Climate change adaptation in South Eastern Europe – a background report

Abstract

Climate change no longer needs to be presented as a global phenomenon likely to affect ecosystems and international security, being a notorious world renown threat and a top-priority driving the agendas of the politicians. However, in spite of the acknowledged urgency of properly and effectively fighting this phenomenon, a binding international agreement to fight climate change in the long term is still missing and it seems difficult to be reached. Some progress in this sense has been made, but the way ahead is neither short nor smooth. Furthermore, climate change, in order to be properly tackled, needs to be considered in an integrated way, as a part of the greater challenge of sustainable development. The linkages between climate change and sustainable development are highlighted in the most important legislative instruments concluded so far to fight climate change. The UNFCCC and the KP have been designed to play a key role in the pursuing of climate change objectives within the framework of sustainable development. In fact, their main achievements, such as the introduction of binding emission reduction commitments for developed countries, together with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and the flexible mechanisms, can be read as attempts to address environmental, social and economic instances in an integrated way. While mitigation seeks to limit climate change by reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and by enhancing “sink” opportunities, adaptation aims at reducing the vulnerability of natural and human systems against actual or expected climate change effects (IPCC, Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report, Annex II). Adaptation entails an adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects. From the sustainable development perspective, the response to climate change requires both mitigation and adaptation (COM(2009)147). The purpose of the present report is to specifically consider the adaptation challenge in South Eastern Europe (SEE) region. To this extent, the most relevant international and European adaptation options are presented, together with an in depth analysis of the present scenarios and the adaptation measures already undertaken or planned at the SEE level. More in particular, the first three chapters analyse the main adaptation challenges from a physical point of view, whilst the last two chapters concentrate on the policy perspective, with a presentation of the existing management and governance models and a proposal for future adaptation strategies in SEE