Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

and the country has yet to evaluate howwell it tackled the identified priorities, including issues related to populations in mountain regions and natural disaster risk reduction mechanisms – for example, one of strategy’s goals was the “Development of a targeted system of privileges, discounts and allowances in the earthquake zone, near-border, mountainous and high mountainous regions and small communities” (p. 131). Implementation of this goal foresaw the replacement of a government- funded compensation scheme for damages caused by natural disasters by an insurance-based mechanism co-financed by the state, farmers and private insurance companies (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2003). Such an approach to risk reduction was considered innovative in 2003 when the strategy was developed. The environmental protection section of the strategy covers issues like forest and land degradation and water shortages, however there is no reference to climate change which exacerbates these issues. Azerbaijan The year 2012 saw the adoption of the Azerbaijan 2020 Development Concept: A Look into the Future (President of Azerbaijan 2012). It covered the main strategic goals of development policy in all areas of life in the country, and is to be achieved through state programmes. The concept states: “As a manifestation of the environmental balance on the planetary scale, climate change and global warming are related to processes that can cause natural disasters (rivers bursting their banks, flooding of entire villages and cities, precipitation much higher than the norm, avalanches, etc.). All these are factors that directly affect the economic and social life of the country and need to be taken into account in the process of preparing necessary policy measures. The experience of recent years shows that

strategies) of the South Caucasus countries have an all-inclusive and adequate appreciation of climate change. Furthermore, climate change tends to focus on mitigation rather than adaptation measures. Notwithstanding this, there is a clear recognition by the national governments in the region of the vulnerability of the population, economy and infrastructure to natural disasters or other extreme events caused by climate change. Armenia Armenia approved its Sustainable Development Strategy in 2008 (Government of the Republic of Armenia 2008b). The document underlines the vulnerability of water resources to climate change and recommends the creation of a programme to protect national water resources, regulate river flows and ensure availability and rational use of water to prevent possible conflict among water users and that the amount of water and water take regimes are adequate for recovery. About 80 per cent of Armenia is exposed to different degrees of land degradation and desertification. To address this, the Sustainable Development Strategy acknowledges anthropogenic and climate-induced impacts on land resources and calls for measures to prevent soil degradation and desertification processes. In addition, the strategy considers spatial development and planning as a tool for balanced national development, while managed urban development is seen as a mechanism for reducing the impact of geological hazards. The strategy also accords special status to mountain populations and stresses the need to provide support to economic activities in these regions. Nevertheless, the strategy is lacking full-scale linkages between climate change and overall sustainable development. The country’s comprehensive and detailed Poverty Reduction Strategy (2003) has 2015 as its endpoint. Most of the targets within the strategy are for 2015,

in order to effectively fight natural disasters and their consequences, the state should prioritise relevant activities in emergencies and the establishment of rapid reaction mechanisms for the social security of the population in such situations” (President of Azerbaijan 2012). Desertification processes and land degradation, however, are highlighted in the context of anthropogenic stress and contamination, while forest restoration is seen within the context of air pollution. It underlines that the country has limited water resources with the least amount of water per area per capita in the South Caucasus region. This issue is, however, not considered to be at threat from climate change, but rather at threat from intensive contamination of freshwater sources that emanate from neighbouring countries. Another of Azerbaijan’s development programmes is the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development, which emphasises the need to “reduce the negative impact of climate change on ecosystems and the economy”. In addition, the document states the following: “Under overall management of mountainous and coastal ecosystems, creation of manufacturing facilities that do not require intensive use of natural resources will be supported in the mountainous and coastal areas to improve the living standards and employment opportunities of the local people” (President of Azerbaijan 2008a). It also states that technical and financial assistance will be provided in order to improve the condition of mountain and coastal area ecosystems that have suffered substantial damage. Therefore, the statement links the social and economic growth of mountain populations with the protection of mountain ecosystems. Another important aspect, which is tackled by the programme, is protection of the agricultural sector from natural disasters through promotion

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