Biodiversity Clearinghouse Mechanism workshop, 11-12 Nov 2010,
EEA, Copenhagen
EU Clearinghouse
on Climate Change Impacts,
Vulnerability and Adaptation
André Jol
European Environment Agency
(Head of group vulnerability and adaptation)
1
Europe’s key past
and projected
impacts
Most vulnerable areas
• Southern Europe
• Mountain areas
(Alps, etc)
• Coastal zones
• River floodplains
• Arctic region
2
Main biogeographic regions of Europe
(EEA member countries)
Commission White Paper Adapting to climate change
• White Paper adopted on 1/4/2009
• Commission staff working documents
accompanying the White Paper
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•
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•
Impact Assessment and executive summary
SEC(2009)387-388
Adapting to Climate Change: the Challenge for European
Agriculture and Rural Areas SEC(2009)417
Human, Animal and Plant Health Impacts of Climate
Change
SEC(2009)416
Climate Change and Water, Coasts and Marine Issues
SEC(2009) 386
• Documents available on:
• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptatio
n/index_en.htm
3
Broad (complementary) adaptation approaches
• “Grey” infrastructure approaches
•
Protective infrastructure and Contingency Plans/Measures – In
the light of uncertainties, cost and effectiveness becomes issues
• “Green” structural approaches
•
•
Strengthen resilience against climate change impacts by
improving natural water retention and strengthening
biodiversity. “Green infrastructure” (e.g. floodplains, land use
changes to improve soil water retention, establishment of
ecosystem connectivity etc.)
Advantage of complementary approach: improved potential for
ecosystem services (fresh water, food, health), potential to
improve cost-effectiveness, reduce costs for future generations
and synergies with mitigation (ecosystem absorption of CO2) –
possible “no regrets” measures
• “Soft” non-structural approaches
•
4
Awareness raising, Institutional framework, Economic
instruments, etc.
Need for taking action at EU level
• Large difference in progress among the Member States.
Initiatives and growing demand at regional and local
level
• Many climate change impacts AND adaptation measures
have a cross-border dimension
• Climate impacts and adaptation will affect single market
and common policies.
• Climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation trigger a
new paradigm for solidarity
• EU spending programmes could complement the
resources spent by the Member States for adaptation.
• Potential economies of scale for capacity building,
research, information and data gathering, knowledge
transfer, etc.
5
EU ADAPTATION FRAMEWORK
Phase 1: 2009-2012 – Four PILLARS
PILLAR I
PILLAR II
PILLAR III
PILLAR IV
Strengthen
the
Knowledge/
Evidence Base
Mainstream
climate
Adaptation
into
key
policy areas
Employ
a combination
of
policy
instruments
Advance
work
internationally
on
Adaptation
Working in Partnership with EU, national, regional
and local authorities
Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential
step forward (1/2)
•
Objectives:
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•
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Build on on-going global, EU (FP6, FP7) and national research
projects and studies
•
•
•
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Climate change and socio-economic scenarios across Europe
Better understand the territorial and sectoral distribution of
vulnerability to climate change impacts
European wide data repository and a platform for knowledge
transfer on impacts and adaptation measures (Clearing House
Mechanism)
Further analysis of climate change impacts for major sectors at
scales relevant to adaptation measures
Identification of the limits to resilience (human systems and
ecosystems)
Investigation of how to use the ecosystem approach for adaptation
efforts
Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential
step forward (2/2), DG ENV projects
8
•
Design of guidelines for the elaboration of Regional Climate
Change Adaptation Strategies
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_e
n.htm
•
Preliminary assessment of Climate Change vulnerability
indicators at regional level (final report due in Nov 2009)
•
Land Use modelling implementation (Final Report Feb 2010)
•
Integrated Assessment Modelling of water-related scenarios
and adaptation measures Start Nov 2009 (20 months).
•
Classification and costing of adaptation measures
Pillar II: mainstream adaptation into key EU
policy areas
• Step by step approach - based on solid scientific and
economic analysis
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What are the actual and potential impacts of climate change in
the sector?
What are the costs of action/inaction?
How can adaptation objectives be embedded into current EU
instruments? Which additional measures should be proposed for
action at EU level?
How do proposed measures impact upon and interact with
policies at other levels and in other sectors?
• Key areas: Water, Coastal & Marine, Agriculture, Health,
Transport, Energy etc.
• Develop guidelines and further Adaptation Strategies
outlining the action required
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Status of development of national adaptation strategies
Adopted a NAS
Preparing a NAS
IVA assessments
Finland (2005)
Czech Republic
Austria
France (2006)
Norway
Greece
Spain (2006)
Romania
Iceland
Netherlands (2007)
Estonia
Ireland
Denmark (2008)
Latvia
Lithuania
United Kingdom (2008)
Portugal
Switzerland
Germany (2008)
Romania
Hungary (2008)
Norway (2008)
Sweden (2009)
http://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/national-adaptation-strategies
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Source: EEA, 2009; PEER, 2009
Objectives of the EU Clearinghouse
•
•
•
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Facilitate the collection and dissemination of
scientific information, data and case studies
about climate change impacts and vulnerability,
and adaptation policies and measures.
Assist an effective uptake of this knowledge by
EU, national, regional, local or sectoral decision
makers.
Provide a greater level of co-ordination sectoral
policies and institutional levels
Added value of the European Clearinghouse
•
•
•
A portal of information and tools, with defined quality
standards, seeking common approaches at EU level.
Information mainly from research institutes and public
agencies.
Focus on harmonized & quality checked EU wide data at
maximal resolution, useful for:
•
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Both an IT tool and a PARTNERSHIP
•
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•
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neighbouring countries
interregional areas (e.g. mountainous or coastal area)
areas with scope for action at EU level: CAP, Water, Coastal,
Marine, Natura 2000, TEN, Energy, Health, etc.
Common guidelines about information quality, formats and
sources
encourage the systematic collection of reliable and up-to date
information
Complement but not supersede national initiatives.
•
Could be a solution for countries that don't have the resources
to develop such a platform
Content of the Clearinghouse
Climate change
observations
and scenarios
• GMES - Essential
climate variables
• Link with GFCS +
regional / national
centers
• Land-use, water,
socio-economic
observations,
statistics and
scenarios
Impacts &
Vulnerability
Adaptation plans
and strategies
Integration information
on climate, land-use,
water, ecosystems,
socio-economic
variables
• Information on
existing adaptation
strategies, key
institutions and
stekeholders
• Exposure to impacts,
sensitivity and
adaptive capacity
• Joint activities
between MS and
third countries
(research, adaptation
measures)
• Detailed
geographical and
sectoral perspective
• Vulnerability
indicators, policyoriented
• Practical tools for
the development of
adaptation policy
Adaptation
measures,
actions
Extended database of
measures
• Typology
• Assessment of
environmental,
social, economic
impacts
• Identifying noregret measures
Key partnerships and synergies
•CC Indicators
•WISE
IASG + WG Pillar 1
Contract
Implementation phase 1
•CHM Biodiv
DG ENV
EEA
•REPORTNET
Data integration
(Climate, Soils, Forest,
Floods, Droughts)
DG JRC
INSPIRE
DG ESTAT
Member
States
GEOSS
INTERREG
projects
Other
Projects and
Platforms
(see annex 1)
Knowledge portals
Research
programmes
DG REGIO
CIRCLE2
Other DGs
Other
institutions
Calls x projects
DG RTD
Knowledge portal
7FP projects
Some key requirements
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Interoperability
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Analytical tools
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•
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Shared Environmental
Information System (SEIS)
Interoperable Delivery of
European eGovernment Services
(IDABC)
INSPIRE
ISO, GEOSS
ReportNet
Generation of vulnerability
assessments and indicators (EU
or transnational level)
Meta-analysis of vulnerability
assessments.
Database of adaptation measures
Tools for the impact assessment
of adaptation measures
•
Multilinguism
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Multilingual technical glossary
Detailed level of information
could also be available in a
variety of languages
General information on CCIVA
should be translated and give
link to corresponding national
platforms when available.
Standard functionalities
Quality control / quality
assurance
EEA contributions/reports
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Natural disasters (2004)
Overview on vulnerability and adaptation in member
countries (2005)
Climate change and water (2007)
Costs of inaction to climate change (2007)
Impacts of climate change (2004, update 2008)
Water scarcity and droughts (2009)
CC and water resources in the Alps, case studies
(2009)
Guidance on integrating CC in Water FWD river basin
management plans (2009)
2010: updated climate change indicators; support to
GMES on data user needs analysis; report on past
natural and technological disasters; some vulnerability
indicators and disaster risk mapping; annual EIONET
workshop; expert meetings
Example of national plan/portal (UK)
17
Examples of national plan/portal (DE)
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Next steps and roadmap
•
Open call for tender November 2009,
•
Project steering group
•
Impact and Adaptation Steering Group
•
Phase 1 (available end 2011 at the latest)
•
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note as support document for tenderer
key research partners)
with Commission concept
(ENV/JRC/EEA, key countries, sectoral platforms,
(Commission, countries)
and Working Group «Knowledge Basis» to be set up early 2010
•
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Covers key requirements
First prototype available in January 2011: review to lay the ground for the
definitions on the 2nd phase
Phase 2
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Based on review phase 1 and agreement with MS and key partners
Design after careful evaluation of needs, resources and usefulness.
Impact assessment for proposal accompanying 2012 Communication
Validation by IASG