Western Balkans Climate Resilience Workshop Vienna, Austria, May (morning), 2016

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1 Western Balkans Climate Resilience Workshop Vienna, Austria, May (morning), 2016 World Bank Office (21 st floor) Praterstrasse 31, Vienna 1020 The Western Balkans Climate Resilience Workshop will bring together a multi-sectoral panel of representatives from Western Balkans countries and European Union (EU) Member States, as well as participants from the European Commission (EC) and development partner organizations, to discuss national and regional actions needed to scale-up and complement current climate resilience efforts in the region. The Workshop will deepen the regional dialogue and experience sharing initiated last year at the Western Balkans Climate Resilient Growth Roundtable, 1 where several topics emerged as priority areas across two or more countries for confronting the new climate normal, including Climate Policies and Institutions, Linkages between Climate Change and Integrated Water Resource Management, and Climate-smart Agriculture. On these three topics, the Workshop will support experience sharing among Western Balkans countries and EU Member States, on actions to address climate change in line with EU Climate requirements. This will provide the background for a broader dialogue, with the development community, to take stock of efforts by accession countries and identify further needs of integrating climate resilience in policies, institutions, and investment programs, based on adaptation priorities, EU harmonization process, and complementarity with current activities. Some issues to be explored during the Workshop include: Tools and information to integrate climate resilience considerations and set priorities in national or sectoral development plans; Challenges and success in facilitating multi-sectoral coordination for consistent policy setting, budget allocation, and program decision on climate action; Strengthening of The New Climate Normal for Western Balkans Warming hot spots, with more frequent heat waves, spanning as much as 80% of summer months in a 4ᵒC warmer world Droughts more prevalent, with 20% increase in number of Drought Days Aridity in summer, with river discharge possibly reduced more than 45% by 2100 Crop Yields in Macedonia alone could drop by 50% by 2050 with climate change Winter and Spring Flood Risk to increase, esp. along the Danube, Sava, and Tisza Hydropower under threat, such as in Albania where by 2050 the annual average output from large hydropower plants could drop by 15%, and 20% for smaller plants Health Risks could grow as climate warms, with 20% increase in heat-related mortality and the growing threat of vector-borne diseases Source: World Bank (2014). Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the New Climate Normal capacity in government agencies to facilitate implementation and monitoring of climate policies; Incorporation of the (new) challenges from climate variability and change into river basin management plans, to address disaster risk and competing water uses; Lessons from climate-smart agriculture on the ground; and Experience with landscape approaches to build resilience. 1

2 Agenda Day 1 (Wednesday May 11, 2016): Building Climate Policies and Institutions 8:45-9:15 Registration of Participants 9:15-9:30 Opening Welcoming Remarks: Ms. Ellen Goldstein, Country Director, Southeast Europe, World Bank Session 1. The EU Framework for Climate Action This session will lay the background to the Workshop s discussions, first by reviewing main findings from recent studies on climate risks in the Western Balkans together with adaptation priorities and needs, and second by discussing the EU climate framework as well as implications for accession countries. 9:30-10: The latest on climate risks and adaptation needs in the Western Balkans: Recent studies by Western Balkans countries: Climate Change and Adaptation Options for the Albanian Coastal Area, Third Communication Results and Post-Potsdam Work: Ms. Eglantina Bruci, Project Coordinator, Climate Change, UNDP (Albania) Climate Modelling of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Application Bosnia and Herzegovina: Mr. Marko Stanoevich, Assistant Professor, School of Natural Sciences, University of Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Western Balkan mountains: Mr. Matthias Jurek (UNEP) Climate vulnerability need assessments: outcome from the ECRAN process: Mr. Robert Bakx, ECRAN 10:40-11:00 Coffee break EU climate framework and implications for accession countries Status Update: The EU climate adaptation strategy and policy framework and the Paris Agreement: Ms. Ivana Mijatovic-Cernos, Policy Officer, International and Interinstitutional Relations, DG Climate Action Framework for accession countries to comply with EU climate agenda: current status, EC assistance, and further needs: Mr. Gazmend SELIMI, Task manager, Environment and Natural Resources, European Union Office in Kosovo Discussants: Perspectives from a few Development Partners on supporting climate adaptation in the Western Balkans: Representatives of the Development Partners 12:30-14:00 Lunch (details to be provided)

3 14:00-15:30 Session 2. Experience from EU Member States on Addressing Climate Change This panel discussion will support experience sharing among Western Balkans countries and EU Member States, on actions to address climate change in line with EU Climate requirements. Focus is on climate policies and institutions and the session will explore: Tools and information to integrate climate resilience considerations and set priorities in national or sectoral development plans; Challenges and success in facilitating multi-sectoral coordination for consistent policy setting, budget allocation, and program decision on climate action; Strengthening of capacity in government agencies to facilitate implementation and monitoring of climate policies. Three to four examples will be presented, drawing from the list below: EU member states climate resilience policy modes: Austria: The Austrian Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change: Status and Outlook: Mr. Juergen Schneider, Senior Climate Change Expert, Austrian Environment Agency Romania: Romania s climate strategy and action plan: outcomes from recent World Bank advisory services: Mrs. Gabriela Popesku, Counsellor, Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests Bulgaria: Institutional mechanisms for climate policy coordination across sectors: Ms. Boriana Kamenova, Director of the Climate Policy Directorate, Ministry of environment and Water of Bulgaria Poland: Building Economic Modeling Capacity for Climate Policy Analysis: Mr. Edward Basiński, Advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Leszek Pawel Kasek, Senior Economist, World Bank 15:30-15:45 Coffee break 15:45-17:30 Session 3: Efforts by Accession Countries to Harmonize with EU Climate Acquis Echoing discussions at the previous sessions, Western Balkans country participants will provide an update on their own efforts, to be followed by a discussion of further needs of integrating climate resilience in policies, institutions, and investment programs, based on adaptation priorities, EU harmonization process, and complementarity with current activities. Western Balkans countries experience: Albania: Mr. Xhaxhiu, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment Kosovo: Mr. Mendim Rugova, Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Macedonia: Ms. Teodora Obradovikj Grncharovska, State Counselor for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning Bosnia and Herzegovina: Mr. Admir Softic, Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Montenegro: Mr. Đorđije Vulikić, Advisor, Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism Serbia: TBC 17:30-18:00 Wrap-up of Day 1 19:00-21:00 Reception/Dinner (Palmenhaus Restaurant)

4 Day 2 (Thursday May 12, 2016): Building Resilience in Water and Agriculture Sectors 9:00-10:30 Session 4. Building Resilience In River Basin Management This panel discussion will focus on building resilience in river basin management, notably tools and approaches to integrate the (new) challenges from climate variability and change into river basin management plans, to address disaster risk and competing water uses. The session will include experience sharing among Western Balkans countries and EU Member States followed, by plenary discussion to identify areas for further support. Climate change and the Drina River: From Science to Basin Management: Ms. Jasna Plavsic, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Institute for Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade (TBC) Building on the experience from the EU Member States: Bulgaria: Mr. Wilfried Hundertmark, Senior Irrigation Specialist, World Bank Experience from the Western Balkan countries: Mr. Igor Palandjic: Water sector Specialist, World Bank, BiH CO Albania: Integrated Water Resource management and Climate Change: Mr. Irfan Tarelli, Director General of Water and Land Administration, and Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration Bosnia and Herzegovina: Influence of climate change on water sector in BiH: Mr. Bosko Kenjic, Head of Water Unit, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations 10:30-10:45 Coffee break 10:45-12:15 Session 5. Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture: Insights from EU Member States, Western Balkans Countries, and Global Experience This panel discussion will focus on climate-smart agriculture, notably experiences in implementing climate-smart agriculture as well as in landscape approaches to build resilience. The session will include experience sharing among Western Balkans countries and EU Member States followed, by plenary discussion to identify areas for further support. Contributing to climate-smart agriculture in Europe: Marc Sandler, Adviser - Risk & Markets, Global Lead on Climate Smart Agriculture, World Bank Reuben Angelo Sessa Ph.D, FAO, Climate Change and Energy Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia Building on the experience from the EU Member States: Romania: Low carbon growth options and climate adaptation efforts in the agriculture sector: Mr. Hans Kordik, Senior Agriculture Specialist, World Bank

5 Experience from the Western Balkan countries: Macedonia: Reducing vulnerability of agriculture to climate change: Ms. Lidija Chadikovska: State Counselor for Climate Change, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning 12:15-12:45 Wrap-up and Next Steps Take-away from each Delegation, followed by next steps by World Bank 12:45 End of Workshop 12:45-2:00 Lunch