Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

Policy gaps to address climate risks

This policy gap analysis aims to assess the effectiveness of the mix of climate adaptation instruments and policies that are in place to address key climate risks in the West Balkan region. Ultimately, the success of existing policies is determined by the extent to which they address the most pressing climate change-related risks, and whether they generate positive effects for the socioeconomic system and local communities. Policies that cause inter-sectoral conflicts or that do not consider long-term vulnerability and/or adaptive capacity to climate change are intrinsically ineffective. When current information on the implementation and effects of policies is not available, the policies are evaluated on the basis of their potential. Economic and livelihood losses Risk of significant economic losses to assets and disruptions to livelihoods at the individual, local and national levels and/or high rehabilitation costs related to wildfires. Measures for protecting forests from wildfires are usually included in national legislation related to forest management and (agricultural) land resources of most countries in the Western Balkans, although climate change and adaptation issues are not mentioned specifically. In terms of national policies, measures to protect or restore forests fromwildfires are considered a priority

in only a few countries (BiH, Serbia and Croatia). Measures favouring adaptation towards an increased risk of losses from forest fires are being implemented, including governance actions (regulations) as well as infrastructural measures. Significant financial instruments, such as the Croatian “Green Tax” managed by the state forests management company, are in place to support the fire prevention community and its measures. • Inadequate national/regional policy coverage for adaptation and prevention of economic losses related to wildfires • Limited budget for early warning and rehabilitation measures • Possible lack of institutional coordination to protect forests from fires Risk of significant economic and livelihood losses at the individual, local and national levels due to flooding. Some internationally-funded initiatives address the risk of disasters (including flooding) in terms of socioeconomic and financial losses in the Western Balkans. Examples include the joint World Bank/ UNISDR South-Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme, which supports the development of national disaster risk management and adaptation strategies, risk Key Policy gaps:

Massive flood in Obrenovac, Serbia

financing of disaster loss reconstruction and recovery, and risk transfer. All countries also actively cooperate on the transboundary management of floods on the Sava River Basin (BiH, Croatia and Serbia) and the Drin River Basin (Albania, Kosovo, 1 Montenegro and FYRMacedonia), with programmes aimed at developing adaptation measures and risk management mechanisms. Flood protection measures are generally regulated through water sector legislation at the state level in all countries, or at the subnational level in BiH.

68