Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

7) Further harmonize national legislation with relevant EU laws and policies. In view of progressive integration into the EU, national legislation should be further improved and harmonized with the relevant directives, such as the EU Floods Directive and the EU Water Framework Directive, that take into account future climate impacts and provide regular methodological updates and revisions according to the latest scientific information on climate change. 8) Increase regional coordination and cooperation on climate change adaptation. Subregional coordination and transnational synergies should be strongly promoted. Policymakers should consider a (sub)regional approach for investments in prevention and preparedness in various sectors to avoid duplications and improve coordination. Subregional adaptation strategies and plans would further ensure sustainability at the national level. The EU Stabilisation and Association Process and its Regional Environmental Network for Accession could become the organizing focus for a regional approach to adaptation. Any new scheme designed to coordinate and promote regional approaches on adaptation would do well to take into account the wide array of organizations, programmes, projects and activities already in place to move the Western Balkans towards a climate-proofed future.

9) The Alpine Convention and the Carpathian Convention can provide a source of inspiration and act as a potential model for regional cooperation and action on mountains in theWestern Balkan countries. UNEP could provide the forum to assist in the development of a (sub)regional approach to climate change and adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains. A strengthened regional co-operative approach could provide a platform for the design and implementation of regional climate change adaptation strategies/action plans, prioritized action in targeted sectors, and exchange of knowledge and information (including local adaptation knowledge and guidelines), further contributing to the implementation of global Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and agreements including the UNFCCC, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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