- 1. EEA-Report:Regional climate change and adaptation The Alps
facing the challenges of changing water resourcesPerth mountains
conference, 26-30 September 2010Wolfgang Lexer (UBA Vienna)Torsten
Grothmann (PIK Potsdam), Andrea Prutsch (UBA Vienna),Inke Schauser
(UBA Dessau), Benno Hain (UBA Dessau), Sabine McCallum (UBA
Vienna), Diana Nenz (PIK Potsdam), Anne Holsten (PIK Potsdam), Marc
Zebisch (EURAC Bozen),Stphane Isoard (EEA Copenhagen)ProjectFunded
byMembers
2. State of knowledge Mountains are one of the most vulnerable
regions to climatechange in Europe (EEA 2008, IPCC 2007). The Alps
as the water towers of Europe play a fundamentalrole for large
parts of Europe. In the Alps, water resource problems (quantity and
quality) inthe past appeared in particular regions and at
particular timesof the year. Climate change will impact water
availability:effects on ecosystem services and,effects on almost
all socio-economical sectors. In the future, climate change could
increase water resourceproblems in specific regions in the Alps and
throughout Europe(growing demand vs. decreasing water
availability). 3. AimsGain some insights on the vulnerability of
the Alps with regard tothe impacts of global change on water
availability and specificwater-sensitive regions. Natural hazards
are beyond the scope of the study!Analyse adaptation activities to
water resource problems whichhave already been carried out in
sensitive regions.Assess possible needs, constraints and
opportunities foradaptation.Provide support to regional and local
administrations in makinginformed decisions.Raise awareness and
expand the knowledge base. 4. Structure of the studyMethods1.
Setting the sceneLiterature review & Climate change in the Alps
Climate scenarios Alps as Water Towers Data collection & review
Sectoral perspectiveInterviews with local & regional2. Regional
perspectivestakeholders 6 Case Studies for 4 climatic zones2-day
workshop Questionnaire measuring the importance of certain3.
Experiences aspects as Adaptation to climate change in
water-barriers/triggerssensitive regions of the Alps Transboundary
cooperation on water Literature review &scarcityexperiences
from case studies Other mountain regions in Europe 5. Sectoral
perspective Sektors experiencing water resource pressures 6.
Regional perspective Case studies 7. Key themes in case study
regions Which water resource problems are existingHow are sectors
in water-sensitive regions in water-sensitive regions in the Alps?
influenced by changing water availability? How does the water
supply from the Alps affect Europe?Which adaptation activities to
water resourceproblems are already carried out?What are the needs,
constraints and Which triggers, barriers and drivers
ofopportunities for past and future adaptation? adaptation can be
identified? Can other mountain regions profit from experiences in
the Alps? Federal Environment Agency, GermanyEuropean Environment
Agency 8. Experiences from regional Case studies 1 Case studies are
not meant to be representative for the Alps but were carried out to
illustrate key issues! Adaptation to water resource problems are
driven by concrete effects and socio-economic impacts rather than
climate change prediction. Measures are often triggered by: Extreme
events causing drastic water scarcity Economic reasons Political
will Local traditions and rules Adaptation has followed mainly a
technological approach. 9. Experiences from regional Case studies 2
- Adaptation processes highly depend on the people involved and on
institutional and organisational factors. Coordination of water
resources is organized largely at local level. Cross-sectoral
coordination seems to work well at local level but is often lacking
at regional level. Maladaptation is happening. Often knowledge is
missing (e.g. monitoring, withdrawals). 10. Important factors for
adaptation to climate changeAwareness &Political
factorsinformation/Education & skills Institutional
andorganisational factorsAdaptation to climate changeand water
resource problems Legal factorsEconomic factors Social &
cultural factorsTechnological factors Equity 11. Dynamic Motivated
and skilledindividuals adaptation processAdaptation management
/Awareness /governanceStakeholder dialogue / cooperationRisk
perceptionDissemination of knowledge on climate change and good
adaptation practices Triggers and influential factors of adaptation
processExperience of problemsKnowledge productionAvailability
andLegal context:Economic context: in the past (e.g. water on
climate changeaccess to legal instruments availability of
economicshortages, droughts) impacts and technological and
responsibilities / resources and financial adaptation
strategiesadaptation optionscompetenciesinstruments (e.g. win-win
and low (e.g. drop irrigation)(e.g. water framework(e.g. water
prices) regret options,directive)stepwise precautionaryapproach)
12. Conclusions for vulnerability &adaptation assessments
Highlight social, political, institutional and management factors
as important determinants of adaptive capacity and vulnerability
Identify region specific adaptation barriers and drivers by
applying participatory assessments (e.g. half-standardized self-
assessment tools) Evaluate assessment results to be included as
indicators for adaptive capacity Arrange for periodic monitoring to
detect potential new barriers and drivers during the adaptation
process 13. Recommendations for adaptation tofuture climate change
in water-sensitive regions ofthe European Alps Tailor response
measures to specific regional conditions andmost affected sectors,
taking general political and socio-economic realities into account
Keep adaptation processes adaptive, based on continuousmonitoring
and learning to ensure flexibility for adjustments Apply
precautionary principle in response to knowledge deficits Implement
adaptation actions step by step, beginning withwin-win or no-regret
options 14. EEA-Report (2009):Regional climate change and
adaptation:The Alps facing the challengeof changing water
resourcesLink:
www.eea.europa.eu/publications/alps-climate-change-and-adaptation-2009Project
consortium (ETC-ACC): UBA Dessau (Germany), UBA Vienna (Austria),
PIK Potsdam (Germany), EURAC Bolzano (Italy)Partner: Permanent
Secretariat of the Alpine ConventionContributing authors: EPA
Slovenia, ZAMG (Austria), Ministero dell`Ambiente e della Tutela
del Territori e del Mare (Italy), University of Geneva and WSL
(Switzerland), Institut de la Montagne (France), Secretariat of the
Carpathian Convention UNEP (Austria). Federal Environment Agency,
GermanyEuropean Environment Agency 15. Thank you!Project Funded
byMembers