Climate change and biodiversity: Impacts and policy development challenges – a European case study

Abstract

Climate change is already impacting upon global biodiversity, and projections of climate change impacts indicate that very significant future changes will occur, although such projections are associated with key areas of uncertainty. In order to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for the conservation of biodiversity during climate change it is necessary to 1) understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, 2) understand the problems associated with the implementation of policies promoting the conservation of biodiversity during climate change, and 3) highlight key areas for action, both to address gaps in our understanding of the potential impacts of climate change and to develop the necessary levels of communication between scientists and policy-makers. This paper provides a European case study of these issues. We review current knowledge of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in Europe, examine the existing European policy framework with respect to the ways in which it can both promote and hamper biodiversity conservation during climate change, and highlight priority targets both for new research and in terms of improving the flow of information between stakeholder groups with an interest in biodiversity conservation in a world undergoing climate change.