Eidgenössisches Departement für Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation UVEK

Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

Update on Adaptation to Climate Change in Switzerland

EIONET MeetingCopenhagen, 29/30 June 2009

Abteilung

2 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

Natural Hazards:

Grindelwald 2006

Decreasing slope stability

3 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

Most Important Climate Change Impactsin Switzerland

Natural Hazards: • Decrease in slope stability• Uncertain development of floods, avalanches, winter storms etc.Water resources• Water scarcityHealth• Increase in summer heat waves• Vector borne disease?Tourism • Decreasing snow cover affecting winter tourism at low altitudesEnergy sector • Decrease in hydropower productiondue to decrease in surface runoff• Decreasing demand for heat, increasing demand for coolingAgriculture• Positive effects for moderate warming of 2 to 3°C• Negative effects for strong warming higher 2 to 3°CForstry, Biodiversity

4 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

Further adaptive actions are necessary

Survey among federal offices:• 12 of 17 federal offices need to act on climate

change.• What additional action is necessary until 2015 to

achieve adaptation to climate change as predicted by probabilitic climate scenario for 2050

• Measures include - the improvement of the knowledge base (climate

scenarios, impact analyses, monitoring systems, development of adaptive measures)

- implementation of adaptive measures (natural hazards, biodiversity, forestry…)

- coordination, development of NAS

5 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

NAS

Focal Points of Action

Scientific Basis Climatology (MeteoSwiss)

EnvironmentBiodiversity (FOEN)Air quality (FOEN)

Landscape (FOEN) Water (FOEN)Forest (FOEN)

Health:Human (FOPH)Animal (FVO)

Economy and economic supply:

Energy (FOE)National Economic supply (FONES) Agriculture (FOA)Economy (SECO)

Natural Perils:Prevention (FOEN)

Rural development (ARE)Traffic (FEDRO, FOT) Civil protection (FOCP)

6 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

Outlook

Revision of the Swiss CO2 law:

Article 4:

The federal government coordinates all measures undertaken to prevent or cope with damages to people or material assets which could be caused by the anthropogenic GHG emissions.

7 Adaptation in Switzerland | Overview

Roland Hohmann

4. Outlook

Next Steps:

1. Survey among Cantons on adaptation

2. Risk assessment, cost benefit analysis Prioritize fields of action; optimize use of limited

resources

3. Definition of adaptation goals and general values/ principles of adaptation

Medium term goals:

4. Web based information platform on adaptation

5. NAS

Eidgenössisches Departement für Umwelt, Verkehr, Energie und Kommunikation UVEK

Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU

Thank you for your attention!roland.hohmann@bafu.admin.ch