need for co-operation on adaptation between the EU and developing countries and highlights in particular the need for technology transfer and capacity building.

MEPs further argue  the EU has to undertake substantial efforts to increase technological development in adaptation and to ensure the transfer of such technologies to the developing world. The Conference of the Parties in Poznan (COP 14) in December 2008, MEPs demand, should focus on this issue.
 
The resolution also addresses the impact of climate change on agriculture and urges for the gradual adaptation of the farming sector to the new needs raised by climate change to be examined. MEPs say that the farming sector can adapt to climate change through legislation that "reinforces sustainability and promotes new ways to use and manage water." It calls on the Commission and Member States to promote "pilot projects which will help to reduce drought damage and flooding risks."
 
Finally, the resolution calls for significant and predictable financial instruments to be developed in the framework of EU policies, such as the Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), in order to assist developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as to provide funds for adaptation policies within Member States.

The full text of the resolution is available here.