Evidence regarding areas affected by the long-term impact of climate change
Article 2
1. Member States shall identify, in a geographically explicit manner, areas affected by the long-term impact of climate change. 2. The evidence corroborating the identification of areas affected by the long-term impact of climate change referred to in paragraph 1 shall be based on the aridity index. An area that has shifted from humid or dry subhumid aridity class to semi-arid, arid or hyper-arid class, or an area classified as semi-arid, arid or hyper-arid whose respective aridity index has decreased, shall be considered an area affected by the long-term impact of climate change. 3. Where duly justified, Member States may base the evidence of the long-term impact of climate change on indices other than the aridity index. Those other indices shall demonstrate the link between the long-term impacts of climate change and the reduced carbon sequestration capacity in the affected area. 4. The data used for demonstrating the long-term impact of climate change shall stem from official meteorological services, authorities or scientific bodies, and shall be available across the Union. 5. The result of the analysis of the long-term impact of climate change shall demonstrate relevant shifts in aridity classes, by comparing time series of at least 20 consecutive years within the period ranging at least from 2001 until the end of 2025. 6. Evidence referred to in paragraphs 2 to 5 shall be verifiable and shall include the following elements: (a) the method used, the input data used and the outcome of the identification referred to in paragraph 1; (b) a description of the efforts to reverse the trend of excess emissions or diminishing sinks generated in the areas identified pursuant to paragraph 1.