This paper analyses the likely impact of climate change on European grasslands in relation to their present agro-climatic conditions. Such an analysis is an essential part of any assessment of climate change impacts on agriculture given that grasslands are of high importance for agriculture in temperate and humid regions of Europe and they occupy a large proportion of the landscape area (13.2% of total area, or 568 042 km² within the EU27). This paper analyses agro-climatic limitations of grassland production over 12 Environmental zones and then analyses impacts of climate change on grasslands through: i) changes in grassland phenology;

ii) changes in grassland yield;

iii) changes in botanical composition, and

iv) potential effects of extreme events (mainly drought).

The projections indicate that grassland production on the European scale is likely to be enhanced rather than hampered by the ongoing climate change. This is mainly because of the improving (or at least not worsening) agro-climatic conditions in northern and north-western Europe. On the other hand, the productivity of grasslands in southern Europe (including higher elevations) is likely to decrease. This can be shown in the case of the southern part of the so-called southern alpine zone (ALS) as this will change its character towards the climate presently experienced in the Mediterranean areas.