Regional and Urban Policy Adaptation to climate change, risk prevention and management in the 2014-2020 Regional Policy Mathieu Fichter European Commission, DG Regio Team leader "sustainable growth" Unit G1 Competence Centre "Smart & Sustainable Growth"
Content 1. Overview on adaptation to climate change and risk prevention & management 2. How does adaptation and risk prevention fit in Regional policy? 3. Climate change adaptation and risk prevention & management in the 2014-2020 Regional policy
Overview on adaptation to climate change and risk prevention & management
EC policy framework on adaptation EU Adaptation Strategy (04/2013): Promoting action by Member States: The Commission encourages all Member States to adopt comprehensive adaptation strategies + provides funding to help them build up their adaptation capacities and take action. Climate-proofing' action at EU level by further promoting adaptation in key vulnerable sectors. Better informed decision-making by addressing gaps in knowledge about adaptation and further developing the European climate adaptation platform (Climate-ADAPT) as the 'one-stop shop' for adaptation information in Europe. General aim: Enhancing Europe s resilience to the impacts of climate change (MS, regions, down to local level)
Risk Assessment EU policy Council Conclusions on a Community Framework on Disaster Prevention within the EU, 30.11.2009 Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management, SEC(2010) 1626 final, 21.12.2010 MS to prepare/update National Risk Assessments and share these with the EC and other MS EC to develop an overview of risks the EU may face in the future based on NRAs, Council Conclusions, 11.4.2011 From voluntary to mandatory commitments set out in legislation: Civil Protection Mechanism (deadline end 2015) MS required to complete risk assessment at national or appropriate sub-national level Ex-ante conditionality for Cohesion Policy
Adaptation to CC & risk prevention Consequences of CC = temperature increase, changes in precipitation patterns, more frequent & severe natural disasters Lead to a variety of risks which call for adaptation responses Adaptation to CC is broader than only risk prevention and aims to enhance resilience of: Human and environmental systems (e.g. health, biodiversity, soil, water); Economic sectors and systems (e.g. infrastructures, agriculture, forestry) Adaptation more long-term perspective vs. short/medium-term for 'risk prevention'
Why adapt to climate change & prevent risks? Climate impacts & natural disasters = potential huge environmental and socio-economic costs & threats to 'development' Worrying disaster trend: 80 000 citizens killed in the last 10 years, cost for EU economy = 100 B! More frequent and intense disasters expected due to climate change, more assets at risk High return on investments into prevention!
How does adaptation and risk prevention fit in Regional policy?
Why within regional policy? Importance of local/regional authorities: deal with immediate consequences of disasters Investing in adaptation = preserving socio-economic development & capacities maintaining territorial cohesion: certain territories more at risk than others Preserve 'public goods' (infrastructures, ecosystems, health system ) Adaptation to CC & risk prevention = fits well with overall objective of Regional Policy!
Lessons learnt from 2007-13 Most MS/regions have difficulties to use 'risk prevention' funding of CP Problem of awareness among relevant stakeholders / authorities of availability of Cohesion Policy for 'risk prevention' Problem of capacities of responsible authorities to design/deliver such projects Lack of relevant strategies & plans at national/regional/city level Very large number of Interreg project & good practices on 'risk prevention'
Climate change adaptation and risk prevention & management in the 2014-2020 regional policy
inclusive sustainable smart Europe 2020 Thematic objectives 1. Research and innovation 2. Information and Communication Technologies 3. Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) 4. Shift to a low-carbon economy 5. Climate change adaptation and risk management and prevention 6. Environmental protection and resource efficiency 7. Sustainable transport and disposal of congestion on major network infrastructure 8. Employment and support for labour mobility 9. Social inclusion and poverty reduction 10. Education, skills and lifelong learning 11. Increased institutional capacity and effectiveness of public administration Regional and Urban Policy Main direct investments
TO 5 Promoting climate change adaption, risk prevention and management Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management by: a) supporting investment for adaptation to climate change, including ecosystem-based approaches; b) promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems; Regional and Urban Policy 13
Possible actions to be supported (I) Development of national/regional/local 'knowledge base' Scientific background studies & reports Monitoring systems ICT development (use of satellite data ) Development of strategies & action plans: Adaptation strategies
Possible actions to be supported (II) Ecosystem-based solutions: floodplains, wetland preservation, forest management Risk prevention & management plans at national, regional and local level Flood and coastal defence (dikes, reservoirs ) Preparedness tools (detection, early warning and alert systems, risk mapping and assessment) Support to highly specialised response units / civil protection modules
Possible actions to be supported (III) "Disaster proofing" infrastructure (transport, health ) Cross border natural risk prevention & management Macro-regional approaches to adaptation & risk preventions
Ex-ante conditionality The existence of national or regional risk assessments for disaster management, taking into account climate change adaptation A description of the process, methodology, methods and nonsensitive data used for national risk assessment as well as of the risk-based criteria for the prioritisation selection of investment operations; A description of single-risk and multi-risk scenarios; Taking into account, where appropriate, national climate change adaptation strategies
List of hazards included in National Risk Assessments Hazard Frequency of denomination Natural hazards Floods 16 Severe weather 14 Pandemics/epidemics 12 Livestock epidemics 10 Wild/Forest fires 9 Earthquakes 6 Droughts 5 Landslides 5 Space weather 4 Volcanic eruptions 3 Tsunamis 1 Harmful organisms 1 Man-made hazards Industrial accidents 15 Nuclear/radioactive accidents 10 Transport accidents 9 Cyber attacks 8 Terrorist attacks 8 Loss of critical infrastructure 6 Public disorder 4 Marine/coastal pollution 3 Water/food contamination 3 CBRN attacks 3 Refugees/unmanaged migration 2 Environmental pollution 1
Guides and resources Regional and Urban Policy
Regional and Urban Policy Guide to Multi-Benefit Cohesion Policy Investments in Nature and Green Infrastructure Helping authorities and stakeholders in the Member States and regions with practical support to enable an efficient and successful implementation of measures on nature and green infrastructure through Cohesion Policy http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sourc es/docgener/studies/pdf/guide_multi_ben efit_nature.pdf
Resources Thematic Guidance available including on TO5: (http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/guidelines/index_en.cfm) Technical Guidance on integrating climate change adaptation in programmes and investments of Cohesion Policy http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/adaptation/what/docs/swd_2013_135_en.pdf ESI funds: guidance to beneficiaries (Art. 13 CPR) under preparation and published by end of June 'Innovation' synergies guide being finalised: combining H2020, ERDF, COSME, EAFRD etc Regional and Urban Policy 21
http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/
Regional and Urban Policy Adaptation in Baltic Sea Region Transnational "Baltadapt project": recently delivered a Baltadapt' Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change in the Baltic Sea Region and an accompanying Action Plan Flagship Project under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 11 partners from 8 countries 2.86 M of which 2.1 M ERDF www.baltadapt.eu
Thank you! Regional and Urban Policy
25 For info or further questions, please contact: Massimo Marra JASPERS Networking Platform Officer ph: +352 4379 85007 mail: m.marra@eib.org www.jaspersnetwork.org jaspersnetwork@eib.org