Supporting the development of the EU strategy for CCA – Views and Challenges in Southern Europe

Background and objectives: Adaptation is a dynamic process and requires multiple iterations, either in response to new or improved information (e.g. better climate modelling, improved decision-making frameworks) or as the result of learning from other regions or partners elsewhere in Europe and beyond. The European Commission is currently in the process of developing an EU Adaptation Strategy with the general aim to enhance the preparedness and capacity to respond to the impacts of climatic change of the EU, its Member States and regions, down to the local level. Stakeholder consultation will be a key element in order to support a strategic approach to the national implementation of climate change adaptation actions and to facilitate the exchange between the Member States.

In this context, this workshop supported the development of the EU Adaptation Strategy and offered an arena for sharing knowledge and experience on adaptation policy and practice with the focus on Southern Europe. More specific, the objectives of the workshop were:

• Share the current state of work on adaptation strategies and projects in Southern European Countries;
• Discuss needs and expectations of potential European guidelines to support the elaboration of national adaptation strategies and their action plans (with the focus on implementation issues) accompanying the EU Adaptation Strategy;
• Foster the exchange of experiences on various adaptation challenges (e.g. Impact assessments; Vulnerability studies, prioritizing adaptation options; Monitoring and evaluation);
• Identify knowledge gaps and national needs in support of policy development on EU and national level;
• Identify specificities and challenges for adaption in Southern European Countries

Format: A 1-day international workshop on adaptation and knowledge sharing in support of the development of the EU Adaptation Strategy.

Organizers: This event was organized by the DG CLIMA project “Support to the development of the EU strategy for adaptation to climate change” (CLIMA.C.3/SER/2011/0026) with the help of ISPRA, the Institute for Environmental Protection and Research in Italy.