Transcript policies, plans and actions in South East Europe

A structured network for the integration of
climate knowledge into policy and
territorial planning
Climate change mitigation and adaptation:
policies, plans and actions in South East
Europe countries
Vasso Tsiaoussi
Funding mechanism:
South-East Europe / Transnational Cooperation Programme
Structural Funds / European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Total Project Cost: 4.382.300,00 €
EC Contribution: 3.231.955,00 €
PROJECT’S DURATION: 30 months
Start Date: 01/07/2012
The Consortium
A total of 33 project partners including:
• 21 financing partners
• 9 associates
• 3 observers from 13 countries
Project Coordinator:
Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (Italy)
Project Web Site:
http://www.orientgateproject.org/
The challenge
Many SEE countries are exposed to a rise in sea level, with a greater risk of
disaster affecting densely populated areas and the most developed coastal
areas.
Already disadvantaged rural areas face increased water stress.
The decline in ecosystem services is further exacerbated by a deterioration
in water quality, land and ecosystem losses, and a decline in wild and
farmed fish stocks.
Progress in adapting to climate change in SEE is hindered by fragmented
and uncoordinated data services, patchy risk assessment procedures, etc.
The need
M
To overcome the barriers that prevent efficient exploitation of
the knowledge produced by the scientific community, enabling
that knowledge to be taken into account appropriately in the
formation of policies and the development of strategies.
To put into practice a set of coordinated activities that build on
existing knowledge and make it more widely available.
Objectives
• Development of a comprehensive and consistent
methodology for assessing the risks arising as a result of
climate variability and change
• Harmonisation of risk assessment and communication on
the part of hydrometeorological services
• Encouragement the use of acquired climate adaptation
knowledge and experience in territorial planning and
development
• Enhancement of capacity to reconcile the risks and
opportunities inherent in environmental changes, including
rising temperatures
Methodology
Assess the risks from
climate variability
and change
Implementation of six
pilot studies in areas
with specific climate
vulnerability
3 project’s thematic centres
 Forestry and Agriculture
 Drought, Water and Coasts
 Urban Adaptation and Health
Expected results
 A set of web tools, designed to provide access to data and
metadata from climate observations and simulations that
will be available through a data platform connected to the
European Climate Adaptation Platform (CLIMATE-ADAPT)
 Six pilot studies of specific climate adaptation exercises
developed by the project’s thematic centres
Expected results
 Capacity-building seminars and workshops; and a working
partnership among the hydrometeorological services of SEE
countries
 Support to the implementation of climate change
adaptation plans in SEE, identifying a flexible methodology
for assessing climate vulnerability and risk related to
different territorial frameworks, and integrating these
assessments into regional planning
The Greek pilot study
• to assess the
vulnerability of
wetlands in Attica
Region under
projections of climate
change
• to support the
territorial planning
and policy
development in the
Region of Attica in
regard to the effects
of climate change on
wetland ecosystems
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Mitigation and Adaptation from a cross-sectoral
perspective in the ORIENTGATE Countries
 In the SEE, only few countries have national plans to undertake climate
change. A clear and complete picture of specific policy measures on the
territory is needed.
 Analysis focused on all national/regional territorial and sectoral plans
looking for those interventions classifiable as climate change mitigation
and/or adaptation measures.
Two templates were distributed to all partners in a table format in order to
gather mitigation and adaptation actions
• Summary of specific actions identified into sectoral plans that could be
recognised as mitigation measures
• Collection of measures and actions referable to adaptation to climate change
Overview of climate change plans in SEE
countries and conclusions
 State of the art
ORIENTGATE COUNTRY
PARTNERS
MITIGATION
ADAPTATION
Albania
National Climate Change Action
Plan
Action Plan for Adaptation (20092015)
Austria
National Climate Strategy
Austrian Adaptation Strategy
The development of a Climate
Change Mitigation Strategy and
Action Plan is foreseen.
No adaptation plan, but, it is
engaging in the preparatory
research of study of vulnerabilities
and adaptation of its territory
Environmental Protection Act
the creation and adoption process
of National Adaptation Strategy
(NAS) has started
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Third National Action Plan on
Climate Change (2013-2020)
Croatia
The National Environmental
Protection Strategy and the
National Environmental Action
Plan
NO
Greece
National Action Plan regarding
Climate Change
National Adaptation Strategy
preparation is ongoing
 State of the art
ORIENTGATE COUNTRY
PARTNERS
MITIGATION
ADAPTATION
Hungary
National Climate Change Strategy
National Climate Change Strategy
Italy
National Plan to reduce
Greenhouse Gases (CIPE proposal
8-3-2013)
National Strategy on Adaptation is
ongoing
Assessment of the potential for
reducing GHG emissions.
NO
Montenegro
Initial National Communication on
Climate Change to the UNFCCC
2010
Romania
Serbia
The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia
Ukraine
National Strategy regarding the
Climate Changes (2013-2020)
National Strategy regarding the
Climate Changes (2013-2020)
under approval
under approval
National Environmental Protection
Programme (2010)
NO
National Action Plan for Climate
Change Mitigation
Inter-sectoral Adaptation Action
Plan (2008-2011)
National Action Plan on climate
change mitigation (not approoved)
National Adaptation Plan to climate
change. In progress
Conclusions
• Almost all countries have undertaken measures and initiatives to mitigate climate
change.
• Although only two countries, Albania and Austria, can rely on comprehensive plans,
most of the other SEE countries have recently started to develop their own
adaptation strategies.
• For these countries in which the adaptation plan has not been finalised yet, several
specific adaptation actions have already been undertaken either at national and local
scale.
• There is a growing interest of policy makers in almost all the SEE countries on
climate change issues.
• Mitigation measures and actions are now well-established but only in recent years
adaptation has become a priority worldwide in environmental policies.
Conclusions
 Adaptation and mitigation are usually addressed in different policy and institutional
contexts, and policies are implemented at different spatial and temporal scales.
Adaptation is necessary at every level of government and requires the involvement
of public authorities, the private sector and individual citizens.
Adaptation is already taking place, but in a fragmented way.
 A strategic approach is needed to ensure that adaptation measures are taken in
time and are effective and consistent across different sectors and levels of
governance.
The integration of adaptation into existing and future national and regional policies
represents an important step to reduce the vulnerability in all sectors.
Thank you for the attention
Project Financing Partners
Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change IT (Italy)
Forest Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
AT (Austria)
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works
BG (Bulgaria)
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology BG (Bulgaria)
Gradiška Local Development Agency BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hydrometeorological Service of Republika Srpska BiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Attica Region
GR (Greece)
Center for Technological Research of Crete GR (Greece)
Goulandris Natural History Museum, Biotope Wetland Centre GR (Greece)
City of Koprivnica HR (Croatia)
Meteorological and Hydrological Service
HR (Croatia)
Hungarian Meteorological Service
HU (Hungary)
Regional Environmental Center HU (Hungary)
Autonomous Province of Trento
IT (Italy)
Department for the Environment, Territory and Sustainability Policies, Basilicata Region (CNR-IMAA
as subcontract)
IT (Italy)
Hydrometeorological Service MK (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
Environmental Protection Agency of Covasna
RO (Romania)
National Meteorological Administration
RO (Romania)
Republic Hydrometeorological ServiceRS (Serbia)
Ministry of Sustainable Development and TourismME (Montenegro)
Odessa State Environmental University
UA (Ukraine)
Project Associated Partners
Regional Council of Shkodra
AL (Albania)
Forest Service, Federal State Government of Upper Austria
AT (Austria)
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change
GR (Greece)
Municipality of Komotini GR (Greece)
13th District of Budapest HU (Hungary)
Municipality of Veszprém
HU (Hungary)
Region of Puglia, Mediterranean Department
IT (Italy)
General Department of Foreign Economic Activity and European Integration, Odessa Regional State
Administration
UA (Ukraine)
Vilkovo City Council
UA (Ukraine)
Project Observing Partners
Federal Hydrometeorological InstituteBiH (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea
Union of Italian ProvincesIT (Italy)