Approaches and Mainstreaming of Ecosystem-based Adaptation

in Europe

International workshop “Mainstreaming an ecosystem based approach to climate change into biodiversity conservation planning in Vietnam” October 15-16, 2013

Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE)

Agenda

Climate Change and EbA in Europe – Overview

Regional EbA initiative Danube River Basin

Legal framework for CC adaptation in the EU

Mainstreaming EbA on EU level (conservation planning)

Financing and capacity tools for EbA

EbA strategic planning on country level

Success factors and barriers to EbA mainstreaming and implementation in EU

Change in mean annual temperature [°C] by the end of this century

Source: EU commission Green Paper 2007

Change in mean annual precipitation [%] by the end of this century

Source: EU commission Green Paper 2007

Source: EEA 2013

CC Impacts

Source: EEA 2013

EbA - Examples

CC projections for Danube river basin:

Changes in the seasonal runoff pattern

Increase in intensity and frequency of heat waves → droughts, low flow situations and water scarcity

Increase of water temperature → increased pressures on water quality

Water dependent sectors (agriculture, forestry, navigation and water related energy production) highly vulnerable

Changes in ecosystems and biodiversity with shifts of the aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna

WWF 2010

Adaptation for Nature Conservation

Lower Danube Green Corridor

EU Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change

• 2007 Green Paper • 2009 White paper• April 2013: EU

Adaptation Strategy

“…to work towards a more climate-resilient Europe by enhancing the

preparedness and capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change at local, regional, national and EU levels and developing a coherent approach and

proper coordination.” Specific objectives

1. Encourage MS to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies

2. Funding for capacity building and step-up adaptation action in Europe

3. Better informed decision-making: bridging the knowledge gap

4. EU information platform for adaptation ‘Climate-ADAPT’: to be further developed

5. ‘Climate-proofing’ EU action by mainstreaming of adaptation in EU policies and programmes in key vulnerable sectors

EbA approaches considered

1. cost-effective under different scenarios

2. easily accessible

3. having multiple benefits

Envisaged for 2013: Mobilization of EbA approaches

Needs assessment for additional guidance for authorities and decision makers, civil society, private business and conservation practitioners

EbA in the EU Adaptation Strategy

Recent and Forthcoming policy initiatives in Nature Conservation to consider adaptation/EbA:

EU Biodiversity Strategy up to 2020 recognizes cost-effectiveness and multiple benefits of EbA

EC proposal for Environment Action Programme to 2020 (2012): EbA approaches to be used more extensively

Others: Guidelines on adaptation for Natura 2000 network (2013), Invasive alien species (2013), Green Infrastructure (2013), Land as a resource (2014-15), new Forest Strategy (2013)

Tabled and focus for further mainstreaming: Integrating adaptation in water management, agriculture and forestry, maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management, energy, disaster risk reduction, transport, research, health, finance and insurance.

Mainstreaming EbA on EU level

European Climate Adaptation Platform Climate-ADAPT http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu (hosted by EEA)

Information on adaptation policy across Europe

Online library of adaptation case studies

Software tools

Adaptation decision support tools (e.g. CBA, CEA, Impact Assessments, etc.)

Capacity for EbA mainstreaming

Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF): CC related expenditures to be increased to 20% of the budget for 2014-2020

MFF proposes financial instruments:

Structural Funds, Cohesion Fund and CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), INTERREG (the international cooperation programme), Life+ (EU’s funding instrument for the environment), Horizon 2020 (the future research policy)

EbA approaches are given priority in EU adaptation funding

Financing for EbA mainstreaming

• 16 EU countries adopted NAS, 12 others in process

• NAS are basis for (sector-based) action plans, vulnerability assessments, research programmes, funding opportunities and information services

• Few countries developed new legislative documents for CC adaptation (e.g. UK has established a Climate Change Act in 2008)

• Instead, changes to existing sectoral legislations by mainstreaming adaptation (water management, land use/ agriculture and ecosystems)

• Germany developed climate change legislative ‘packages’ to be integrated into sector legislation (e.g. Regional Planning Law 2008, Urban Planning Law 2011 and Water Pollution Law 2009)

• Many mainstreaming initiatives are EU initiated, e.g. by the Water Framework and the Floods Directive

Adaptation (EbA) planning on country level

Mainstreaming EbA into sectoral policies ensures compatible goals for CC action

Flexibility in adaptation policies allows ‘adaptive management’ practices and pathways

Multi-level governance: Adaptation policy to be supported by all levels of governance

Landscape approach: Transboundary (multi-country) EbA initiatives successful and priority for funding

Further analytical work is needed for monitoring and evaluation, CBA for adaptation measures

Success factors for EbA at EU and national level

European Environment Agency (EEA) (2013):

Structural and operational barriers: e.g. contradicting institutional incentive programmes, disputed responsibilities within different levels of governance

Regulatory and legislative barriers: Different regulations with partly conflicting objectives, e.g. biodiversity conservation vs. urban and regional planning

Cultural and behavioral barriers: Relationship of decision-makers in critical positions of government and implementing institutions

Contextual barriers: Environment and society, e.g. availability of land for EbA initiatives, public priorities

Capacity barriers: Technical, human and financial resources

Ecologic Institute, Berlin (2011)

Barriers to EbA at EU and national level

Thank you!

More information:

European Commissionhttp://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation/index_en.htm

European Environment Agencyhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate

Ecologic Institute EUhttp://www.ecologic.eu/adaptation

German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)http://www.bfn.de/0307_klima+M52087573ab0.html

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) http://www.icpdr.org/main/activities-projects/climate-adaptation