Terms of Reference
for the Working Group on Adaptation to Climate Change
Mandate
The Second Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Carpathian
Convention (Bucharest, Romania, 17-19 June 2008) by its Decision COP2/3 paragraph
2 welcomed the “Report on water resources and natural disasters (climate change) and
flood risk mapping” produced by the INTERREG IIIB Carpathian Project.
Decision COP2/3 paragraph 5 requested “the Interim Secretariat to consider in
consultation with the Parties the further development and joint programming in the area
of integration of water resources and land use planning, in particular concerning
wetlands, natural water resources, springs, lakes and ground water resources, as well
as biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change, taking into account
experiences made in sustainable and integrated water/river basin management and land
use planning of the relevant river basins of the Black Sea and Baltic Sea catchment
areas in the Carpathians”.
In 2010 the European Commission, DG Environment, launched the invitation to tender
“Preparatory action on climate in the Carpathian Region” focused on vulnerability of
water and ecosystems to climate change and adaptation.
In May 2011 the European Commission – DG Environment, requested the Secretariat
during Third Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention (COP3) to consult
with the Parties and Observers of the Carpathian Convention a possible proposal for the
establishment of a Working Group on Adaptation to Climate Change under the
Carpathian Convention supported by the project CARPIVIA (Carpathian integrated
assessment of vulnerability to climate change and ecosystem-based adaptation
measures, www.carpivia.eu) that is funded by the European Commission under the
above mentioned preparatory action.
The Third Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the Carpathian
Convention (Bratislava, Slovakia, 25 – 27 May 2011) by its Decision COP3/15 para 3
decided to establish a Working Group on Adaptation to Climate Change and adopts its
Terms of Reference.
The Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP4) to the Carpathian
Convention (Mikulov, the Czech Republic, 23 – 26 September 2014) by its Decision
COP4/10 para 1 adopted the Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to Climate Change in the
Carpathian Region. It further welcomed the outcomes of the CARPIVIA, CarpathCC and
CarpathClim projects and gave mandate to the Secretariat to participate and to promote
the Carpathian Convention during the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
COP20 at the Mountain Pavilion, in Lima (Peru in December 2014). Furthermore it
welcomed the outcomes of the Workshop on Adaptation to Climate Change organized in
the frame of the Alpine-Carpathian Partnership, in Vienna (Austria in March 2014). The
COP4 further encourages future cooperation activities with the International Commission
for the Protection of the Danube River on climate change adaptation. Furthermore,
welcomes the support of Hungary to the Working Group on Adaptation to Climate
Change.
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Tasks
The Working Group shall aim at supporting the Parties to the Carpathian Convention in
their cooperation for the implementation of relevant articles of the Convention and its
Protocols, including the Protocol on Sustainable Forest Management and its Article 1 on
General objectives and principles, and Article 14 on Forestry and Climate change, and
Article 21 on Education, information and public awareness.
The Working Group shall in particular focus on ensuring proper follow up to the
implementation of the Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to Climate Change and
developing new projects and concepts in follow-up to “CARPIVA”, “CARPATCLIM” and
“CarpathCC” projects. In its work, the Working Group shall consider and consolidate the
background documentation made available within these projects as well as other
relevant project where appropriate with the overall aim to:
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Move the Carpathian Space towards a climate-proofed future
Benefit national, local and regional authorities of the Carpathian Region
Support policy and project development and implementation in line with the EU
Strategy on adaptation to climate change and the objectives of the Carpathian
Convention
Contribute to a Carpathian and EU Information System on Climate Change
Vulnerability and Adaptation
The Working Group, in light of these project results, will review its tasks and make
proposals on its future role and contribution to climate change adaptation in the
Carpathian region.
The Working Group shall make recommendations for and develop possible future
projects and initiatives in the field of vulnerability to climate change and ecosystembased adaptation measures.
In this respect, the Working Group shall establish a Project Development Platform for
climate change in the Carpathians in order to develop - in cooperation with respective
Ministries, regional authorities, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders such as the EEA,
project ideas and accelerate elaboration processes in various Carpathian Convention
related sectors.
Field of activities
1. Cooperation with relevant stakeholders
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The Working Group shall consider strengthening scientific cooperation, support research
activities and its dissemination;
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In order to facilitate the research coordination across disciplines and national
boundaries, the Working Group shall foster the dialogue with the Science for the
Carpathians (S4C) to promote research collaborations and further develop the
cooperation with the Science for the Carpathians Initiative.
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The Working Group shall stress the importance of regional co-operation on adaptation
measures in mountain regions among governments, national and local stakeholders,
civil society organizations and the private sector;
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In order to achieve the tasks of the Working Group, it shall strengthen cooperation
activities with the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River
(ICPDR) on climate change adaptation;
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The Working Group shall explore ways of cooperation with other relevant institutions
such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), World Meteorological
Organization (WMO);
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The Working Group shall extend the Partnership Agreement with the European
Environment Agency (EEA) on the implementation of the Carpathian Convention, as it
was welcomed by the COP4;
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The Working Group shall strengthen the cooperation with the Secretariat of the Alpine
Convention its expert groups on implementation of the "Joint Alpine-Carpathian
Statement" since the recognition of the need to promote capacity building at the local
level for designing and implementing coherent adaptation measures and sharing the
regional experience developed in the field;
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The Working Group shall foster collaboration, experience and knowledge exchange with
other mountain (sub)regions and relevant networks and initiatives at the European and
global level.
2. Provide guidance, recommendations, support for preparation of actions
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The Working Group shall collect and synthesize information and data on climate change
in the Carpathian Region, will analyse the available information and identify gaps
requiring further research;
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The Working Group shall support and promote (sub)regional dialogue and co-operation
on climate change and adaptation in the region in the context of the Strategic Agenda on
Adaptation to Climate Change, in particular by sharing information and experience at the
transboundary level and promote regional coordination through regional meetings and
transboundary projects;
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The Working Group shall support the Strategic Action Plan for development of project
ideas in the Carpathian Region, based on the Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to Climate
Change in the Carpathian Region to facilitate the project developments in the Carpathian
Region;
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The Working Group shall support co-operation among countries in developing climate
change adaptation strategies in mountain regions and in implementing already existing
ones;
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The Working Group shall in particular provide guidance and actions with regard to the
contribution to the European Climate Adaptation Platform (Climate-ADAPT), an EU
information system on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation;
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The Working Group will provide guidance and recommendations for the development of
policy proposals in line with the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change and the
objectives of the Carpathian Convention;
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The Working Group can provide guidance and recommendations for the development of
follow-up projects in the area of vulnerability to climate change and ecosystem-based
approaches to adaptation.
3. Establish a Project- and an Adaptation Platform for the Carpathian Region
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The Working Group shall establish a Project Development Platform, which shall
accelerate the elaboration process of adaptation to climate change related projects in
the Carpathian region;
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The Working Group shall establish a local Adaptation Platform for the Carpathian region
which provides an inventory of possible adaptation actions at the local level in various
sectors;
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The Working Group shall improve the environmental assessment/information system,
monitoring and early warning, for the implementation of the Article 12 of the Framework
Convention on the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians;
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The Working Group shall strengthen the awareness raising, education and public
participation for the implementation of the Article 13 of the Framework Convention on the
Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathians;
The Working Group shall consider the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) approaches in all
relevant activities and developments to be undertaken;
4. Contribution to the Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian
Convention
The Working Group shall propose inputs for Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP5) to the Carpathian Convention (Hungary, 2017), of the Carpathian
Convention, such as inputs to the ministerial declaration to be considered by COP5.
The Working Group shall consider elaboration of tangible results of its work to be
presented at the COP5.
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List of results based on the field of activities
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Cooperation with relevant institutions and partners strengthened
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Cooperation with other relevant mountain (sub)regions in the context of climate
change and adaptation in mountain regions
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Synthesized information on climate change in the Carpathian Region collected
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Countries are supporting an ecosystem-based approach to climate change
adaptation
Guidelines on contribution to the European Climate Adaptation Platform
(Climate-ADAPT)
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Recommendations for the development of policy proposals provided
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Identified priority areas and sector for future intervention and actions
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List of relevant projects and ideas (Project Development Platform) established
Strategic Action Plan for development of project ideas in the Carpathian Region
elaborated
Inputs for proposals for follow-up activities and projects in the area of
vulnerability to climate change and ecosystem-based adaptation measures
List of recommendations (Adaptation Platform) for the development of policy
proposals in the field of adaptation to climate change in the Carpathians
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Improved awareness raising, education and public participation
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Inputs for the COP5 delivered
Composition and organization of work
Organization of joint Working Group meetings, where possible and appropriate for
interaction and cooperation issues, is highly recommended.
The Working Group is composed of the National Focal Points for the Carpathian
Convention and/or persons nominated by them. In accordance with the Rules of
Procedure of the Conference of the Parties, the meetings of the Working Group are
open for observers.
At each meeting, the Working Group will elect its Chair and Co-Chair; the Secretariat will
act as Rapporteur. In conducting its business, the Working Group will base itself on the
applicable Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the Parties.
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The Working Group members shall consult in the context of the activities of the Working
Group with the national, regional and local stakeholders (public administration, NGOs,
private sector etc.), where appropriate.
The Working Group shall exchange information and foster communication with other
relevant WGs of the Carpathian Convention (e.g. Working Group on Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Biological and Landscape Diversity, Working Group on Sustainable
Forest Management, Working Group on Spatial Development) and might seek
cooperation with other institutions and stakeholders within and beyond the Carpathian
Convention.
The Working Group will report to the Conference of the Parties through the CCIC.
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