7. Adaptation to climate change

Overall objective

Each programme that will be set up within the programme area 'Adaptation to climate change' will contribute to the overall objective of reduced human and ecosystem vulnerability to climate change.

Expected outcomes

Each programme must have one or more 'expected outcomes', as listed below. The relevant expected outcomes for each programme is agreed either in the country-specific Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on how the funds will be managed or determined in the programme development phase.

• Developed systems for information exchange on climate change adaptation
• Developed strategies and measures for adapting to a changing climate
• Increased capacity to assess vulnerability to climate change
• Increased awareness of and education in climate change adaptation

Suggested activities

Activities that may be supported within each programme will differ, depending on the chosen expected outcomes. Below are some examples to illustrate what may be supported:

• Information gathering and exchange by relevant authorities or stakeholders concerned with climate change adaptation
• Measures for spatial planning
• Measures to include climate gradients (latitudinal and altitudinal) in new protection areas offering alternative and possibly more suitable habitats with changing climatic conditions
• Measures to establish corridors and networks between fragmented habitats
• Measures to establish natural bank vegetation as a measure against erosion
• Remedial actions against drainage from agriculture
• Development of ecosystem-based management plans that include climate change effects for marine and inland waters
• Activities related to flood protection, water and biodiversity conservation
• Measures to protect forest resources against natural hazards (e.g. forest fires)
• Contingency systems for extreme weather and climate events

Relevance of support

Human and natural systems will to some degree adapt autonomously to climate change. Planned adaptation can supplement autonomous adaptation, though the options and incentives are greater for the adaptation of human systems than for the adaptation to protect natural systems. Adaptation is a necessary strategy in order to complement climate change mitigation efforts.

Adaptation will require actions across many sectors and levels, and could include a broad range of activities. Planning for climate change adaptation should be based on, and be a part of, national, sub-national and local priorities, and aim at integrating climate change considerations into policy, planning and budget frameworks. National adaptation efforts should be designed to support and enhance local and regional efforts.

According to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report from 2007, “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”, wide-ranging impacts of changes in current climate have been documented for the first time in Europe.

Implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy (COM (2009) 147) is a key issue. This white paper constitutes the first step towards a European framework for action on adapting to climate change.

Programme area specificities

• Particularly relevant for civil society involvement
• Suitable for small grant schemes
• Could be relevant for cooperation between entities in a Beneficiary State and an entity located in a country outside the European Economic Area bordering on the respective Beneficiary State

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