Nicosia, Wednesday 2 nd November 2011

1. Presentation of the LIFE+ project: Development of a national strategy for adaptation to climate change adverse impacts in Cyprus CYPADAPT Nicosia, Wednesday 2nd November 2011 Prof. Maria Loizidou National Technical University of Athens School of Chemical Engineering

2. Introduction Area of implementation: Cyprus Project Budget: 1.358.847,00 € (50% EC funding) Start date: September 1st, 2011 End date: March 31st, 2014 Duration: 31 months

3. Project partners Coordinating beneficiary: Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment of Cyprus Associated beneficiaries: National Technical University of Athens National Observatory of Athens

4. Aims & Objectives • The CYPADAPT main aim is to strengthen and increase Cyprus adaptive capacity to climate change impacts through the development of a National Adaptation Strategy. • This is expected to be achieved through the following specific objectives: • Describing climate change and its impacts • Projecting future climate changes and providing estimates of potential impacts • Assessing the sensitivity of different systems, sectors or communities to climate change • Assessing adaptive capacity, vulnerability and opportunities associated with climate change • Proposing appropriate actions that should be taken immediately as well as policies for future actions.

5. Methodology for adaptation Assessing current climate changes and risks Projecting future climate changes and risks Engaging stakeholders Assessing current socio-economic conditions Projecting future socio-economic conditions Current impact and vulnerability assessment Future impact and vulnerability assessment Assessing adaptive capacity Formulation of an adaptation strategy Implementation Monitoring

6. Climate change adaptationpolicy areas

7. Timetable

8. Action 1:Preparatory actions Start date: 01.09.2011, End date: 29.02.2012, Duration: 6 months Activity 1(a): Review of the observed changes and responses to climate change worldwide and especially in Cyprus. Observed impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessment for the case of Cyprus • Recording of the observed impacts of climate change in different sectors including water resources, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, marine and coastal zones, freshwater and terrestrial biological systems, human health • Vulnerability assessment on the basis of several impact characteristics such as magnitude, timing, persistence, reversibility likelihood Activity 1(b): Examination and analysis of European and international policies and legislative framework with respect to climate change • Rules, institutions and procedures governing the international climate change regime (UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol) • Proposals and consultation for action in adaptation to climate change (White, Green Paper) • Sector/risk specific directives including adaptation measures (Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive)

9. Action 2:Review of existing national adaptation plans worldwide and assessment of relative measures implemented in Cyprus Start date: 01.10.2011, End date: 31.03.2012, Duration: 6 months Activity 2(a): Review of existing national and regional adaptation strategies and practices as well as guidelines on the development of adaptation plans • Review of applied National and Regional Adaptation Plans (NAPs and RAPs) for developed countries, National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) for Least Developed Countries • One trip to Finland will be realized in order to come into contact with the competent authorities and discuss on the adaptation policies and the potential barriers met during the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan . Activity 2(b): Assessment of past responses to adapt to the adverse climate change impacts in Cyprus • Evaluation of existing plans, strategies and measures implemented in Cyprus to reinforce the adaptive capacity of different sectors • Identification of potential barriers to implement adaptation measures (e.g. legal, policy, institutional, social, economic, cultural) • Gap analysis between the existing policies in Cyprus and the respective EU and international legislative policy aiming to determine complementary measures for the elaboration of the national adaptation plan in Cyprus

10. Action 2:Review of existing national adaptation plans worldwide and assessment of relative measures implemented in Cyprus Start date: 01.10.2011, End date: 31.03.2012, Duration: 6 months Activity 2(c): Development of a database consisting of adaptation measures applied worldwide • Categorization of adaptation measures considering: • National and Regional Adaptation Plans in developed countries • National Adaptation Programmes of Action in developing countries • Measures and policies implemented by countries that have not yet adopted an integrated adaptation plan • Categorization of the adaptation measures based on the following characteristics: • location (longitude, latitude), • climatic conditions (average temperature, precipitation), • population, • economy (GNP, per capita income) • The database will be a helpful tool for the development of adaptation plans by identifying suitable adaptation measures of countries or regions with similar characteristics of the examined area.

11. Action 3:Prediction of future changes and responses due to climate change in Cyprus Start date: 01.04.2012, End date: 31.12.2012, Duration: 9 months Activity 3(a): Literature review and evaluation on the state-of-the-science computer-based climate simulation models • Evaluation of existing Global and Regional Climate Models (GCMs, RCMs) used for the projection of climate change variables (temperature, sea level, precipitation rate, rainstorm events occurrence) • Selection of the appropriate models for the projection of climate change in Cyprus Activity 3(b): Projection of climate change in Cyprus with the use of selected regional climate models • The projection will be based on the IPCC emission scenarios which represent consistent developmental paths for the key factors which drive emissions of greenhouse gases (i.e. demographic, social, economic & technical development) • The output of the models will include temperature changes, precipitation variation changes in the hydrological cycle, socio-economic impacts etc. Activity 3(c): Future Impacts and Vulnerability Assessment due to climate change in Cyprus • Impact assessment based on climate change projection in Cyprus • A 2nd vulnerability assessment will be performed for each sector and compared to the existing situation which is considered as the baseline

12. Action 4:Development of a multi-criteria analysis tool for the elaboration of the adaptation plan for Cyprus Start date: 01.01.2013, End date: 31.09.2013, Duration: 9 months Activity 4(a): Literature review on the state of the art multi-criteria analysis tools used for the development of adaptation plans worldwide • Identification of the most prominent multi-criteria analysis (MCA) tools used in the field of adaptation planning to climate change • Comparison between MCA tools and identification of their advantages and disadvantages Activity 4(b): Development of a multi-criteria analysis tool for the selection of the most appropriate set of adaptation options. Implementation for the case of Cyprus • Development and Use of a multi-criteria analysis tool for the prioritization of the alternative adaptation options that have been identified. The stakeholders participation is considered of paramount importance • The structure of the MCA tool will be based on objectives, alternative measures/options/interventions, criteria and weights applied to the criteria

13. Action 4:Development of a multi-criteria analysis tool for the elaboration of the adaptation plan for Cyprus Start date: 01.01.2013, End date: 31.09.2013, Duration: 9 months Activity 4(c): Preparation of the software operation manual and demonstration video • To attain highest diffusion and easiness to the application of the developed multi-criteria analysis tool, an operation manual and a demonstration video will be prepared Activity 4(d): Evaluation and optimization of the MCA tool • The MCA tool will be uploaded at the project website and at the interactive blog for a period of two months for public consultation aiming to evaluate its performance • Questionnaires will be developed aiming for a more specific evaluation approach. Activity 4(e): Two (2) 1-day training seminars/workshops • to present the aims and objectives of the project, • to introduce and demonstrate the capabilities of the MCA, • to train the relevant operators of the software in order to gain sufficient knowledge in operating, maintaining and altering the software, • to enhance awareness on issues related to climate change.

14. Action 5:Elaboration of a National Adaptation Plan for Cyprus Start date: 01.10.2013, End date: 31.03.2014, Duration: 6 months Activity 5(a): Elaboration of a National Adaptation Plan for Cyprus • The output of the multi-criteria analysis will be used for the preparation of a draft adaptation plan for Cyprus. • Stakeholders will evaluate the adaptation options proposed by the MCA tool on the basis of their contribution to climate change adaptation, the potential barriers for their implementation, the cost effectiveness and viability • Selection of a set of measures that will be incorporated in the National Adaptation Plan for Cyprus • Distinction between urgent and less urgent policies that address the current adverse impacts of climate change (based on projected impacts) • Development of a draft adaptation plan • Public consultation for a period of two months • Submission of the revised adaptation plan for endorsement to the Parliament

15. Action 5:Elaboration of a National Adaptation Plan for Cyprus Start date: 01.10.2013, End date: 31.03.2014, Duration: 6 months Activity 5(b): Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan in Cyprus • Development of monitoring indicators • In order for an effective implementation of the developed NAP to be achieved, the adaptation efforts and effects must be thoroughly monitored and evaluated on the basis of meaningful indicators and follow up measures making it possible to clearly identify the progress made and the remaining need for action. • A set of indicators will be developed by which the performance of adaptation activities will be assessed. These indicators will provide the basis for before and after analyses and describe the effects (positive and negative) of project interventions. • The formulation of a monitoring and evaluation committee composed of a number of concerned institutions and stakeholders will be proposed, within, or under the jurisdiction of, a competent ministry (e.g., MANRE). The committee will use the produced indicators in order to monitor and evaluate the respective adaptation needs and activities. • Formulation of a monitoring and evaluation committee

16. Action 6:Dissemination Start date: 01.09.2011, End date: 31.03.2014, Duration: 31 months • Launching Event (22/09/11, Nicosia, Cyprus) • Development of an interactive website and blog (http://uest.ntua.gr/cypadapt/) • Development and distribution of informative material & publications/notice boards/posters • Publications in national and international scientific and technical journals/conferences • Organization of (1-day) events • Organization of an international conference • Cyprus national adaptation plan distribution to the public • Layman’s report

17. Networking with other projects Start date: 01.09.2011 End date: 31.03.2014 Duration: 31 months • Indicatively: • ADAM project. The project intended to support the EU in the development of post-2012 global climate policies, the definition of European mitigation policies to reach its 2020 goals, and the emergence of new adaptation policies for Europe with special attention to the role of extreme weather events. • CIRCLE-MED is a geographical group in the frame of CIRCLE ERA-Net. It aims at creating a Mediterranean research community network through collaborative research projects on Climate Change Impact Research, with the objective to bring the results of this research to policy and decision-makers. • AQUIMED. Its objective is to develop capacity building methods for water users to define and discuss possible strategies of adaptation to future changes including climate change. • CANTICO. Its objective is to develop a methodology to assess and prioritize risks from combined Climate Change and anthropogenic impacts on coastal areas (create decision support tools).

18. Networking with other projects Start date: 01.09.2011 End date: 31.03.2014 Duration: 31 months • MAREMED. The project focuses on those constituents of maritime policy with a strong transnational dimension, namely Integrated Coastal Zone Management, pollution, adaptation to climate change in coastal areas, fisheries, coastal and maritime data management. • REGIOCLIMA. The overall objective of the project is to assist societies to adapt to the new climate conditions both by minimizing the risk of damage and exploiting the new opportunities arising from a changing climate. • COASTANCE. The main project aim is to develop mid and long term Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans. The results produced will be used as Public Policy Tools for erosion control by regional, national, EU administrations. • SESAME. The general scientific objectives of the project are to assess and predict changes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea ecosystems as well as changes in the ability of these ecosystems to provide goods and services. • CARBONTOUR. The project objective is to develop a strategic approach for CO2 offsetting and carbon neutrality for the tourist accommodation industry which will provide guidelines for the reduction of tourism contribution to climate change.

19. Thank you for your attention! More information on the project available at: http://uest.ntua.gr/cypadapt/