1. EEA-Report:Regional climate change and adaptation The Alps facing the challenges of changing water resourcesPerth mountains conference, 26-30 September 2010Wolfgang Lexer (UBA Vienna)Torsten Grothmann (PIK Potsdam), Andrea Prutsch (UBA Vienna),Inke Schauser (UBA Dessau), Benno Hain (UBA Dessau), Sabine McCallum (UBA Vienna), Diana Nenz (PIK Potsdam), Anne Holsten (PIK Potsdam), Marc Zebisch (EURAC Bozen),Stphane Isoard (EEA Copenhagen)ProjectFunded byMembers

2. State of knowledge Mountains are one of the most vulnerable regions to climatechange in Europe (EEA 2008, IPCC 2007). The Alps as the water towers of Europe play a fundamentalrole for large parts of Europe. In the Alps, water resource problems (quantity and quality) inthe past appeared in particular regions and at particular timesof the year. Climate change will impact water availability:effects on ecosystem services and,effects on almost all socio-economical sectors. In the future, climate change could increase water resourceproblems in specific regions in the Alps and throughout Europe(growing demand vs. decreasing water availability). 3. AimsGain some insights on the vulnerability of the Alps with regard tothe impacts of global change on water availability and specificwater-sensitive regions. Natural hazards are beyond the scope of the study!Analyse adaptation activities to water resource problems whichhave already been carried out in sensitive regions.Assess possible needs, constraints and opportunities foradaptation.Provide support to regional and local administrations in makinginformed decisions.Raise awareness and expand the knowledge base. 4. Structure of the studyMethods1. Setting the sceneLiterature review & Climate change in the Alps Climate scenarios Alps as Water Towers Data collection & review Sectoral perspectiveInterviews with local & regional2. Regional perspectivestakeholders 6 Case Studies for 4 climatic zones2-day workshop Questionnaire measuring the importance of certain3. Experiences aspects as Adaptation to climate change in water-barriers/triggerssensitive regions of the Alps Transboundary cooperation on water Literature review &scarcityexperiences from case studies Other mountain regions in Europe 5. Sectoral perspective Sektors experiencing water resource pressures 6. Regional perspective Case studies 7. Key themes in case study regions Which water resource problems are existingHow are sectors in water-sensitive regions in water-sensitive regions in the Alps? influenced by changing water availability? How does the water supply from the Alps affect Europe?Which adaptation activities to water resourceproblems are already carried out?What are the needs, constraints and Which triggers, barriers and drivers ofopportunities for past and future adaptation? adaptation can be identified? Can other mountain regions profit from experiences in the Alps? Federal Environment Agency, GermanyEuropean Environment Agency 8. Experiences from regional Case studies 1 Case studies are not meant to be representative for the Alps but were carried out to illustrate key issues! Adaptation to water resource problems are driven by concrete effects and socio-economic impacts rather than climate change prediction. Measures are often triggered by: Extreme events causing drastic water scarcity Economic reasons Political will Local traditions and rules Adaptation has followed mainly a technological approach. 9. Experiences from regional Case studies 2 - Adaptation processes highly depend on the people involved and on institutional and organisational factors. Coordination of water resources is organized largely at local level. Cross-sectoral coordination seems to work well at local level but is often lacking at regional level. Maladaptation is happening. Often knowledge is missing (e.g. monitoring, withdrawals). 10. Important factors for adaptation to climate changeAwareness &Political factorsinformation/Education & skills Institutional andorganisational factorsAdaptation to climate changeand water resource problems Legal factorsEconomic factors Social & cultural factorsTechnological factors Equity 11. Dynamic Motivated and skilledindividuals adaptation processAdaptation management /Awareness /governanceStakeholder dialogue / cooperationRisk perceptionDissemination of knowledge on climate change and good adaptation practices Triggers and influential factors of adaptation processExperience of problemsKnowledge productionAvailability andLegal context:Economic context: in the past (e.g. water on climate changeaccess to legal instruments availability of economicshortages, droughts) impacts and technological and responsibilities / resources and financial adaptation strategiesadaptation optionscompetenciesinstruments (e.g. win-win and low (e.g. drop irrigation)(e.g. water framework(e.g. water prices) regret options,directive)stepwise precautionaryapproach) 12. Conclusions for vulnerability &adaptation assessments Highlight social, political, institutional and management factors as important determinants of adaptive capacity and vulnerability Identify region specific adaptation barriers and drivers by applying participatory assessments (e.g. half-standardized self- assessment tools) Evaluate assessment results to be included as indicators for adaptive capacity Arrange for periodic monitoring to detect potential new barriers and drivers during the adaptation process 13. Recommendations for adaptation tofuture climate change in water-sensitive regions ofthe European Alps Tailor response measures to specific regional conditions andmost affected sectors, taking general political and socio-economic realities into account Keep adaptation processes adaptive, based on continuousmonitoring and learning to ensure flexibility for adjustments Apply precautionary principle in response to knowledge deficits Implement adaptation actions step by step, beginning withwin-win or no-regret options 14. EEA-Report (2009):Regional climate change and adaptation:The Alps facing the challengeof changing water resourcesLink: www.eea.europa.eu/publications/alps-climate-change-and-adaptation-2009Project consortium (ETC-ACC): UBA Dessau (Germany), UBA Vienna (Austria), PIK Potsdam (Germany), EURAC Bolzano (Italy)Partner: Permanent Secretariat of the Alpine ConventionContributing authors: EPA Slovenia, ZAMG (Austria), Ministero dell`Ambiente e della Tutela del Territori e del Mare (Italy), University of Geneva and WSL (Switzerland), Institut de la Montagne (France), Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention UNEP (Austria). Federal Environment Agency, GermanyEuropean Environment Agency 15. Thank you!Project Funded byMembers