Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

significant role in adaptation to climate change is played by Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology. In 2008, the Ministry was designated as the national authority for approving Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. As with other Western Balkans countries, funding for climate change is heavily dependent on international support (EU funds, EBRD, KfW, GEF/UNEP, GIZ), although some projects are implemented through national budget funding. Serbia joined UNFCCC as a non-Annex I Party in 2001, and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2008. Under the Convention, Serbia does not have GHG emission reduction commitments, but it has obligations to establish and implement measures and activities that contribute to achieving the objectives of the Convention. It submitted its First National Communication in 2010. The Second National Communication – currently under development – will contain an overview of realized adaptation measures, and will also analyse the climate change impacts and risks for water management, forestry and agriculture sectors, since they have been identified as vulnerable and important to national development goals. At present, the First National Communication is the only strategic document for climate change responses which also addresses the needs of other sectors in Serbia. Considerable progress has been made to harmonize national legislation with the EU requirements. The Air Protection Act (Official Gazette of RS, 36/2009 and10/2013) deals with climate change mitigation. It foresees adoption of the Air Protection Strategy (including response to climate change).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection is a national focal point for UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, with a recently opened Department for Climate Change. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the GHG Inventory. The national budget contributes to financing climate change projects, but its funds are not enough to meet climate change adaptation requirements for Serbia. Climate change responses are therefore mainly financed through projects funded by international donors and ministry programmes, although these sources are not strictly oriented to adaptation. Kosovo 1 is highly vulnerable to climate change since two of its most important economic sectors – agriculture and forestry – are climate dependent. Kosovo 1 has not yet been recognized by the United Nations system. Consequently, it is not eligible for the ratification of international conventions, although it could participate in negotiations as an observer under UNSCR 1244. Kosovo 1 is, however, committed to aligning its legislation with the EU legislation, given its EU approximation process. Additionally, the climate change adaptation strategy is relevant for Kosovo 1 to meet the EU approximation requirements, particularly in its assessment and management of flood risks under the EU Flood Directive. 9 While there is a need for innovative approaches to secure adaptation, current institutional arrangements are insufficient to manage these new challenges adequately. The authority responsible for

climate change is the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP), namely its Department of Environmental Protection, while Kosovo 1 Environment Protection Agency (KEPA) monitors the state of the environment. National funding allocations to environmental issues are still not sufficient, and it is expected that domestic funding will remain low for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the funding for adaptation will heavily depend on the private sector, international donors and the EU funds. Establishment of an environmental fund is foreseen for the end of 2015. Specific consideration of mountain areas is particularly poorly represented in the climate change policies of all the countries. Most countries, apart from Croatia, are in the initiation stages of their overall policy response to climate change, with most climate considerations being either donor-driven or a part of EU accession requirements. Most countries have started recognizing the importance of and vulnerability to climate change, especially of the sectors reliant on natural resources. Concrete and innovative responses to climate change adaptation are still in the inception phase, hampered by limited capacity and sources of funding for adaptation.

50