Adaptation to Climate Change Local and Regional Authorities

Adaptation to Climate Change Local and Regional Authorities and Ecosystem Based Adaptation Koen Delanghe European Commission Climate Action – Adaptation to Climate Change

Content • Adaptation to climate change • Ecosystems role in adaptation to climate change • Local/Regional authorities and strategies for adaptation to climate change • EU and adaptation to climate change (Clearing House Mechanism)

Adaptation to Climate Change • Impacts of climate change are being felt and unavoidable • Adaptation = to reduce vulnerability thus decreasing economic and social cost of climate change • Sectors concerned: e. g. Water management; Agriculture and forests; Biodiversity/nature protection; Coastal areas; Marine and fisheries; Health; Infrastructure (transport, energy, built environment); Insurance; Disaster risk reduction.

Ecosystems role in adaptation to climate change Figures : Ø One healthy tree consumes 26 lbs of carbon dioxide each year. About the same amount spewed by one car every 11, 000 miles Ø A healthy 2, 500 square foot lawn provides enough oxygen for a family of 4 Ø An average front lawn has the cooling effect of 10 tons of air conditioning, while absorbing pollution Climate change Adaptation : carbon sequestration, cooling effect, floods storage … Impacts/risks : floods, drought, water scarcity, changes of species composition… Ecosystem

Ecosystems role in adaptation to climate change Cooling power Resilience to extreme weather events, pests, IAS Buffer to sea-level rises Ecosystems Climate regulation Water retention Commissioner Hedegaard: ”We need both green technology and natural solutions”

Role of Local and Regional authorities • Regional and local authorities' role: – CC impacts felt and to be dealt with at local level – Relevant competencies of regional/local authorities – Coordination between sectors – Awareness raising • Adaptation to climate change requires: – multi-level governance – public and private sector involvement

Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies • Guidelines on Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies (Commission 2009)

EU and adaptation to climate change - - 2009 European Commission White Paper: Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action Two main outcomes: EU Clearing House Mechanism (March 2012) Develop a comprehensive EU Adaptation Strategy (2013) 1. Improving and widening the knowledge base 2. Mainstreaming of adaptation into policies, strategies and programmes at EU level 3. Exchange between Member States, regions, cities and all other relevant stakeholders 4. Capturing the potential of market-based instruments and the private sector

Development of the EU Clearing house mechanism

Development of the EU Clearing house mechanism