Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

(The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – UNECE; Global Water Partnership Mediterranean – GWP-Med; Swedish EPA) GOOD PRACTICES Water and flood management: Adaptation to climate change in the Drin River Basin

Background The expected changes in surface air temperature and humidity will lead to increases in the heat index and may lead to deforestation and intensive or extreme rain events, heatwaves, floods and droughts. Climate change will very likely reduce the availability of water and affect the water level of the lakes inside the Basin (Prespa, Ohrid and Skadar). Since the Drin Basin is exploited for its hydro-energy (five dams), climate change will affect energy supply in the region. Objectives Improving adaptation to climate-change-related effects, in particular concerning floods and drought, in the Drin River Basin. The activities will be mainly implemented in 2013–2016. The intervention area is the Drin River Basin, including all connected water bodies in Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo 1 and FYR Macedonia. The project focuses on adapting the risk management mechanisms to the increased risks of floods and drought. The activities will focus on drought in Kosovo 1 and FYRMacedonia, and on floods in Albania and Montenegro.

Results As an initial result, the governments of the respective countries have taken initiatives to improve the legal and regulatory framework in line with EU legislation, as well as to develop management tools and mechanisms for some parts or some aspects of the Drin River Basin. According to the National Communications to UNFCCC from Albania, Montenegro and FYR Macedonia, as well as the report ‘The state of water in Kosovo’, 1 climate change will have serious impacts in the Drin River Basin. An MOU signed in November 2011 under the Drin Dialogue Process includes a goal on climate change risks and cooperation on flood prevention. Outcomes • Regional monitoring and alert platform • Strategic framework for climate change adaptation • Concepts, instruments and procedures for climate change adaptation at the municipal level Source: Core group on pilot projects, third meeting Global Network of basins working on climate change adaptation, first meeting – Geneva, 20-21 February 2013 For further information, visit http://www.unece. org/env/water/seeurope.html

Croatia seems to be more advanced due to direct implementation of the key EU directives (Floods Directive and Water Directive). Impacts due to climate change in mountain regions are not explicitly considered in existing water regulations in the West Balkans. At the national level, only BiH and FYR Macedonia seem to have set relevant policy goals that include climate change and extreme events. They call for prevention measures in case of failure or flooding of dams and the construction of reservoirs. Most countries, however, lack the basic infrastructure for data collection, flood forecasting and flood

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