The cost of damage from extreme weather events is projected to increase in the future.
 

The effects of climate change are already evident in Europe and the situation is set to get worse, the European

Environment Agency has warned.

In a report, the agency says the past decade in Europe has been the warmest on record.

It adds that the cost of damage caused by extreme weather events is rising,

and the continent is set to become more vulnerable in the future.

The findings have been published ahead of next week's UN climate conference.

They join a UN Environment Programme report also released on Wednesday showing

dangerous growth in the "emissions gap" - the difference between current carbon

emission levels and those needed to avert climate change.

"Every indicator we have in terms of giving us an early warning of climate

change and increasing vulnerability is giving us a very strong signal," observed

EEA executive director Jacqueline McGlade.

"It is across the board, it is not just global temperatures," she told BBC News.

"It is in human health aspects, in forests, sea levels, agriculture,

biodiversity - the signals are coming in from right across the environment."