Transcript Herbert Formayer

BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Reporting on Vulnerability assessment, climate
change impacts and adaptation measures – The
Austrian approach
Herbert Formayer
University of Natural Resources and Applied Life
Sciences, Vienna - Austria
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications by
Parties included in Annex I to the Convention
30 September - 1 October 2004
Dublin, Ireland
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Some basic facts about Austria
Location:
Central Europe
Area:
~ 84.000 Km²
Population:
~ 8 Million
BIP per capita: ~ € 25.000,-Total greenhouse gas emissions
per capita:
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
~ 10 t
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Specific circumstances of Austria
Main parts within the Alps
40 % of total area above 1000 m
No Coastline
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Worldwide unique situation
of the European Alps
Mountainous region very densely populated.
High infrastructural values due to
population and trans-European
transportation (goods and energy).
High infrastructural values at high
elevations and extreme terrain due to
tourism.
It is not possible to protect all this
infrastructure especially against extreme
events (e.g. avalanche Galtür 1999).
Very high vulnerability
to climate change.
Highest density of observing systems in a
mountainous region worldwide.
Long term continuous time series. In Austria
since 1775 in Vienna and even since 1886 at
the mountain top Sonnblick at 3106 m.
High experience in data acquisition, quality
control and analysis.
Best conditions to identify and
analyse climate change effects in
a mountainous region.
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
1856, Martens
Glacier decline in the Alps
2001, Holzhauser
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Glacier decline in the Alps
Area 1978:
2.04 km²
Area 1998:
1.13 km²
Area decline:
Schöner, 2004
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
45 %
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Flood August 2002
Estimated loss in Austria:
More than € 2 Billion.
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Drought and heatwave 2003
Estimated loss in Austria:
More than € 300 Million only
in grassland production.
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
The Austrian approach
for the NC-Chapter VI
Due to the specific situation, Austria did not strictly follow
the recommended Guidelines from IPCC and UNEP.
We used the following structure for Chapter VI to meet the
Austrian requirements best way:
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Structure of NC-Chapter VI
Expected Impacts of Climate Change
Impacts on Physical Systems
Mountain Cryosphere
Geomorphological Processes
…
Impacts on Ecological Systems
Ecophysiological Processes
Vegetation Migration
…
Impacts on Socio-economic Systems
Mountain Agriculture
Tourism
…
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Structure of NC-Chapter VI
Vulnerability Assessment
Hydro- and Cryosphere
Ecosystem Responses
Extreme Events and Geomorphological Processes
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Structure of NC-Chapter VI
Adaptation Measures
Potential of Adaptation
Forest Ecosystems
Avalanche, Erosion and Torrent Control Measures
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Problems and Achievements
Structural Problems
The competences in Austria are distributed among several federal and state
institutions. Also climate related research is spread over several Universities and
Research Institutes. Therefore the compilation of comprehensive summaries needs
much time for contacting all relevant institutions and research groups.
No comprehensive Austrian climate change research
program is established yet.
The Austrian climate change research is patchy, because the selection of research
areas is mainly driven by traditional competences or personal interests.
Additionally the main research funding is achieved from small to medium
individual research projects.
Some efforts have been made and are on the way
to diminish the above mentioned structural problems.
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004
BOKU-Met
Herbert Formayer
Developments since the 3. NC
Public awareness on Climate Change has grown in Austria
due to the extreme events in 2002 and 2003.
Peer reviewed interdisciplinary multipart research projects
have been established (e.g. StartClim)
A multiyear inter- and transdisciplinary research Program
will start next year (ProVision)
Thank you for your attention.
Workshop on the preparation of the fourth national communications
Dublin 2004