1. Progress of the preparations for a White Paper on Adaptation to Climate Change Water Directors’ meeting Slovenia June Marieke van Nood, Unit D.2, DG Environment, European Commission

2. Policy making process Stakeholder Consultation Dec 2007
Green Paper
Adopted
June 2007
White Paper
To be adopted
end of 2008
Stakeholder Consultation
Dec 2007
Internal Consultation
Development of a Framework for Adaptation

3. Outcomes of stakeholder consultation
General support for messages in Green Paper
Urgent response is required
Areas most vulnerable identified: water, health and biodiversity, tourism and agriculture
There is a regional variation with regard to vulnerable areas, impacts and policy responses;
a “one size fits all” approach will not work
a flexible EU Framework for action should be applied
Adaptation and mitigation must be considered together
More focus on health and urban areas is needed
More research and knowledge gathering is required
Greater public debate and awareness raising needed

4. Outline of Impact Assessment
Problem definition
Identifying the need for (early) action at EU level
Objectives
Strategic choices: shaping EU adaptation
Operational issues: focusing on EU added value
Policy Options
Policy Options screening
Detailed assessment of key Policy Packages
Monitoring & Evaluation

5. Adaptation baseline
Identifying the adaptation “baseline” is crucial but complicated
Some adaptation will occur autonomously, privately and/or unplanned
For example, acclimatisation to increasing temperatures, migration of species
Capacity to adapt autonomously varies geographically, by socio-economic group, between sectors, etc – danger of inequities
Risks where unplanned adaptation may lead to conflict between sectors or groups, or gaps, or duplication of activity
From EU-level perspective, adaptation “baseline” may also include adaptation already planned or happening at national or local levels

6. Problem definition
Analysis of the chain of impacts on various sectors and cross-sectoral issues
Climate
Socio-economic
drivers
Eco-
system
changes
Environ-
mental
impacts
Provision
Products/
services
Economic
impacts
Social
impacts
Agriculture
Forests
Fisheries
Infrastructures & buildings
Energy
Industry & services (incl. Tourism)
Health
Climate / Economic Scenarios
Variability impacts across EU, groups
Identify the need for EU Action:
Trans-boundary effects
Solidarity
EC policies
Economies of scale, etc.
Autonomous / National adaptation plans
Identify the need for early action
Knowledge gaps
Risk assessment
Land use
Water
Biodiversity / ecosystems
External dimension

7. Objectives Operational issues: focusing on EU added value
Strategic criteria for adaptation options:
Synergies mitigation & adaptation
No regret measures
Precautionary principle: give consideration to worst-case scenario
Solidarity between social groups, between regions, Member States and between the EU and third countries
Objectives
Strategic choices: shaping EU adaptation:
Increase resilience of EU economy, society and environment to CC by:
Ensuring nature areas connectivity
Improving ecosystems services (e.g. water storage, climate regulation, etc.)
Adopting a preventive management of damages to economic and social infrastructure
Improve the long-term outlook for society and biodiversity/ecosystems.
Operational criteria for policy instruments
Flexibility
Knowledge based
Proportionality / cost-effectiveness
Sustainability
Subsidiarity
Consistency with horizontal EU strategies (Lisbon)
Operational issues:
focusing on EU added value

8. Policy options - towards a framework for EU action
Water
Land management
Nature conservation
Agriculture
Forestry
Fisheries
Industries
Infrastructures
Energy
Health
Etc.
Insurance schemes
Price signals / markets
Financing schemes
Regulatory incentives (standards; planning)
R&D
Soft actions (Communication, governance)
Identification of alternative options
Screening
Strategic criteria
Operational criteria (incl subsidiarity test)
grouping into policy packages
(qualitative) assessment economic / environmental / social dimensions

9. White Paper - possible principles for action
Synergies- Priority to measures for mitigation and adaptation.
No regret- Priority to measures beneficial irrespectively of uncertainties
Precautionary principle: consider worst-case scenario measures, even if uncertainties are high
Solidarity- between MS, regions, social groups
Flexibility and subsidiarity - Adaptation policy should be dynamic and flexible
Knowledge based- Adaptation policy should be based on scientific evidence
Proportionality- Measures must be cost-effective and proportionate
Sustainability- Measures must be in line with overarching EU objectives on sustainable development.

10. White Paper - possible other components
The problem- main areas of vulnerability and uncertainties
The benefits of early action at EU level
Developing a culture of reducing risk and vulnerability
( for each of following areas different options could be considered)
Awareness raising / capacity building
Land use / land management
Infrastructure
Funding mechanisms
Principles for action

11. Next steps
Further internal discussions within Commission services on Impact Assessment
Further preparations of the White Paper
The White paper and its IA will go for formal Inter-service Consultation
After the Inter-service Consultation, the White paper will be adopted by the Commission.

12. All information on: