Adaptation Approaches in Austria: Responding to Climate Change

2. Experiences and Approaches Related to Adaptation - AUSTRIA “Working Together to Respond to Climate Change” Seminar of the AIXG on the UNFCCC Paris, 21-22 March 2005 Klaus Radunsky

3. Overview • Introduction • Adaptation • flood risk management • Forest management • Grassland management • Cropland management • Tourism (avalanches, snow cover) • lessons learned

4. Introduction • Significant increase in average temperature from 1900 to 1990s • + 1.5oC yearly average • + 1.5oC to + 2.0oC during winter • + 1.0oC during summer • expected temperature increase by 2050: +2oC to +3oC • Significant increase in GHG emissions at an average rate of 0.9%/a over the last 13 years • no coherent and effective adaptation regime • some extreme weather events with significant impacts and already visible impacts of climate change that raise concerns

5. Adaptation - Flood risk management (1) Challenge: • Flood in August 2002, with return periods of 2,000 to 10,000 years in some regions • 9 people died, economic loss ~3 Bio € (~1% of GDP) • current level of flood protection designed for return periods of 30 and 100 years Measures: • investigation on the possible contribution of climate change (but it became evident that the high damage was also due to other factors)

6. Adaptation - Flood risk management (2) Additional measures: • stricter implementation of integrated flood risk management (combining aspects of Meteorology, Hydrology and actual construction measures like dams with land-use planning, legal aspects and warning- and evacuation measures), • measures to limit damage in case of flood (mandatory structural measures in buildings, e.g. no oil tanks in regions with risk), • speeding up the preparation, completion and updating of hazard zone plans, • improvements in disaster management (e.g. improved training for disaster protection administrators, standardization of flood alarm plans, improving the coordination of the relevant plans of the public authorities), • raising of public awareness

7. Adaptation – forest management Challenge: • long life time (80-120 years) • damage by insects is spreading to higher elevations • storms (wind speeds > 160/170 km/h result in area-wide damage) • Draught, if global T increases above 2oC Measures: • establish forests as close to the (potential) natural forests as practical (nature-conforming forestry) • Need for further research

8. Adaptation – grassland management Challenge: • summer 2003 significant damage by draught • Little awareness about future damage Measures: • limited to buy hay • No infrastructure for irrigation

9. Adaptation – cropland management Challenge: • change in precipitation pattern (drought) • local extreme weather events (floods, hail, storms) Measures: • improved water management • use of more drought resistant crops • insurance

10. Adaptation in tourism - avalanches (1) Challenge: • avalanches in Feb 1999 Galtür (Tyrol) • 31 people died Measures: • 2002: ALPS Centre for Natural Hazard Management was founded • issues: natural hazard management (debris flows, landslides, rock falls, avalanches) • goal: develop new strategies, technologies, systems to improve the handling of natural hazards and to evaluate present and future potential hazards • 1st meeting (January 2004): expert meeting on climate impacts for Tyrol • See http://www.alp-s.at/v2/en/

11. Adaptation in tourism - avalanches (2) • Additional measures • Improved modeling and data assessment • development of natural hazard scenarios (focus: alpine region) • development of risk-oriented approaches for structural engineering, technical forest planning, development planning and short-term measures (e.g. improved disaster management - is planned in Tyrol to be fully operational by 2006)

12. Adaptation – tourism (artificial snow) Challenge: reduced snow cover at elevation<1500m Measures: • artificial snow (9200 ha or 40% of total) • investment costs in winter 2003/04: 176 Mio € • significant water and power consumption (4000 m3water per ha; 25000 kWh per ha) • future: artificial snow will be extended to ~90% of total • meteorological experts: artificial snow may not work in the future due to further temperature increase

13. Lessons learned (1) • Austria: reluctant to be proactive on adaptation (top down approach) although more vulnerable compared to many other countries (high share of the alpine region (70% of the land is higher than 500m)) • significant damage from extreme weather events or already visible impacts (reduction in snow cover) triggered significant investments and short as well as long term measures (bottom up approach) • large and growing adaptation deficit • international efforts and co-operation could help to get on the right track and begin to address the deficit more effectively • Goal should be: development of a more coherent and operational adaptation regime • climate risk assessment should become common practice for many activities

14. Lessons learned (2) Hurdles for a coherent and effective adaptation regime: • lack of awareness (e.g. of stakeholders in industry, the general public), • lack of information on climate vulnerabilities, impacts and ways and means to adapt, • lack of resources at the MoE to start information process, • lack of willingness to raise the profile of adaptation and to prepare for a public debate on climate change issues. Work at the OECD and under the UNFCCC may help to overcome national hurdles.