Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the South Caucasus Mountains

Major barriers to planning and implementation of adaptation measures

Municipal level

The following major barriers to planning and implementation of adaptation measures, are described below:

them to effectively plan and implement coordinated climate change adaptation actions. Moreover, to develop sufficient national scenarios and forecasts, the countries of the region have to be able to utilise and exchange monitoring/observation data with neighbouring countries. This is due to the fact that national climate monitoring/observation networks cannot always provide sufficient data especially for bordering areas.

At the municipal level problems are similar, however, there are some specific barriers as well, such as a lack of relevant knowledge and guidance, a significant lack of financial and human resources, and also the fact that the current system of decentralization and the statutory functions limitations of local authorities do not provide room for independent decision-making on the issue.

National level

• Despite positive developments in the recent decade, systematic national climate monitoring networks are still insufficiently developed; • Lack of historical and observational data to monitor the climate change sensitivity/ vulnerability of different sectors and ecosystems on the basis of unified and recognised system of indicators; as well as insufficient and/or publicly unavailable spatial data; • Lack of unified and publicly available methodologies for elaboration of climate change related assessments; • Fragmented and unsystematised nature of studies and assessments at national levels, and as result a lack of comprehensive regional assessments; • Lack of a coordinated approach for the elaboration of climate change related policy documents especially at the local level; • In some countries a lack of finances and inability to utilise existing resources in efficient manner; • Insufficiency of regional coordinationmechanisms. In addition to the abovementioned, responsible agencies of all three countries (ministries of environment, climate change centres and agencies responsible for climate monitoring and observation, modelling, statistical information collection, as well as sectoral agencies) need capacity building to enable

Landslide in the Dariali Gorge, Georgia

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