the austrian adaptation platform sabine mccallum, 19 june 2013
TRANSCRIPT
The Austrian Adaptation Platform
Sabine McCallum, 19 June 2013
Austrian Adaptation Platform: Background
Website www.klimawandelanpassung.at on climate change and adaptation for Austria (online since 2009): aims to inform the interested public and provide material relevant for Austria has been developed as part of the participation process to accompany and support the
development of the Austrian NAS/NAP was created with only little budget (approx. 7.000 Euro for technical set-up) and few personal
resources has been substantially updated and revised in January 2013 financed by the Austrian
Climate- and Energyfonds
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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Content overview
Main content on HOME
Climate change in Austria
Adaptation to climate change
Austrian adaptation strategy
Research on CCA
Database: adaptation measures
Links/Glossary/Newsletter
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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Climate change in AustriaDescription of: Observed trends Future projections
(including regional scale) Impacts of climate change Vulnerability to climate change
Impact tables for various sectors
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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Adaptation to climate change
Description of: Political context Guiding principles for good adaptation Possible adaptation options
o Practical examples Tools for adaptation
o Guidance documentso Online-Tools
Note: All sites provide links to further information
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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Austrian adaptation strategy/plan
Description of: Content Steps towards the Austrian NAS/NAP
o Starting phaseo Cooperation with scienceo Policy paper o Participation process
Background studies
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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Database
Database on adaptation activities: Contains currently 330 examples Is regularly updated with new
research and practical examples Provides search functions for
o Sectorso Administrative level (Europe,
Austria, Länder)o Biogeographic regions (e.g.
Alpine space)o Research activity or practical
example
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Newsletter overview: Target group: Policy makers,
decision makers, interested public
Issued since 2011 2013/2014: 4-5 newsletter are
planned
Austrian Adaptation Platform: Newsletter
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Newsletter content: Politics Science Adaptation practice Focal topic Europe News / Events
Austrian Adaptation Platform: Newsletter
Challenges
Keeping website up to date requires substantial amount of human resources challenge to guarantee regular maintenance
Financing is project-based and depends on external funding agencies long-term planning is difficult
Number of people accessing website and single pages is unknown users feedback would be helpful!
Difficult to present information in target-group-specific language cooperation with PR and users?
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Ideas
Website is currently not designed as an interactive platform but rather as an information hub only
However …
Several projects developing adaptation tools and guidance will be finalised 2013/14, e.g.:o Methods, tools and guidance for developing adaptation strategies at sub-national, regional and
cities level (FAMOUS handbook)o Tools and guidance on how to effectively communicate climate change and adaptation (CCTalk!)
A brochure for the general public aiming at raising awareness about the NAS/NAP and providing practical tips for Austrian citizens will become available this summer
All of this could be „translated“ online and set up to interact with potential users (e.g. by offering training and support, organising events with different target groups, designing online games, offering apps, setting up competitions for innovative approaches and
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Linking to other platforms
Information and tools offered by other national platforms and Climate-ADAPT are already provided on the website
Most important for further interaction is to translate relevant parts of the website into English -> planned for autumn 2013
Exchange with other countries and the EC/EEA hosting web-platforms is key to make best use of synergies, avoid duplications (and thus reduce administrative and financial burden) and learn from each other
Joint activities to engage with users could potentially be envisaged (e.g. starting a competition on innovative adaptation at EU level and making use of all national platforms in place to broaden the target audience)
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Contact & Information
Sabine McCallum
Head of Unit
Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change
T: +43-(0)1-313 04/3311
www.umweltbundesamt.at
www.klimawandelanpassung.at
‘National Adaptation Platforms’ experts meetingCopenhagen ■ 19 June 2013