Outlook on climate change adaptation

This chapter presents gaps in adaptation measures in the Carpathians. Adaptation policies must address the risks and vulnerabilities presented in chapter 2. The success of climate change adaptation depends on whether the most pressing climate change related risks are addressed in existing policies. The

EU Adaptation Strategy (2013) gives a framework and guidelines for coherent and coordinated regional adaptation. Strategies should also include tailor-made measures for the specific challenges of the Carpathians. The Carpathian countries, in the framework of the Carpathian Convention, are

already following a coordinated approach, which takes explicitly into account the sensitivity of mountains areas. This should be further enhanced. However, also on the national level more awareness and action on climate adaptation is needed for mountainous areas. The National Adaptation Strategy documents generally address the key hazards in the selected sectors of water, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity and tourism. However, adaptation strategies and policies remain vague. More concrete actions are needed to reach the strategic targets. Mountainous regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change and concrete measures rarely address these regions and their special needs directly. Notable exceptions in the national legislations include the Mountain Law (2004) of Romania and the Ukrainian Law on the Status of Mountains and Human Settlements (Ruffini et al., 2006). Compared to the detailed programmes and strategy papers of EU-countries on climate change issues, Ukraine and Serbia in particular, have less developed strategies. These countries also lack data and analyses on how climate change affects distinct parts of their territory, industries and policy sectors. Both countries need political and financial support to improve adaptation. However, a challenge is that they receive less funding and the GDP of Serbia and Ukraine is lower than in the other Carpathian countries (World Bank, 2017). Further, partly due to the insecure political situation in Ukraine, certain climate adaptation actions have been delayed (Shtets, 2015). EU-countries also benefit more from EU funded projects. Especially the European LIFE fund offers financial support for environment, nature conservation and climate action projects. For example, the project Forest-Alp as part of NATURA 2000 for sub-alpine and alpine habitats in Romania

Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park, Romania

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