Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Azerbaijan’s INDC states: “In order to reduce vulnerability of Azerbaijan towards climate change impacts, it is considered to develop relevant adaptation measures for decreasing or minimizing the losses that may occur at national, local and community levels per sector” (MoENR 2015a). Georgia’s INDC, refers specifically to highland/ mountain regions within the context of extreme natural events aggravated by climate change. The document also identifies agriculture, coastal zones, tourism sector development, forestry and the health sector as at-risk areas. The document also identifies key actions and institutional measures for climate change adaptation in the abovementioned sectors (MoENR 2015b). Armenia’s INDC addresses the state of the landlocked mountainous areas that have vulnerable ecosystems, and considers climate change adaptation as a precondition for national security (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2015). In this context, the ecosystem approach to adaptation is seen as a tool for: a) harmonised and balanced development, b) coordinated implementation of international treaties and c) international cooperation. The INDC identifies the following sectors as being vulnerable to climate change: health, water resources, tourism, energy production, settlements, infrastructure, and agriculture (including fishery and forests). Currently, National Communications to the UNFCCC remain the sole and most comprehensive climate change policy documents for the three countries. However, they are not formally reflected in national legally binding documents and are therefore not taken into account by the private sector or well-known by the general public. Thus, the National Communications to the UNFCCC remain standalone documents used by non-governmental stakeholders when elaborating or implementing their actions, but which the authorities

at national, regional or municipal levels rarely consult in their activity planning. For example, although Georgian coastal zone municipalities frequently invest in infrastructure projects focused on addressing sea level rises and coastal zone protection from storms, none of these projects are referred to as adaptation projects within the framework of the National Communications envisaged to implement climate change adaptation activities. It is also noteworthy, that National Communications of all the South Caucasus countries refer to climate change in the mountain regions and even specifically cover a number of mountain regions of the South Caucasus ecoregion. For instance, the Third National Communication of Georgia, through its assessments, covers the five mountain municipalities of Georgia (Akhmeta, Mestia, Khulo, Keda and Shuakevi), the Armenian Communication covers the Vayots Dzor Marz (region), while the Azerbaijani Communication covers Shamakhi and Ismayilly districts (MoNP 2015; MoENR 2010; MoENRP 2015). If the National Communications were afforded legal approval within the countries, visibility of adaptation measures in general and specifically in mountain regions in national policy agendas would be greatly improved. However, such a shift in status would not replace the need for the countries to have formally adopted NAPs or strategies with a legally binding status. Of equal importance are the establishment enforcement mechanisms to implement action plans and strategies, including: awareness-raising at all levels, establishment of economic incentives for implementation, and the promotion of greater citizen involvement. Development strategies Almost none of the development strategies (such as sustainable development and/or poverty reduction

of the National Adaptation Plan. A draft of the NAP roadmap is currently under development. In addition, the Armenia government has adopted the following adaptation related regulations: • “Procedures of the forecasting, warning and response to dangerous meteorological phenomena related to atmospheric excessive pollution, climate change and ozone-layer condition” (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2008a), which initially had been focused only on adaptation but has since been broadened to include both adaptation and mitigation measures, and the • “Monitoring procedure” (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2009), which has a similar purpose. This procedure promotes state monitoring to define organic carbon content among 15 important indicators subject to soil and soil layer protection. Azerbaijan currently has no laws that specifically reflect climate change adaptation or recognise the need to develop NAP. However, a number of draft strategies and actions do refer to a need to develop NAPs, for example, there is a draft Action Plan on Improvement of the Ecological Situation and Efficient Use of Natural Resources in the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015–2020). Georgia committed itself to developing a NAPA when it signed its Association Agreement with the EU (EU 2014b). Moreover, the current government programme states that a NAP for Economic Sectors and Ecosystems will be elaborated (Government of Georgia 2015). Presently, all three countries have already submitted their INDCs, which reflect national commitments to addressing climate change adaptation (UNFCCC 2015).

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