The EU strategy on adaptation to climate change State of play

River basin management and adaptation to climate change = Adaptation to climate (change) In water management, everyday practice is adapting to the current climate. Depending on how far you look ahead, we can speak of adaptation to the effects of climate change. The water sector has a tradition of long term continuous monitoring and investment

What are we doing 3 priorities Promoting action by member states Better informed decision making Enhanced resilience in key vulnerable sectors

Member States take Action First priority in the Adaptation Strategy: Member states embed adaptation to climate change in their national decision-making, policies, strategies The aim: each Member State drafts a National Adaptation Strategy by 2017. 20 Member States have already done their Strategies

National Adaptation Strategies Priority sectors Evaluation through adaptation scoreboard Preparing the ground (policies) Assessing risk and vulnerability Adaptation options Implementing adaptation Monitoring and Evaluation

Support informed decision-making Climate adapt http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/ MS action Projects Adaptation in sectors Knowledge and research User friendliness, interactive forum, newsletter

Support informed decision-making Define knowledge gaps Vulnerability assessments on various scales Adaptation options Resilience of vulnerable sectors

Resilience of infrastructure Revision of standards European Standardisation Organisations List of standards that should be revised in Transport, Energy, Construction Actual revision Future damages to infrastructure due to climate change

Infrastructure: impacts of CC on investments JRC study, draft results, Structural and Cohesion Fund investments (2007-2013) 'Increase of extreme events' paradox Vulnerabilities of sectors Climate risks related to investments in infrastructure

Critical infrastructures (CI) Transport Energy Roads Non-renewable power plants Railways Coal Inland waterways Gas Ports Nuclear Airports Oil Renewable power plants Industry Biomass Metals Hydro Minerals Solar Extraction sites Wind Refineries Energy transport Chemical Electricity distribution/transmission Water and waste treatment Gas pipelines Social Education Health 10

Example: Coastal Flooding in Western Europe Coastal floods Future frequency Frequency of events now compared to future frequencies, for various projections (2020,2050,2080). Extreme events getting less extreme: floods, wildfires, droughts (in Southern and Western Europe). Extreme events getting very extreme, or even rare, are cold waves na droughts (in Northern Europe)

Example: heat waves and droughts Future frequency Future frequency Current frequency Current frequency

Funding and financing Beyond policies, adaptation to climate change is mainstreamed into EU funds and financial instruments EU Budget 2014-2020 At least 20% of the expenditure must be climate-related This includes adaptation European Structural and Investment Fund 'Climate proofing' of projects, promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management H2020 LIFE and Natural Capital Financing Facility Cross-border floods management, coastal management, urban environment, mountain and island areas, drought-prone areas (water, desertification, fire risks)

Urban adaptation: Mayors Adapt First pan-European initiative to support cities in leading the way on adaptation to climate change More than 130 European cities have already voluntarily committed to develop local adaptation strategies/plans mayors-adapt.eu

How does this relate to WFD work? Extreme events (Floods & Droughts) Relation to other sectors (agriculture, transport, energy, economy) NWRM, water accounts, ecosystem based adaptation, water re-use Revision!

Policy/legal link Blueprint WFD Climate change and disasters Mainstreaming into multi-annual financial framework (20% expenditure related to climate change) Disaster risk reduction Water efficiency WFD Potential (indirect) links with Art. 4.6/4.7?

Avoid the circle National adaptation strategies 'water is priority, hence implementation of WFD and FD' Programme of Measures 'adaptation to climate change is important, hence adaptation strategies at national level'

RBMP's and measures The RBMP's will render information showing adaptation practice in water management an inventory of measures that enhance adaptation capacity to climate change

Looking ahead 2017: report to EP and Council on the state of play of climate adaptation in the EU RBMP relevant information on climate change will be included Look at links between climate change and the WFD (and the FD)