The impacts of human-induced climate change have long since become a present reality, having made their way into every aspect of our daily lives. Global mean temperature has already risen by around one degree compared to pre-industrial times. In landlocked Austria, the effect is in some cases almost twice as strong. Particularly noticeable: increasing heat stress.

What is pushing the average ever higher over the medium term is also being felt on shorter timescales. As a strain on our own bodies; in the form of dryness and droughts that disrupt ecosystems and threaten agricultural yields, and in the form of water scarcity reaching into our homes. It seems clear: while we are still fighting — more or less resolutely — against further warming, we also need to learn to live with its impacts.

How do we cope with the heat — individually, as a society, and as an economy? The economic consequences of climate change and strategies for climate change adaptation are at the heart of Birgit Bednar-Friedl's research. The economist from the Department of Economics at the University of Graz is a coordinating lead author for the topic of climate change impacts and adaptation in Europe in the current, sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

There, active climate policy is once again called for, as humanity continues to be on track for global warming of up to three degrees. Will we be able to learn to live with the now unavoidable consequences — what will that require, and when does our resilience reach its limits?

Birgit Bednar-Friedl is a guest of Xaver Forthuber.

Listen at: oe1.orf.at