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Biodiversity Clearinghouse Mechanism workshop, 11-12 Nov 2010, EEA, Copenhagen

EU ClearinghouseEU Clearinghouseon Climate Change Impacts, on Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and AdaptationVulnerability and Adaptation

André Jol

European Environment Agency

(Head of group vulnerability and adaptation)

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Europe’s key past Europe’s key past and projected and projected

impactsimpacts

Main biogeographic regions of Europe Main biogeographic regions of Europe (EEA member countries)(EEA member countries)

Most vulnerable areas

• Southern Europe• Mountain areas

(Alps, etc)• Coastal zones• River floodplains• Arctic region

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Commission White Paper Adapting to climate changeCommission White Paper Adapting to climate change

• White Paper adopted on 1/4/2009• Commission staff working documents

accompanying the White Paper • 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/adaptation/

index_en.htm

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Broad (complementary) adaptation approachesBroad (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• Awareness raising, Institutional framework, Economic

instruments, etc.

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Need for taking action at EU levelNeed 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.

EU ADAPTATION FRAMEWORKEU ADAPTATION FRAMEWORK

Phase 1: 2009-2012 – Four PILLARS

Working in Partnership with EU, national, regional and local authorities

PILLAR IV

Advance work

internationally on

Adaptation

PILLAR IV

Advance work

internationally on

Adaptation

PILLAR III

Employ a combination

of policy

instruments

PILLAR III

Employ a combination

of policy

instruments

PILLAR II

Mainstream climate

Adaptation into key

policy areas

PILLAR II

Mainstream climate

Adaptation into key

policy areas

PILLAR I

Strengthen the

Knowledge/Evidence Base

PILLAR I

Strengthen the

Knowledge/Evidence Base

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Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential step forward (1/2)step forward (1/2)

• Objectives:• 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)

• Build on on-going global, EU (FP6, FP7) and national research projects and studies

• 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

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Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential step forward (2/2), DG ENV projectsstep forward (2/2), DG ENV projects

• Design of guidelines for the elaboration of Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.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

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Pillar II: mainstream adaptation into key EUPillar II: mainstream adaptation into key EUpolicy areaspolicy areas

• Step by step approach - based on solid scientific and economic analysis

• 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 strategiesStatus of development of national adaptation strategies

Source: EEA, 2009; PEER, 2009

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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Objectives of the EU ClearinghouseObjectives of the EU Clearinghouse

• 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

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Added value of the European ClearinghouseAdded 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:• 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.• Both an IT tool and a PARTNERSHIP

• 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 ClearinghouseContent 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

Adaptation measures,

actions

Extended database of measures

• Typology

• Assessment of environmental, social, economic impacts

• Identifying no-regret measures

Adaptation plans and strategies

• Information on existing adaptation strategies, key institutions and stekeholders

• Joint activities between MS and third countries (research, adaptation measures)

• Practical tools for the development of adaptation policy

Impacts & Vulnerability

Integration information on climate, land-use, water, ecosystems,

socio-economic variables

• Exposure to impacts, sensitivity and adaptive capacity

• Detailed geographical and sectoral perspective

• Vulnerability indicators, policy-oriented

Key partnerships and synergies

DG ENVDG ENVEEAEEA

DG JRCDG JRC

•CC Indicators

•WISE

•CHM Biodiv

•REPORTNET

•CC Indicators

•WISE

•CHM Biodiv

•REPORTNET

IASG + WG Pillar 1

Contract Implementation phase 1

IASG + WG Pillar 1

Contract Implementation phase 1

Data integration

(Climate, Soils, Forest, Floods, Droughts)

INSPIRE

GEOSS

Data integration

(Climate, Soils, Forest, Floods, Droughts)

INSPIRE

GEOSS

DG REGIODG REGIOINTERREG projectsINTERREG projects

Other DGsOther DGs

Other institutionsOther institutions

CIRCLE2CIRCLE2

Calls x projects

Knowledge portal

Calls x projects

Knowledge portalDG RTDDG RTD

7FP projects7FP projects

Knowledge portals

Research programmes

Knowledge portals

Research programmes

Other institutionsOther institutions

Member StatesMember States

Other Projects and Platforms (see annex 1)

Other Projects and Platforms (see annex 1)

DG ESTATDG ESTAT

DG REGIODG REGIO

Other DGsOther DGs

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Some key requirementsSome key requirements

• Interoperability• Shared Environmental

Information System (SEIS)• Interoperable Delivery of

European eGovernment Services (IDABC)

• INSPIRE• ISO, GEOSS• ReportNet

• Analytical tools• 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• 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

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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

EEA contributions/reportsEEA contributions/reports

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Example of national plan/portal (UK)Example of national plan/portal (UK)

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Examples of national plan/portal (DE)Examples of national plan/portal (DE)

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Next steps and roadmapNext steps and roadmap• Open call for tender November 2009, with Commission concept

note as support document for tenderer

• Project steering group (ENV/JRC/EEA, key countries, sectoral platforms, key research partners)

• Impact and Adaptation Steering Group (Commission, countries) and Working Group «Knowledge Basis» to be set up early 2010

• Phase 1 (available end 2011 at the latest)• Covers key requirements• First prototype available in January 2011: review to lay the ground for the

definitions on the 2nd phase

• Phase 2• 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