National Knowledge Platforms and EU Adaptation Clearinghouse

1. National Knowledge Platforms and EU Adaptation Clearinghouse Workshop at DG Environment Monday 19 October 2009

2. Agenda 10:00 Welcome 10:15 State of play of the implementation of the White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change 10:30 Concept and minimun requirements for the EU Clearinghouse 11:15 coffee break 11:20 - Presentation from national representatives on the structure of the knowledge platforms and on the projects SE (video conference) UK DE 12:20 Lunch break 13:20 - Presentation from national representatives (cont) NO FR DK FI 14:40 Coffee break 14:45 Open discussion : added value of the EU Clearinghouse, and the compatibility with national portals/initiatives. 15:45: Conclusions and next steps 16:00 End of the meeting

3. Participants UBA Germany DEFRA & UKCIP UK ONERC France Naturvardsverket Sweden Energy and Climate Ministry Denmark FMI Finland DSB Norway EEA DG JRC DG ENV KNMI Netherlands apologised

4. EU White Paperon Adapting to Climate Change Jacques Delsalle, European Commission, DG Environment Workshop with National Adaptation Knowledge Platforms Brussels, 19 October 2009

5. Contents White Paper on Adapting to Climate Change Principles On-going actions Clearinghouse Concept Note v.3 Objectives of the Clearinghouse The added value of the European Clearinghouse Contents Potential users and partnership processes Key Requirements Roadmap

6. Key documents White Paper adopted on 1/4/2009 Commission staff working documentsaccompanying the White Paper Impact Assessment and executive summary SEC(2009)387-388 Adapting to Climate Change: the Challenge for European Agriculture and Rural Areas SEC(2009)417 Human, Animal and Plant Health Impacts of Climate Change SEC(2009)416 Climate Change and Water, Coasts and Marine Issues SEC(2009) 386 Documents available on: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm

7. Climate Change Adaptation: A new agenda for public policy Understanding vulnerability Build pro-active adaptation policies not restricted to the analysis of the impacts, but also assessing the uneven adaptive capacity of sectors, regions or social groups. Dealing with uncertainty Need to build robust adaptation policy by considering a wide range of scenarios. The available information (e.g. 2008 EEA/JRC/WHO report) still fragmented. Integrated assessment Put in place a holistic evaluation framework which goes beyond the direct impacts and economic repercussions of climate change, and take on board the role of ecosystem services and the social dimension of climate change. Multiple institutional levels Need to understand the cross-border dimension of many climate change impacts AND adaptation measures, assess their impact on Common policies and EU budget Proper assessment of impacts requires complex modelling of land use, water and ecosystems. Highlight disruption species interaction and ecological relationships, threats on ecosystem services on which many sectors rely Impact of socio-economic trends: identify future developments that could affect vulnerability to CC impacts Impact on Ecosystem Services: need to identify positive feedbacks: (e.g. carbon storage, cooling processes) On-going study DG ENV on Vulnerability Indicators: put together available information on potential impacts + a formula for assessing adaptive capacity A practical way of dealing with scenarios: e.g. ENSEMBLES probabilistic approach, identification of thresholds, etc. Proper assessment of impacts requires complex modelling of land use, water and ecosystems. Highlight disruption species interaction and ecological relationships, threats on ecosystem services on which many sectors rely Impact of socio-economic trends: identify future developments that could affect vulnerability to CC impacts Impact on Ecosystem Services: need to identify positive feedbacks: (e.g. carbon storage, cooling processes) On-going study DG ENV on Vulnerability Indicators: put together available information on potential impacts + a formula for assessing adaptive capacity A practical way of dealing with scenarios: e.g. ENSEMBLES probabilistic approach, identification of thresholds, etc.

8. Broad (complementary) adaptation approaches “Grey” infrastructure approaches Protective infrastructure and Contingency Plans/Measures – In the light of uncertainties, cost and effectiveness becomes issues “Green” structural approaches Strengthen resilience against climate change impacts by improving natural water retention and strengthening biodiversity. “Green infrastructure” (e.g. floodplains, land use changes to improve soil water retention, establishment of ecosystem connectivity etc.) Advantage of complementary approach: improved potential for ecosystem services (fresh water, food, health), potential to improve cost-effectiveness, reduce costs for future generations and synergies with mitigation (ecosystem absorption of CO2) – possible “no regrets” measures “Soft” non-structural approaches Awareness raising, Institutional framework, Economic instruments, etc. Grey” infrastructure approaches, which are physical intervention or construction measures using engineering services to make buildings and infrastructure that are essential for the social and economic well-being of society more capable of withstanding extreme events; “Green” structural approaches, which contribute to increasing ecosystems' resilience and, while aiming to halt biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem and restore water cycles, at the same time use the functions and services provided by the ecosystems to achieve a more cost-effective and sometimes more feasible adaptation solution than relying solely on grey infrastructure. “Soft” non-structural approaches are designing and applying policies and procedures, land-use controls, information dissemination, and economic incentives to reduce or prevent disaster vulnerability. They require more careful management of the underlying human systems. Grey” infrastructure approaches, which are physical intervention or construction measures using engineering services to make buildings and infrastructure that are essential for the social and economic well-being of society more capable of withstanding extreme events; “Green” structural approaches, which contribute to increasing ecosystems' resilience and, while aiming to halt biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem and restore water cycles, at the same time use the functions and services provided by the ecosystems to achieve a more cost-effective and sometimes more feasible adaptation solution than relying solely on grey infrastructure. “Soft” non-structural approaches are designing and applying policies and procedures, land-use controls, information dissemination, and economic incentives to reduce or prevent disaster vulnerability. They require more careful management of the underlying human systems.

9. Need for taking action at EU level Large difference in progress among the Member States. Initiatives and growing demand at regional and local level Many climate change impacts AND adaptation measures have a cross-border dimension Climate impacts and adaptation will affect single market and common policies. Climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation trigger a new paradigm for solidarity EU spending programmes could complement the resources spent by the Member States for adaptation. Potential economies of scale for capacity building, research, information and data gathering, knowledge transfer, etc. Some are already well advanced in their thinking on adaptation Others still at the phase of identifying the problem Cross-border: E.g. forest fires, effects on migratory species, infectious deceases, floods, etc. Need to identify “upstream” adaptation measures Some are already well advanced in their thinking on adaptation Others still at the phase of identifying the problem Cross-border: E.g. forest fires, effects on migratory species, infectious deceases, floods, etc. Need to identify “upstream” adaptation measures

10. EU ADAPTATION FRAMEWORK Phase 1: 2009-2012 – Four PILLARS Working in Partnership with EU, national, regional and local authorities 1. Improve the knowledge base on CC vulnerability (impacts and adaptive capacity) and on the costs and benefits of adaptation options; 2. Ensure early implementation of no-regret and win-win measures and avoid mal-adaptation, by mainstreaming adaptation into EU policies; 3. Review policy instruments and launch a debate on future funding. 4. Advance work internationally on Adaptation Bilateral and Regional Agreements The Global Climate Change Alliance The UNFCCC - EU Proposal for a Comprehensive Framework for Action on Adaptation (FAA) + Put in place a process to better co-ordinate adaptation policies and assess next steps Working in Partnership with EU, national, regional and local authorities « Impact and Adaptation Steering Group » Working Groups NB: Pillar IV: 1. Improve the knowledge base on CC vulnerability (impacts and adaptive capacity) and on the costs and benefits of adaptation options; 2. Ensure early implementation of no-regret and win-win measures and avoid mal-adaptation, by mainstreaming adaptation into EU policies; 3. Review policy instruments and launch a debate on future funding. 4. Advance work internationally on Adaptation Bilateral and Regional Agreements The Global Climate Change Alliance The UNFCCC - EU Proposal for a Comprehensive Framework for Action on Adaptation (FAA) + Put in place a process to better co-ordinate adaptation policies and assess next steps Working in Partnership with EU, national, regional and local authorities « Impact and Adaptation Steering Group » Working Groups NB: Pillar IV:

11. Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential step forward (1/2) Objectives: Develop consistent, comprehensive and regularly updated climate change and socio-economic scenarios (projection data) for analysis across Europe. Build a structured information dataset to better understand the territorial and sectoral distribution of vulnerability to climate change impacts Set up a European wide data repository and a platform for knowledge transfer on impacts and adaptation measures (Clearing House Mechanism) Build on on-going global, EU and national research projects and studies Further improvement of the quality and coverage of the analysis of climate change impacts for major sectors at scales relevant to adaptation measures Identification of the limits to resilience beyond which human systems and ecosystems are no longer capable to maintain the required functions and providing the needed services to society Investigation of how to use the ecosystem approach can be used for adaptation efforts as alternative to infrastructure projects. More precise knowledge about regional and local impacts is essential The CHM will operate as an information exchange platform and will contain the most up to date / state of the art information on climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and best practices Scoping study launched More precise knowledge about regional and local impacts is essential The CHM will operate as an information exchange platform and will contain the most up to date / state of the art information on climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and best practices Scoping study launched

12. Pillar I: Strengthening the Knowledge Base – an essential step forward (2/2) Design of guidelines for the elaboration of Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Available on http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm Follow-up: distribution to regions for comments, process for communication and update to be agreed with REGIO Preliminary assessment and roadmap for the elaboration of Climate Change vulnerability indicators at regional level (final report due in Nov 2009) Workshop on both contract on 17-18/6 (Brussels), presentation and minutes available on http://www.ecologic-events.de/climate_adaptation/presentations.htm Land Use modelling implementation Development of EU-DynaClue model: assessment of policy scenarios affecting land use in EU-27. 2 scenarios dealing with CC Adaptation-related measures. Final Report Feb 2010 Integrated Assessment Modelling of water-related scenarios and adaptation measures Start Nov 2009 (20 months). Assessment of water-related vulnerability to climate change impacts and adaptation measures Integrated analytical platform at a detailed geographical level, providing the basis for the identifications of adaptation measures to be either promoted or prevented at EU level. Synergies with the review of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the analysis of measures addressing Water Scarcity and Drought policy, both scheduled for 2012 Classification and costing of adaptation measures review of available information on costs of adaptation measures within the EU and existing methodologies. - Building adaptation « cost curves »

13. DG Environment activities under Pillar 1 (2009-2012)

14. Pillar II: mainstream adaptation into key EUpolicy areas Step by step approach - based on solid scientific and economic analysis What are the actual and potential impacts of climate change in the sector? What are the costs of action/inaction? How can adaptation objectives be embedded into current EU instruments? Which additional measures should be proposed for action at EU level? How do proposed measures impact upon and interact with policies at other levels and in other sectors? Key areas: Water, Coastal & Marine, Agriculture, Health, Transport, Energy etc.) Develop guidelines and further Adaptation Strategies outlining the action required Link with Pillar I (ensure cross-sectoral consistency in vulnerability assessment, impact assessment) Pillar III (impact on funding and economic instruments) 

15. Pillar III: Employ a combination of policy instruments Short term: European Economic Recovery Plan – contains a number of proposals (modernising European infrastructure, promoting energy efficiency in buildings etc.) Identification of “No Regrets” measures –under existing national funding or EU Rural Development or Regional Funds Next steps: Better understanding of the cost of adaptation measures and investments (on-going call for tender for study) Exploring the potential of insurance, financial services products, market based Instruments Guidance for using revenue generated from auctioning allowances for adaptation purposes Contribute to debate on future multi-annual financial framework

16. Pillar IV: Advance Work Internationally On Adaptation The EU is committed to working with third countries to improve their resilience and capacity to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change through for example: Bilateral and Regional Agreements The Global Climate Change Alliance The UNFCCC - EU Proposal for a Comprehensive Framework for Action on Adaptation (FAA) 

17. Working in partnership Close co-ordination with EU Member States is essential in preparing effectively to address the impacts of Climate Change Establish a consultative forum for dialogue and co-operation with member States - Impact and Adaptation Steering Group (IASG) IASG would develop the 4 Pillars and take Adaptation Framework forward Frequency of Meetings: two meetings per year. 1st meeting early 2010 after COP-15. Preparatory meeting in November IASG would be supported by technical groups including experts, national/regional/local authorities, stakeholders, etc. Working group on Knowledge Base Support for design and implementation Clearinghouse Discussion vulnerability indicators, assessment adaptation measures Co-ordination with existing groups: EIONET, EPA-IG, CIRCLE2, etc. Working group on Policy Instruments Existing working groups to discuss Mainstreaming of adaptation in key sectors

18. EU Clearinghouseon Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation Jacques Delsalle, European Commission, DG Environment Workshop with National Adaptation Knowledge Platforms Brussels, 19 October 2009

19. Objectives Facilitate the collection and dissemination of scientific information, data and case studies about climate change impacts and vulnerability, and adaptation policies and measures. Assist an effective uptake of this knowledge by EU, national, regional, local or sectoral decision makers. Provide a greater level of co-ordination sectoral policies and institutional levels

20. The added value of the European Clearinghouse A portal of reliable and fundamental information and tools, with defined minimum quality standards and seeking for common approaches at EU level. The information mainly generated by research institutes within research projects and/or programs, and by public agencies. Focus on exchanging harmonized & quality checked EU wide data at maximal resolution, in a structured way, providing a tool for: neighbouring countries (impacts and adaptation activities) interregional areas (e.g. mountainous or coastal area) areas in which there is scope for action at EU level: CAP, Water, Coastal, Marine, Natura 2000, TEN, Energy, Health, etc. Provide a consistent and up-to-date knowledge on datasets and best practices from other countries: translation of key results, ensuring inter-operability. Both an IT tool and a PARTNERSHIP Common guidelines about information quality, formats and sources encourage the systematic collection of reliable and up-to date information and data The clearinghouse will complement but not supersede national initiatives. Could be a solution for countries that don't have the resources to develop such a platform

21. Content of the Clearinghouse

22. Potential Impacts of Climate Change

23. Vulnerability indicators System-specific Aggregation of various potential impacts Adaptive capacity based on assessment of adaptation options Diversity of needs: Institutional level, Bio-geographical or socio-economic specificities Common framework common generic assesment framework to be agreed common dataset (to be available through by the Clearinghouse) Vulnerability indicators/assessments could be stored as examples / best practices on the Clearinghouse

24. Users The Clearinghouse would initially provide an entry point and forum for: governmental decision-makers at regional, national, trans-boundary and EU levels looking for information to develop and implement strategies in interaction with the EU policy agenda. EU-wide, trans-boundary and national agencies, boundary organisations and research projects, both producers of relevant contents and end-users. Limited number of target users and providers for the first phase Facilitate involvement in tool development, and further integration of the feedback received.

25. Key partnership

26. Key Requirements Interoperability Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) Interoperable Delivery of European eGovernment Services to public Administrations, Businesses and Citizens (IDABC) INSPIRE ISO, GEOSS ReportNet Analytical tools Generation of vulnerability assessments and indicators, relevant at EU or transnational levels. Meta-analysis of vulnerability assessments. Extended database of adaptation measures - link to geospatial interface and vulnerability assessment Tools for the impact assessment of adaptation measures. Multilinguism Specific multilingual technical glossary to support consistency in translation for provision of metadata and normalised contents from other languages than English. Extraction of data on climate change impacts and vulnerability could be associated to linguistic interfaces, so that a detailed level of information is available in a variety of languages without additional cost. The part of the Clearinghouse presenting general information on CCIVA should also be translated and give link to corresponding national platforms when available. Standard functionalities Quality control / quality assurance

27. Common Infrastructure and external resources

28. INSPIRE Architecture

29. Roadmap The development of the Clearinghouse will adopt a phased approach But comments received highlight the need to have the Clearinghouse operational as soon as possible Phase 1 (available end 2011 at the latest) Covers key requirements described previously First prototype available in January 2011: review to lay the ground for the definitions on the 2nd phase Building on existing resources (Management Plan EC and EEA) Phase 2 Result of a convergence strategy to ensure compatibility and comparability of the information Based on review phase 1 and agreement with Member States and key partners Design after careful evaluation of needs, resources and usefulness. Impact assessment for proposal accompanying 2012 Communication Validation by IASG

30. Next steps Finalisation of concept note Input from this meeting + Commission Services Setup gouvernance structure (Go4) Contract for Phase I implementation Open call for tender November 2009 Concept note as support document for tenderer 18 months: Clearinghouse available by 2011 Steering group (ENV/JRC/EEA, key countries, sectoral platforms, key research partners) Setup Working Group «Knowledge Basis IVA»

31. EIONET initial responses on Clearinghouse(Version 1 – June 2009) First version concept note discussed at EIONET meeting 30June 2009 comments received from EEA Member countries & WHO Main comments: Initially facilitator for collecting and disseminating information, gradually to include analytical tools Start with focussed users including the EIONET, EU level (EC, EP, EEA, transnational e.g. river basins) Content focussed on EU policies and trans-boundary issues (Observations and scenarios; Vulnerability assessments; Adaptation measures; Adaptation plans and strategies). Guidance on methodologies, data and scenarios is appreciated Quality of content must be assured by providers. Studies and Research – Strong interest in getting access to results Synergies with national portals and EU-wide thematic platforms to be further explored Detailed responses attached to the concept note