Future Imperfect: Climate change and adaptation in the Carpathians

Conclusions and Recommendations

The Carpathian Convention is responding to the threats from climate change and the need to adapt through the “Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to Climate Change in the Carpathian Region” to be endorsed at the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Carpathian Convention (COP4) 23- 26 September 2014 in Mikulov. A Carpathian Convention Working Group on Climate Change has been established under the Convention with the mandate to advise the Parties and the Secre- tariat on policies, actions, research, data gathering and projects relevant for mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts in the region. The Working Group is re- sponsible for coordinating climate change adaptation policies and projects in the Carpathians with other rel- evant government and non-government organisations. The Carpathian Convention Working Group on Adapta- tion to Climate Change developed a Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to climate change in the Carpathian Region, the aim of which is to assist Member States of the Carpathian Convention, local and regional au- thorities and other stakeholders involved in manage- ment of the Carpathians to formulate responses to climate change as a way to secure the sustainable development in the region. The Agenda has been discussed at meetings and workshops with Country representatives and observers to the Carpathian Convention as well as other interested stakeholders. The Strategic Agenda includes recommendations for policy development, institutional change and ecosys- tem-based adaptation measures. By adopting the Stra- tegic Agenda, the Conference of the Parties (COP) calls upon Contracting Parties, local and regional authorities and other stakeholders involved in management and development of the Carpathian region to formulate pol-

icies and design strategies to adapt to climate change impacts and to mitigate its adverse effects.

The following main conclusions and recommendations, based on the outcomes of the projects described in this report, are further supported by the Strategic Agenda on Adaptation to Climate Change in the Carpathian region. 3 Strengthened knowledge and information shar- ing on climate change and adaptation in the Carpathians • Increase the awareness that climate change and natural disasters in mountain regions such as the Carpathians pose to sustainable development. Cli- mate change has severe socio-economic and en- vironmental impacts on human- wellbeing and on both mountain and downstream communities. • Continue to pool efforts to raise awareness for the issue at the level of decision-makers through inno- vative communication tools and events. • Strengthen monitoring activities (including development of monitoring systems with common methodology) and enhance data availability, accessibility and harmoniza- tion related to climate change and natural disasters. • Prepare a systematised, easily comparable dataset of climatological and climate impact related data between countries. • Develop modelling activities for future research in the region and/or adapt existing models and evalu- ate them based on the actual local conditions. • Map and assess Carpathian ecosystems goods and services. • Exchange information and experience with other mountain regions as well as neighbouring areas that are facing similar problems.

3. For further information and the full text of the Strategic Agenda, please visit www.carpathianconvention.org

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FUTURE IMPERFECT