Towards a Framework for ADAPTATION to Climate Change

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Towards a Framework for ADAPTATIONto Climate
Change
Insight in EU policy making process. Results of
Green paper consultation.  Bridging the gap
Responding to Environmental Change from Words
to Deeds, 14-16 May 2008, Portoro, Slovenia. by
Maria Brättemark, European Commission , DG ENV.D.2
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ILLUSTRATING THE PROBLEM
Climate analogues in 2070, Hadley Centre Model,
SRES A2
Hallegatte, Ambrosi, Hourcade (2007)
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MITIGATION vs ADAPTATION

• Despite our mitigation efforts, climate change is
  happening
• EU goal to maintain global warming at 2C
  (pre-industrial times)
• Efforts in mitigation and adaptation are
  complementary- the more mitigation done the less
  adaptation needed and viceversa

MITIGATION
ADAPTATION
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INITIATIVES LINKED TO MITIGATION

• Since 1991 the EU is committed to reduce
  greenhouse gas emissions
• EU monitoring mechanism for emissions and the
  absorption of GH gases.
• EU established a system based on market rules, a
  greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme and
  specific rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases
• 2000 Communication 2000 on EU policies and
  measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  towards a European Climate Change Programme (ECCP
  I)
• 2001 European Climate Change Programme (ECCP I)
• 2003 Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme
  for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading
  within the Community
• 2004 Decision 280/2004/EC concerning a
  mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas
  emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol
  
• 2005 ECCP II Communication 2005 "Winning the
  battle against global climate change
• 2006 Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on certain
  fluorinated greenhouse gases
• 2006 Proposal to include aviation in the EU
  Emissions Trading Scheme -2006
• 2007 Communication 2007 "Limiting Global
  Climate Change to 2 C - The way ahead for 2020
  and beyond"
• 2007 Proposal to limit the CO2 emissions from
  cars- 2007
• 2008 Ambitious package of proposals to fight
  climate change and promote renewable energy in
  line with EU commitments

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OBJECTIVES OF ADAPTATION FRAMEWORK

• Contributing to establish a European framework to
• improve the resilience of social and economical
  systems as well as ecosystems across Europe and
  in other parts of the world,
• reduce their vulnerability to the impacts of
  climate change
• ensure that crucial areas such as food security,
  human health, ecosystem protection, economic and
  social cohesion and energy supply are guaranteed

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INITIATIVES LINKED TO ADAPTATION
EU EXTERNAL
WATER- EU
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INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

• UN Framework Convention for Climate Change-
  Article 4- requirement to establish national or
  regional programmes with measures for climate
  change adaptation obligation to cooperate in
  preparing for adaptation
• Adaptation very high on the agenda of the UN
  climate change conference in Bali (Dec 2007)
• Adaptation is one of the building blocks of the
  Bali Action Plan (structure for the negotiations
  on post-2012) to be adopted in Copenhagen, in
  2009- equal footing with mitigation
• EU, through bilateral and multilateral channels,
  has provided support to programmes and measures
  to enhance adaptive capacity in developing
  countries and most vulnerable countries.

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INITIATIVES LINKED TO ADAPTATION
EU EXTERNAL
WATER- EU
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Water too much or too little !

• Water Scarcity and Droughts 2007 Communication
• Full implementation of the Water Framework
  Directive key tool !
• Based on four pillars
• Putting the right price tag on water
• Allocating water more efficiently
• Improving drought risk management
• Fostering water performance technologies and
  practices
• Whats new Studies on biofuels, water provision
  options, demand scenarios report autumn 2008 !

• 2007 Directive on the assessment and management
  of flood risks -
• Preliminary flood risk assessment of their river
  basins and associated coastal zones by 2011
• Where real risks of flood damage exist (at least
  a 1 in 100 year event), flood hazard maps and
  flood risk maps by 2013
• Flood risk management plans for these zones by
  2015
• Revision every 6 years in a cycle coordinated and
  synchronised with the Water Framework Directive

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INITIATIVES LINKED TO ADAPTATION
EU EXTERNAL
WATER- EU
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POLICY MAKING PROCESS
Green Paper Adopted June 2007
White Paper To be adopted Autumn 2008
Stakeholder consultation IA 16/5/2008
Stakeholder Consultation Dec 2007
Internal Consultation
Development of a Framework for Adaptation
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Green Paper Adaptation to Climate Change

• Based on four pillars
• Early action in the EU
• Integrating adaptation into EU external actions
• Reducing uncertainty by expanding climate
  research
• Involving European society in the preparation of
  comprehensive adaptation strategies

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OUTCOME OF STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

• Easier for respondents to identify problems than
  solutions
• Areas most vulnerable identified water, health
  and biodiversity, tourism and agriculture
• There is a regional variation with regard to
  vulnerable areas, impacts and policy responses
• A one size fits all approach will not work
• A flexible EU Framework for action could be
  applied
• Urgent response is required
• Adaptation and mitigation must be considered
  together
• More research and knowledge gathering is required
• Greater public debate and awareness raising needed

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OPINIONS OTHER EU INSTITUTIONS on GREEN PAPER

• CoR opinion adopted in November 2007
• EESC opinion adopted in December 2007
• COUNCIL- October ENV Council conclusions
• EP- Resolution adopted April 2008
• All publicly available

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Possible components of White Paper

• The problem- Main areas of vulnerability and
  uncertainties
• The benefits of early action at EU level
• Developing a culture of reducing risk and
  vulnerability
• ( for each of following areas different options
  could be considered)
• Awareness raising
• Land use
• Infrastructure
• Market based instruments
• Funding mechanisms
• Capacity building, research
• Principles for action

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Principles for action

• Synergies- Priority to measures good for
  mitigation and adaptation.
• No regret- Priority to measures beneficial
  irrespectively of uncertainties
• Precautionary principle- consider worst-case
  scenario measures, even if uncertainties are high
  (cases where the costs or the magnitude of the
  impacts in such scenarios would be unacceptable)
• Solidarity- between MS, regions, social groups
• Flexibility and subsidiarity - Adapt policy
  should be dynamic and flexible
• Knowledge based- Adapt policy should be based on
  scientific evidence
• Proportionality- measures must be cost-effective
  and proportionate
• Sustainability- Measures must be in line with
  sustainable development

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http//ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/
index_en.htm