nap expo 2015 session iii, ii ecosystem-based adaptationin the eu
TRANSCRIPT
Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation in the European Union
Karin Zaunberger, European Commission
how to break the vicious circle ? increase resilience decrease vulnerability
• Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Green Infrastructure
• Nature-based solutions
• Eco-DRR – ecological disaster risk reduction
use the adaptive forces of nature
involve people and build responsibility
harness multiple benefits at comparable low cost
Ecosystem-based approaches/
Green Infrastructure/ Nature-based solutions
• are ready for use and easily accessible
• involve people and build responsibility
Job and Business Opportunities
• bring multiple benefits
• are cost efficient and make economic sense
• are to be an integral part of the overall adaptation and mitigation effort and disaster risk reduction effort
Policy Framework(s)
• EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the Roadmap to Resource Efficiency
• EU Adaptation Strategy • Green Infrastructure (GI) Enhancing
Europe's Natural Capital • H2020 Focus Area on Nature-based
solutions (NbS)
policy signals to decisionmakers, planners, promotors to invest in GI and adaptation projects at local, regional, national and cross-boundary level
ppt slide 2
Problem in
urbanising Europe:
fragmentation,
habitat degradation,
(intensification and
abandonment) and
loss
Unsustainable land use
and fragmentation
What are the problems?
Climate change
mitigation and
adaptation
– disaster
prevention
Unsustainable use of ecosystem
goods & services
Ecosystems that are small or isolated
may stop providing us with valuable
services such as food, freshwater, water
regulation, clean air, recreation facilities
Loss of biodiversity in the EU
>> Ecosystems currently absorb half of
anthropogenic CO2 emissions and provide
adaptation functions, including flood
protection and disaster risk minimisation
... and the solutions?
March 2015 State and Outlook of European Environment
May 2015 'State of Nature in the EU'
October 2015 Mid-term report on EU Biodiversity Strategy
Green Infrastructure: Elements
Spatial structure
delivering nature
benefits to people
Local or town/city scale Regional and national scale
EU level Descriptor
Natural and semi-natural ecosystems, such as pastures, woodland, forest (no intensive plantations), ponds, bogs, rivers and floodplains, coastal wetlands, lagoons, beaches, marine habitats
Extensive agricultural and forest landscapes, large marsh and bog areas, rivers and floodplains, shorelines/coastal zones
Freshwater systems, major river basins, mountain ranges, regional sea basins
Core areas –outside protected areas
Local nature reserves, water protection areas, landscape protection areas, Natura 2000 sites
Regional and National Parks and wilderness zones (includes Natura 2000 sites)
Ecological Networks with cross-border areas, incl. Natura 2000 network
Core areas/protected areas
Restored areas which were before fragmented or degraded natural areas, brownfield land or disused quarries; transitional ecosystems due to land abandonment or regeneration processes
Restored ecosystem types Restored Landscape systems covering a substantial part of agricultural/forestry areas and industrialised sites, including cross-border areas
Restoration zones
High nature value farmland and multi-use forests (such as watershed forests); protection forests (against avalanches, mudslides, stonefall, forest fires), natural buffers such as protection shorelines with barrier beaches and salt marshes
Extensive agricultural landscapes, sustainable forest management on regional and national level, functional riparian systems
Transboundary landscape features on river basin or mountain range level, sustainable coastal and marine management zones related to the respective sea basin
Sustainable use zones
Street trees and avenues, city forests/woodlands, high-quality green public spaces and business parks/premises; green roofs and vertical gardens; allotments and orchards; storm ponds and sustainable urban drainage systems; city reserves incl. Natura 2000
Greenways, green belts, metropolitan park systems
Metropolitan areas with substantial share of high quality green areas in Europe, including coherent approaches in cross-border urban zones.
Green urban and peri-urban areas
Hedgerows, stone walls, small woodlands, ponds, wildlife strips, riparian river vegetation, transitional ecosystems between cropland, grassland and forests
Multi-functional, sustainably managed agricultural landscapes, riparian systems
Supra-regional corridors, substantial share of structure-rich agricultural, forestry or natural landscapes
Natural connectivity features
Eco-ducts, green bridges; animal tunnels (e.g. for amphibians), fish passes, road verges, ecological powerline corridor management
De-fragmentated landscapes, improved areas along transport and energy networks, migration corridors, river continuum
European-wide or transnational defragmentation actions
Artificial connectivity features
TEN-G?
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm http://biodiversity.europa.eu/bise-catalogue, > Green Infrastructure
More information on DG ENV and BISE webpages:
Climate Action
Mayors Adapt http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu /
Climate Action
European Development Funds • 11th European Development Fund (EDF)
• Regional and national programmes provide the opportunity to include adaptation measures
• Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) • Global Public Goods and Challenges Programme (GPGC)
2 Flagships: • Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA); • Biodiversity for Life (B4Life)
More information see links on the final slide of this presentation
• Europe 2020 Strategy, devoting at least 20% of Multiannual
Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-20 for climate objectives, climate mainstreaming into a range of EU policies
Mainstreaming of climate action - adaptation and mitigation - into EU policies
European Development Funds (EDF, DCI)
Climate Action
Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation
• The EU civil protection mechanism legislation promotes exchange of good practices, incl. on preparing national civil protection systems to cope with the impacts of climate change
• Important to enhance synergies between the two communities
• Promoting ecosystems for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (recent UNEP discussion paper)
14
Policy Research and Innovation
Ongoing research
Embedding ecosystem based approaches for disaster risk reduction & CC adaptation in coastal areas
• Ecosystem-based measures analysed as part of an integrated strategy to reduce vulnerability in coastal areas • Holistic & participatory assessment of vulnerabilities & risks, modelling & new tools for risk
assessment and early warning, assessment of adaptation measures (effectiveness, cost, benefits)
• Three ongoing research projects from FP7: • RISES-AM-: Long-term assessment of CC impacts & vulnerabilities and adaptation needs in
coastal areas under high-end climate change
• Green solutions analysed in terms of CC mitigation and adaptation potential
• Representative Case Studies for different types of coastal zones
• PEARL: Adaptive, sociotechnical risk management measures and strategies for coastal communities
• Holistic risk governance
• Platform to facilitate the sharing of best practices, European and International
• RISC-KIT: Toolkit of methods, tools and management approaches to reduce risk and increase resilience
• Coastal Risk Assessment Framework
• Web-based management guide with innovative, cost-effective, ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction measures
Climate Action
• EU research project EcoAdapt on ecosystem-based strategies and innovations in water governance networks for adaptation to climate change in Latin American Landscapes;
• SIDS – a joint project with UNEP, UNDP and IUCN aims to strengthen the resilience of coral reefs and associated ecosystems that depend on them by promoting ecosystem-based adaptation and policies and actions
• Restoration of Mangroves, Senegal
The EU's BEST initiative
promoting conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity in EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories
Specific objective area: develop and use ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation
http://ec.europa.eu/best
concluding remark
• Divest from measures which have negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Invest in measures which contribute to maintain and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Use available EU financing instruments to implement NbS, EbA, GI, eco-DRR !
• Invest in working with nature for people
• Empower people
• Encourage multisectoral partnerships
• SEEK CONVERGENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION
• Ecosystem-based approaches leading to transition
more information
• http://www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts/portals/155/publications/Eco_DRR_discussion_paper.pdf
• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/42si_en.pdf
• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/37si_en.pdf
• http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/37678_en
• http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/eu-biodiversity-life-b4life-flagship-initiative-brochure_en
Thank you for your attention