Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Areas covered under climate change adaptation can be summarised as follows: Azerbaijan and Georgia place greater emphasis on the increased frequency of natural disasters as a result of climate change, while Armenia focuses more on potential shortages of water resources; one Azerbaijani document addresses climate change impact both on mountain ecosystems and on the economy; and one Georgian strategy document indicates a need for adaptation in coastal zones. Though there are variations between the countries, natural disasters are a key aspect of almost all policy documents analysed and similarities can be found in the recognition of the distinctiveness of social protection measures for mountain populations by all three countries. Some other issues potentially linked with climate change adaptation are also common to all of the strategies, such as forest degradation, the need for sustainable land management; protection of the agricultural sector from risks of natural hazards and the reduction of risks from natural events in general; and the rational use of water resources, especially in the agricultural sector. Worth mentioning is that most of the development strategies address climate change through general declarations but very few of the strategies point to concrete adaptation actions. In addition, two of the development programme 21 that contain no references to climate change adaptation at all include actions which are in fact climate change related, but are not referred to in such a context.

References to climate change adaptation in development strategies (Only strategies in force are covered)

Ar

Climate change adaptation covered

Observed Georgia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Type of development document

Yes, explicitly water sectors

Yes, explicitly natural disasters

Yes, explicitly natural disasters

State development strategies

Temperature Extreme temperature (+) Precipitation Extreme precipitation Temperature Extreme temperature (+) Precipitation No, only natural disasters risk mitigation mechanism in agriculture Yes, explicitly economy and ecosystems No N/A Poverty reduction strategies A M A M Armenia Azerbaijan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes* No No N/A N/A - Adaptation in development strategies; A State development strategies Poverty reduction strategies

N/A

Observed climate Yes, coastal zone management

Regional development strategies

References to mountain regions and adaptation in development strategies (Only strategies in force are covered)

Ar

Georgia

Type of development document

A

M

Observed Yes*

Yes*

Yes*

N/A

N/A

Regional development strategies

Yes

Yes

M

- Mountain regions.

* Document considers mountain regions and adaptation to climate change in one context

Sources : Second National Communication Communication of Georgia, 2015; ENVSEC

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