Critical intervention points for European adaptation to cascading climate change impacts

The paper utilizes stakeholder-informed risk pathways and network analysis of 102 non-EU countries to identify systemic vulnerabilities affecting the EU. It identifies water, agriculture, livelihoods, and conflict as critical nodes where targeted adaptation can prevent risk cascades. The analysis distinguishes between transmission channels in high-income economies, such as export shocks, and those in low-income countries, such as livelihood instability and violent conflict.

• Network analysis identifies water and agriculture as the most critical domains where strategic adaptation by the EU and its partners could prevent major risk cascades and improve stability.
• The transmission of cascading risks varies by economic status: high-income countries often act as channels through reduced crop exports, while low-income countries experience amplified risks through livelihood instability and violent conflict.
• Effective risk reduction requires policy coherence to avoid counterproductive outcomes, such as increasing agricultural output without integrated water management, which could exacerbate water scarcity.

APA

Auer, C. (2025). Critical intervention points for European adaptation to cascading climate change impacts. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/critical-intervention-points-for-european-adaptation-to-cascading-climate-change-impacts/

Chicago

Auer, Cornelia. Critical intervention points for European adaptation to cascading climate change impacts. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025. https://www.sei.org/publications/critical-intervention-points-for-european-adaptation-to-cascading-climate-change-impacts/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Auer |first1=Cornelia |title=Critical intervention points for European adaptation to cascading climate change impacts |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=15 October 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/critical-intervention-points-for-european-adaptation-to-cascading-climate-change-impacts/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{auer2025critical, author = {Auer, Cornelia}, title = {{Critical intervention points for European adaptation to cascading climate change impacts}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/critical-intervention-points-for-european-adaptation-to-cascading-climate-change-impacts/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }