Outlook on climate change adaptation

National policy frameworks for adaptation

The guiding national adaptation policies are the National Climate Adaptation Strategies.They indicate the objectives of adaptation in prioritized sectors to reduce the country’s vulnerability to climate change. The National Climate Adaptation Action Plans outline the implementation of the Strategies and give indicators to measure progress. Another important document is the National Communication and to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Most of the countries have not adopted mountain-specific laws, but they mainly refer to mountain agriculture within sectors (Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia). Mountain-specific laws are adopted in Romania and Ukraine; the other countries promote protection and development of mountain regions in their sectoral and mountain-related laws (Ruffini et al., 2006). Czech Republic The National Adaptation Strategy of the Czech Republic was adopted in 2015, in line with the EU Strategy on Adaptation and is coordinated by the Ministry of Environment (EEA, 2016d). The National Action Plan on Adaptation to Climate Change of 2017 addresses the following climate change impacts: droughts, extreme Principle documents National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy National Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan National Communication to UNFCCC

weather, floods, flash floods and wild fires (EEA, 2016d). Besides theNational Adaptation Strategy, there is also the Climate Protection Policy, which focuses on mitigation (Zámyslický, 2009). The State Environment Policy of the Czech Republic also provides climate adaptation measures (Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, 2016). No policies or strategy documents that specifically address adaptation in mountain areas and the Carpathians could be found on the national level. Hungary The 2007 Climate Change Act is the framework for adaptation in Hungary, which prescribes a National Strategy and the adoption of National Climate Change Programs every two years (Lanfredi et al., 2013). Consequently, in 2008, a National Climate Change Strategy for the 2008-2025 period was revised (Hungarian Government, 2008). Mountain areas are recognized in this strategy as highly vulnerable to climate change; yet no concrete policies are adopted (Hungarian Government, 2008). The latest National Climate Change Strategy from 2013 gives an outlook up to 2050 (Geological and Geophysical Institute of Hungary). It contains the National Adaptation and the Low Carbon Development Strategies (EEA, 2016c). In 2009, the third National Environmental Action

Program was published, incorporating adaptation (EEA, 2016c). The National Biodiversity Strategy also addresses adaptation (Ministry of Agriculture Hungary, 2015).The National Framework Strategy on Sustainable Development (2012-2024) stresses sustainability through the protection of natural resources and heritage (Hungarian Government, 2013). Poland The National Adaptation Strategy of Poland was adopted in 2013 (Ministry of the Environment Poland, 2013). Climate change impacts on mountains are covered by their own chapter in the National Adaptation Strategy. However, more concrete action is required and there are no mountain specific laws in the national legislation of Poland. In Poland, there is no intention of preparing a national adaptation action plan (EEA, 2016a). However, the Ministry of Environment encourages regional and local authorities to prepare Action Plans (EEA, 2016a). Additionally, Poland adopted a National Action Plan on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for the 2015 – 2020 period (Council of Ministers Poland, 2015). A separate strategy paper for the agricultural sector was created in 2012 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Poland, 2012).

CZ

HU

PL

RO

SER

SK

UA

2015 2017 2014

2013 2013 2014

2013 – 2014

2016 2016 2013

in progress in progress 2010

2014 sectoral action plans 2014

– – 2013

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