SUBMISSION BY THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES

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1 SUBMISSION BY THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES Tallinn, 13/10/2017 Subject: Information on progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans, experiences, best practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs, and support provided and received in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans Summary of key points The process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans is paramount to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and increasing resilience against climate risks. Suitable adaptation measures result from the specific predicted impacts of climate change, differ from region to region and require an individual approach. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is a challenge to all. I. Introduction The European Union and its Member States (EU) welcome the extended invitation to submit views and information on progress made towards the achievement of the objectives of the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans, experiences, best practices, lessons learned, gaps and needs, and support provided and received in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans. We welcome that submissions from Parties as well as organization will serve, as appropriate, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to assess progress made in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans at its forty-eight session (April-May 2018). Page 1

2 The EU and its Member States emphasize the importance of the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, by building adaptive capacity and increasing resilience against climate risks. We also emphasize that the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans facilitates the integration of climate change adaptation, in a coherent manner, into relevant new and existing policies, programmes and activities, in particular development planning processes and strategies, within all relevant sectors and at different levels, as appropriate. II. Adaptation planning processes EU s support for the developing countries NAP processes: The EU and its Member States (MS) note with satisfaction that since Cancun we all have come a long way. The initial guidelines, the technical guidelines prepared by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) and various supplementary materials have been prepared by multilateral and bilateral organizations. Fruitful NAP Expos took place, also regional NAP Expos and numerous training workshops have been organized by the LEG and by the NAP Global Support Programme, NAP Global Network and other multilateral and bilateral organizations. The EU and its MS recognise the importance of nationally coordinated NAP processes in all countries' efforts to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, in developing countries. In this respect, the EU and its MS contribute, and will continue to contribute to the support of NAP processes in developing countries, both at design and implementation stages, through a variety of channels and instruments. The EU and its MS and regions are main contributors to global climate adaptationrelated funds and support programmes, such as: the Adaptation Fund (AF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Climate Change Action (GCCA+) as well as a large range of global programmes and organisations supporting NAP processes from a more sectoral and technical angle. More important however, is the support provided through the bilateral cooperation for development to both adaptation planning and implementation at national, sectoral and local levels.the support comprises policy dialogue and partnership, financial support and technical cooperation/capacity building. Sometimes this bilateral support is delivered as dedicated programmes to build resilience and enhance adaptation, but more often it is integrated into sectoral programmes or local efforts supporting climate smart agriculture, water resources and coastal zone management, urban development, social safety nets, etc. The EU would like to emphasise that contributions of the EU and its MS to the NAP process in developing countries are delivered in a way that ensures that the NAP process as such remains owned by the partner countries, both at design and implementation level. Page 2

3 Adaptation planning processes in the EU and its MS: o o o o Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is a challenge to all, including the EU. The EU and its MS reiterate that all Parties should strengthen their cooperation on enhancing adaptation actions, including with regard to sharing information, good practices, experiences as well as learning from each other including as appropriate, as these relate to science, planning, polices and implementation in relation to adaptation actions as per Art. 7(7)(a) of the Paris Agreement. Relative to this the EU and its MS provide an overview of examples of adaptation planning in the EU, for information, in the Annex. Adaptation planning and the implementation of actions is paramount to the EU as the EU continues to be impacted by the adverse effects of climate change. All Member States are engaged in adaptation planning and the implementation of actions: 25 Member States have already adopted an Adaptation Strategy to date, with the remaining three in the process of finalising their strategies. The EU and its MS are at different stages in their adaptation planning process. The EU and its MS reiterate that adaptation action should be country-driven, gender responsive, participatory and take into consideration vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, while being guided by the best available science. The EU MS intend to communicate their information related to national adaptation plan processes to the UNFCCC, for instance through their upcoming seventh national communications. III. Conclusion The process to formulate and implement adaptation plans involves a wide range of activities over time. The process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans should contribute to enhancing adaptive capacities in a comprehensive manner and be in line with the countries overall development goals. Page 3

4 Annex Adaptation planning processes in the EU and its MS The EU has prepared an EU-wide framework for adaptation, focusing on actions and sectors for becoming more climate-resilient. The 2013 EU strategy on adaptation to climate change 1 aims to prepare the EU for current and future impacts of climate change. It promotes adaptation action throughout the EU, including action at national, regional and local level, ensuring that adaptation is mainstreamed across all relevant EU policies and securing greater coordination, coherence and information sharing across Member States. It promotes and guides adaptation planning in the Member States and promotes that relevant EU funding is channelled towards adaptation efforts. The EU Adaptation Strategy defines the EU s role as supporting the public and private sector at the national, regional and local levels by providing comprehensive information on adaptation. a) Adaptation planning process in the EU Element: A Laying the groundwork and addressing gaps The EU Member States are at different stages in their adaptation planning processes. Some examples include: The EU Adaptation Strategy, adopted in 2013, built on the White Paper "Adapting to climate change: Towards an European framework for action". The 2009 White Paper on adaptation included 33 actions. Most actions have then been implemented. Further efforts were needed to address knowledge gaps and on mainstreaming, where adaptation needs to be reinforced into key EU policies. The 2013 EU Adaptation Strategy set out a framework and mechanism for enhancing EU's preparedness to current and future climate impacts. Austria has launched the process in 2007 and has made considerable progress on national adaptation planning since. It has formulated and issued policies and mandates for the process, assessed gaps and needs, defined institutional arrangements and governance structures, synthesized available information on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and taken stock of relevant activities, developed and completed a roadmap for the process, engaged and consulted various stakeholders, as well as characterized the development context and identified adaptation development themes and adaptation measures. In Belgium, impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments have been funded and piloted at regional and federal level. These preliminary studies were the first step before starting the development of regional and federal adaptation plans. Besides these trans-sectoral studies, several specific impact assessments have been also funded by Belgium in different sectors (coastal zones, forestry, agriculture, etc.). Croatia has launched the process, formulated policies and mandates for the process. A Committee for inter-sectoral coordination for policies and measures for mitigation and adaptation to climate change that brings together national authorities, academia, 1 Page 4

5 business, industry and non-governmental organisations has been established with a task to monitor and evaluate implementation and planning of policies and measures for mitigation and adaptation to climate change, to provide opinions on planning and strategic documents, etc. Climate modelling, impact and vulnerability assessment, and an assessment of possible measures as a basis for development of NAS and NAP have been carried out. The Czech Republic approved its National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) in 2015, which was based on the Comprehensive Study on Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Climate Risk Related to Climate Change in the Czech Republic. In 2017 the National Action Plan on Adaptation to Climate Change (NAP) was approved, which is implementing the NAS and is structured according to identified climate change impacts in the Czech Republic, especially long term droughts, floods and flash floods, extreme meteorological events and wild fires. Estonia has already completed the NAS compilation process - conducted large-scale stakeholders consultations between different levels; identified the domains that are most vulnerable to climate change and specified actions that improve Estonia's readiness and covered climate change risks and vulnerability assessment; identified sectoral impacts of climate change and measures for adaptation to climate change in the short-term perspective (up to 2030) as well as in the long-term perspective (up to 2050 and 2100). Finland was one of the first countries in the world to adopt a National Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change in The current national adaptation policy framework is described in the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2022 adopted in Its aim is that the Finnish society has the capacity to manage the risks associated with climate change and adapt to changes in the climate. In Germany, adaptation to climate change is a permanent task established along an agreed and politically adopted institutional and methodological framework. In Germany, all major resolutions with regard to the adaptation process are enforced by cabinet decision. The Federal Government decided to update its national adaptation plans periodically and set up a corresponding reporting cycle: Monitoring Report on the impacts of climate change and the progress on adaptation to climate change every 4 years, Vulnerability Assessment every 6 years, Adaptation Actions Plans as well as the Progress Reports every 4 years. Furthermore, it was decided to evaluate the adaptation process in Germany on a regular basis. The first Evaluation Report is scheduled for Greece has already a NAS in place and has launched the NAP process. Considering Greece s complex topography and variety of climates, the NAP will comprise 13 Regional Adaptation Plans (RAPs). The Law 4414/2016 institutionalised RAPs and a Ministerial Decision set common technical specifications to ensure homogeneity and meeting quality standards. In addition, Greece is setting up a National Climate Change Adaptation Committee (NCCAC) to coordinate the national climate change adaptation policy and define necessary legislative and other arrangements. The NCCAC is composed of the representatives of the main ministries and stakeholders involved in climate change adaptation and will be chaired by the Minister of Environment & Energy. Regional and local government is also represented, as well as the citizens through an NGO. Page 5

6 Hungary has launched the NAP process. It has formulated policies and mandates for the process, assessed gaps and needs, defined institutional arrangements and governance structures, synthesized available information and taken stock of relevant activities, developed and completed a roadmap for the process, as well as engaged and consulted various stakeholders. Italy is in the process of finalising its National Adaptation Plan, which is implementing the National Adaptation Strategy for Adaptation, approved in The Polish National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change by 2020 with the perspective by 2030 (NAS 2020) was adopted by the Polish government in October Its main goal is to ensure sustainable development of Poland in the conditions of changing climate. It links directly to the EU Adaptation Strategy. The NAS 2020 sets out strategic goals for adaptation action in several sectors considered to be particularly vulnerable to climate change in Poland, namely: water management, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and protected areas, health, energy, building industry, transport, mountain areas, coastal zone, spatial development and developed urban areas. It includes legislative, organisational and information actions as well as research programmes. The NAS 2020,provides the high level framework that is referred to when planning adaptation action at national, regional and local level. Further efforts are needed to address the transboundary components. Portugal established a NAS in 2010, with a governance structure, where several sectoral public bodies, along with municipalities and autonomous regions have engaged stakeholders to develop climate change impacts, vulnerability and risk assessments, defined adaptation options, financing instruments and identified knowledge gaps. The NAS was updated and revised in 2015, and Portugal is currently preparing a National Adaptation Plan for the period The Romanian Government has adopted the National Climate Change Strategy and growth economy based on low carbon and Climate Change National Action Plan for , approved by G.D. no. 739/2016. The main objective of the Strategy is to mobilize and enable private and public actors to adapt to climate change impacts, both current and future impacts. Climate change adaptation policies and measures set out in this strategy require an integrated approach to ensure effective and efficient implementation of measures in a given sector. The Adaptation Strategy of the Slovak Republic on Adverse Impacts of Climate Change was adopted by the Slovak government in 2014 (Resolution No 148/2014). The strategy defines the objectives and principles of adaptation, provides an overview of climate change impacts on natural systems, human health, urban environment, agriculture, forestry, transportation, energy, industry and tourism, proposes various adaptation measures for the selected areas and sectors, and creates a framework for adaptation processes. The purpose of the strategy is to draw attention to the fact that climate change is an urgent issue that requires an integrated and comprehensive approach. The Spanish National Adaptation Plan, adopted in 2006, has been conceived as a continuous process of knowledge generation and strengthening of the capacities needed for its application. It aims at becoming a useful tool for the policy makers on the key topics related to the adaptation to climate change. Sweden has already initiated and launched the process. It carried out a risk and vulnerability assessment in 2007 (partly updated in 2015). Adaptation planning Page 6

7 processes have been developed at the national, regional and local level. Stakeholder consultations have been carried out and knowledge gaps have been identified and addressed, and stock has been taken of relevant activities. The Netherlands was in 2007 one of the first countries with a National Adaptation Strategy. In 2016 the Netherlands finalized a new (second) National Adaptation Strategy. This NAS introduces various new initiatives and will accelerate the progress of ongoing initiatives. It encompasses the national Delta Programme in which all authorities work together on adaptation to sea level rise, more intensive rainfall, increased peak discharges of rivers, droughts and heat. The NAS forms the precursor to a Climate Adaptation Implementation Programme. The UK has already made considerable progress since the first National Adaptation Programme in July The new Climate Change Risk Assessment, drawing primarily on the independent evidence report was published in July 2016 by the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, will be followed by the National Adaptation Programme to be published in b) Adaptation planning process in the EU Element B: Preparatory elements Also on Element B: Preparatory elements, EU MS are at different stages in their national adaptation planning processes. Some countries, like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK, have already analysed past climate and climate change scenarios, and conducted basic up to comprehensive vulnerability assessments. These countries are now engaged in the identification of adaptation options to address the key vulnerabilities identified in the previous steps. The objective for many of these countries is to appraise, prioritise and rank adaptation options. Some MS as for example Germany are in the process of implementing measures and instruments on adaptation derived on the outcome of vulnerability assessments and the identified adaptation needs. c) Adaptation planning process in the EU Element C: Implementation strategies The EU Member States are at different stages in designing a coherent implementation strategy. Some examples include: In Austria, the Austrian national adaptation strategy (NAS) and the Austrian Action Plan (NAP) was adopted in The NAS consists of a Strategic Framework, with the aim to create a national framework to ensure coordination and harmonisation of the various climate change adaptation activities in all areas and an Action Plan, presenting a catalogue of 136 adaptation options for 14 areas for action. In August 2017, a revised version of the NAS and NAP was adopted by the Austrian Council of Ministers. Belgium has made significant progress in the field of adaptation since the adoption in 2010 of its National Adaptation Strategy. The three regions and the federal government have all adopted their own adaptation plan in their area of competences. Furthermore, a National Adaptation Plan has been adopted in April 2017 which Page 7

8 identifies specific adaptation measures that need to be taken at national level in order to strengthen cooperation and develop synergies between the different entities on adaptation. Implementation is ongoing. Croatia is currently in the process of developing the National Adaptation Strategy and National Adaptation Plan. The Czech Republic s National Action Plan on Adaptation to Climate Change was developed on the basis of the Adaptation Strategy (adopted 2015) and approved in Estonia s NAS (national adaptation strategy named The Development Plan for Climate Change Adaptation until 2030 ) is supported by the measures for adaptation to the impact of climate change, which are provided in the respective Action Plan (adopted by the Government on 2th March 2017). The Action Plan to implement the adaptation strategy was developed in parallel with the NAS itself. In Finland, the National adaptation policy is coordinated by the Monitoring Group on Climate Change Adaptation chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It is broadly-based, with representatives from the relevant ministries and other authorities, regional and local actors, research institutes, expert organisation in fire and rescue services, and financial services. It monitors and promotes the implementation of the adaptation plan together with a broad network of stakeholders. The German Strategy for Adaptation Deutsche Anpassungsstrategie (DAS) was adopted in 2008 and complemented with the Action Plan I (APA) in The DAS provides information on expectable climate impacts and risks as well as options for adaptation actions for various action fields (e.g. building industry, soil, agriculture, forestry, tourism and human health). In 2015, the Federal Government of Germany adopted the Initial Progress Report on the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (DAS). The progress report represents an update of the strategy and includes an Action Plan II outlining future measures and activities. Greece adopted its national adaptation strategy in 2006, and has already started developing the 13 Regional Adaptation Plans comprised in the NAP. Hungary will implement and manage adaptation actions after adopting the National Adaptation Strategy. Italy s National Adaptation Plan is currently undergoing a public consultation process in view of a final revision of the plan. In Poland the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for coordination and implementation of the National Adaptation Strategy. There is a Working Group on adaptation for the regional actors. Regional Action Plans are being developed within the project called Development of Urban Adaptation Plans for cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Poland. The main objective is to evaluate the sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change for each of the 44 partner cities and to plan adaptation measures, adequate to the identified risks. Portugal adopted a revised NAS in 2015 and is currently preparing a NAP. Also, substantial efforts were done to foster the development of Local Adaptation Strategies and Plans. This option was supported by the fact that climate change impacts and vulnerabilities vary significantly within the national territory, which leads to the necessity of local specific adaptation options and actions. The Spanish National Adaptation Plan is implemented through work programmes (WPs), which identify, define and refine the priority activities to be implemented under Page 8

9 its framework. WPs have become more complex and elaborated over the years, enlarging the number of sectors addressed, the governance and the involvement of stakeholders, showing a growing commitment to reinforcing coordination with all levels of administration. Romania intends to establish a working group involving all resort ministries to implement the Climate Change National Action Plan for Sweden is compiling a NAP for consultation and endorsement. There are already regional and sectoral action plans in place. These are currently being implemented. In the Netherlands, the NAS forms the precursor to a Climate Adaptation Implementation Programme, which will build upon ongoing activities. Where necessary, the implementation programme will fast-track the existing initiatives by providing additional manpower and resources. The EU MS intend to communicate their national adaptation plan processes to the UNFCCC, for instance through their upcoming seventh national communications. d) Adaptation planning process in the EU Element D: Reporting, monitoring and review Several Member States made substantial progress in developing indicators and monitoring methodologies as of Greece and Hungary are working towards developing a monitoring and evaluation framework or system as part of the NAP process. Notably, one of the main objectives of the EU adaptation strategy is to encourage all EU MS to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies. To date, 25 Member States have adopted a national adaptation strategy as opposed to 15 in 2013, with the remaining three being in the process to develop one. As part of the European Commission s evaluation process to be completed in 2018, the general progress on adaptation action in the Member States will also be assessed. Austria, Italy, Spain and Sweden plan to iteratively update their NAS and/or NAP. In Belgium, monitoring is foreseen in the national, federal and regional adaptation plans. Flanders has already published in 2015 a first progress report For the national adaptation plan (as well as for the federal contribution to the National Adaptation Plan), mid-term evaluation is foreseen in 2018 and final evaluation will take place in The Czech Republic will evaluate and revise its NAS by 2020 and further evaluations and revisions will be prepared once per 10 years. The NAP will be evaluated in 2019 and further evaluations will be prepared every four or five years. Estonia is going to prepare annual reports on the implementation of the NAS ( The Development Plan for Climate Change Adaptation until 2030 ). The Action Plan was recently adopted by the Government (on 2th March 2017). As of 2018, the Estonian Ministry of Environment, which is responsible for the implementation of the NAS, will present annually an overview about the execution of the NAS and the achievement of its objectives to the Government of the Republic, making also the proposals about amending or changing the NAS, if necessary. Page 9

10 In Finland, the monitoring of the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2022 has been developed together with various stakeholders. The monitoring and evaluation of adaptation to climate change has been promoted in 2015 to 2017 by building a national adaptation monitoring framework and its indicators in cross-sectoral work. In particular, climate change related risks to the society and its various functions are emphasized. Indicators include, e.g. risks to human health and adaptation measures executed in flood risk areas. Assembling of the indicators was completed and released in May In Germany, regular evaluations of the whole national adaptation process are scheduled for the future. A methodology is currently being developed to examine the adaptation process at the strategic and operational levels. One aspect of the evaluation is to examine the DAS process itself. The focal points of this process evaluation are the development of the adaptation process, the co-operation among various players and the process of participation. Another focus is the examination of the state of implementation of the measures to be taken as set out in the Action Plans for DAS. At the strategic level, the task is to check whether the ongoing remit of adaptation has been embedded successfully in theme-specific policies, themespecific legislation and federal states legislation. In Greece, the NAS and NAP (i.e. regional adaptation plans) would be subject to evaluation and revision at least once every ten years and at least once every seven years respectively. Νevertheless, the National Climate Change Adaptation Committee will regularly monitor and evaluate the national climate adaptation policy and suggest necessary political, legislative or other measures and arrangements. In 2017 Hungary s Climate Change Strategy was reviewed and the Hungarian Government accepted the Second National Climate Change Strategy, which contains a National Adaptation Strategy. The strategy is waiting for approval by the Hungarian Parliament. Every two years, the government of the Republic of Lithuania prepares a report on the implementation of the country s adaptation strategy. Also, the outcomes of Lithuania s monitoring, reporting and evaluation scheme will feed into further development of the action plan and the update of the strategy. Portugal published a progress report in 2013 where the first NAS was evaluated. The revised NAS of 2015 foresees the development of proper reporting mechanisms in order to assure compliance with all EU and international obligations. Additionally, the revised NAS foresees the publication of two interim reports during the timeframe Romania considers that the strategy will require robust cross-sectoral coordination between government departments to ensure climate change integration and sectoral policies in their line ministries. Romania will implement the appropriate monitoring system for the current climate change strategy. This monitoring system must make it possible to properly assess the implementation of sectoral strategic climate change adaptation targets. Slovakia is currently updating the national adaptation strategy. The update of the strategy based on the latest available science will be adopted and published in The Netherlands and the relevant knowledge institutes will design a system which enables central government, regional and local authorities, water management Page 10

11 authorities and other stakeholders to monitor the progress of the Climate Adaptation Implementation Programme and their own contribution. The UK published an updated Climate Change Risk Assessment in January 2017, based primarily on the 2016 independent evidence report by the Adaptation Sub- Committee of the Committee on Climate Change. This will be followed by an updated National Adaptation Programme, to be published in e) Adaptation planning process in the EU Cross-cutting issues This section presents some examples as to how the EU and its MS have engaged key stakeholders in the process of formulating and implementing national adaptation plans: In the formulation process, more than 100 organisations were involved in the course of a participation process in Austria for preparing the NAS and NAP. The MRE scheme was also developed based on stakeholder engagement and input (by means of interviews, a survey and workshops). Workshops were held to inform stakeholders about the latest development. In Belgium, the adaptation plans have been subject to public consultations allowing all stakeholders and individual citizens to contribute. Some intersectoral and intrasectoral focus groups have also been set up at regional and federal levels. A think tank consisting of academics and other experts on adaptation to climate change is subsidised by the Flemish government from to jointly and crossdisciplinary develop and spread knowledge on adaptation. The development of multilevel governance and the support to local authorities to develop adaptation plans is assisted by the regional government. In Croatia, the responsibility for the climate change policy is within the competence of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, which is responsible for the development and implementation of the NAS and NAP. Within the process of developing the NAS and NAP a series of ten workshops for experts from ten different sectors and seven workshops for civil servants at national and local level and the public concerned were organized. The goal was to educate experts, but also to actively engage the stakeholders in this process. Draft documents will also be put to public consultations. Finland has a dialogue with important stakeholders in society, such as businesses, associations and scientists. The National adaptation policy is coordinated by the Monitoring Group on Climate Change Adaptation chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. It is broadly-based, with representatives from the relevant ministries and other authorities, regional and local actors, research institutes, expert organisation in fire and rescue services, and financial services. It monitors and promotes the implementation of the adaptation plan together with a broad network of different stakeholders. Germany also sought dialogue with other important stakeholders in society, such as businesses, associations and scientists. To launch the dialogue on the adaptation strategy, the Federal Government organised a conference entitled Ways to Adaptation in May The aim of the conference was to set in motion, jointly with the Länder and other stakeholders, the process of giving concrete shape to the Page 11

12 German Adaptation Strategy. The Federal Government holds stakeholder dialogues, expert discussions and specialist conferences as a follow up, by introducing the topic of adaptation to climate change into existing dialogue, participation and consultation bodies. In Greece, the NAS was subject to an online public consultation allowing all stakeholders and individual citizens to contribute. Greece has also integrated stakeholder engagement within the technical specifications for the development of the regional adaptation plans (i.e. regional plans compose the NAP). The main regional stakeholders (public authorities, scientific community, business and industry, civil society etc.) will be invited to assess the impacts of climate change on their own activities and to identify measures they could take to contribute to the adaptation of their region. In addition, public consultation will take place as part of the strategic environmental assessment process for regional plans. The National Climate Change Adaptation Committee is an essential instrument of stakeholder engagement as well. Hungary runs administrative consultation and broad consultation of the public organised by the Ministry of National Development. Italy conducted two public online stakeholder consultations: the first one in the preparatory phase of the NAP, the second one on the complete draft version of the plan, which is currently under way until mid-october. In Poland, preparation of the KLIMADA project and NAS was based on the civil society and the scientific community knowledge and participation. The implementation phase is based on different stakeholders, private sector and community involvement. The participation of stakeholders and city dwellers in MPA development will facilitate implementation of activities stipulated in MPA in the future (approval of the suggested options to adapt to climate changes). At each project stage, the documents will be consulted with the appropriate urban team and stakeholders. Portugal addressed cross-cutting issues under the framework of its revised NAS by creating six thematic areas where the sectoral working groups give their own contributions. These working groups are coordinated by its sectoral relevant public body that, in turn, is responsible to engage its stakeholders during the implementation of the NAS. Also, the framework of the revised NAS has a scientific expert group to bridge the gap between policy practitioners and academia. In Spain, the Coordination Commission of Climate Change Policies is the national coordination body for climate change and adaptation. It represents all key Spanish Ministries and all regional Governments. The Impacts and Adaptation Working Group (GTIA) is a technical working group where coordination and integration of adaptation strategies and activities are pursued, and the activities to implement the NAP are decided. In Sweden, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy has the overall responsibility for coordinating the government's climate work at the national level, both emission reduction and adaptation to climate change. In addition, national sectoral authorities work on adaptation within their respective sectoral responsibilities. Specific adaptation planning and action is taking place at the local and regional administrative level. Slovakia has created a set of criteria for identifying stakeholders. The institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms to engage them consist of a working Page 12

13 group on adaptation, members from other ministries and from their expert organizations, academia, NGOs and other relevant subjects are involved. A highlevel commission on climate change policy composed of nominated state secretaries can deal with adaptation related issues, if needed. In the Netherlands, the NAS is the result of a participative process involving public sector authorities at regional and local level, water management authorities, knowledge institutes, private sector companies and societal organizations. Important input was derived from three workshop sessions. A review group comprising representatives of the relevant ministries, knowledge institutes and societal organizations was appointed to monitor progress and create the necessary grassroots support for the NAS. Adaptation action should be country-driven, gender responsive, participatory and take into consideration vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, while being guided by the best available science. Some examples on how these principles have been implemented within the EU: The EU adaptation strategy benefited from a wide-ranging consultation and a broad spectrum of scientific and policy expertise, with both inputs from stakeholder and research results included in the impact assessment report of the strategy. The preparation included the following steps: o Consultation with the Adaptation Steering Group (ASG): This group was created to support the European Commission in developing its approach to adaptation. The ASG consists of representatives from EU MS and a wide range of stakeholders, including business organisations and NGOs. The Group met seven times. o Ad hoc online public consultation which ran for three months. The Commission received a total of 175 replies from a broad range of stakeholders, including Member States, business organisations, environmental NGOs and citizens. o Thematic seminars: Various events to consult MS and key stakeholder groups on specific dimensions of the Adaptation Strategy (e.g. standards, forestry). One chapter of Austria s NAS focuses on social aspects and vulnerable groups. NAS and NAP highlight ecosystems within a dedicated chapter. Vulnerable groups are explicitly mentioned as priority in the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change: vulnerable population groups (e.g. children and elderly people, patients suffering from several diseases simultaneously). Also, a standardised approach to vulnerability assessments is covering a broad range of sectors and topics (e.g. water sector, agriculture, fisheries, different ecosystems). As a consequence, the standardised methodology developed to assess Germany s vulnerability to climate change includes the extent to which a non-climate system (e.g. population groups) reacts to specific present or future climate signals. Greece s NAS includes a chapter dedicated to biodiversity & ecosystems and foresees measures to protect vulnerable groups (as part of the heath-related measures). The regional adaptation plans (i.e. NAP) will evaluate the impacts of Page 13

14 climate change on ecosystems and on population and will take into account social considerations in evaluating and prioritising adaptation actions. Hungary conducts an evaluation of climate effects on human health and on building stock. On ecosystems, the expected effects of climate change on Hungarian national resources include effects on waters, soils, biodiversity, forests, tourism and agriculture. Outcomes of Polish NAS and Urban Adaptation Plans project and its outcomes will be accessible to all without restriction on any grounds. Outcomes will result in meaningful improvements and resilience to climate change impacts for most important essential services such as water sources, energy infrastructure, health and well-being of the citizens. A specific action plan for ecosystems has been developed by the national authority responsible in Sweden. As part of the NAP process Slovakia is conducting awareness raising for vulnerable groups and communities. It also is supporting urban adaptation; ecosystem based adaptation approaches, as well as green and blue measures. Page 14