Integrated Environmental Policies in Europe & CIS

Climate Change Adaptation

Global warming is already altering the world's climate. Its impacts are felt in all sectors and regions of society, through changes in mean temperature and precipitation as well as through changes in the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. Adverse impacts of climate change will negatively affect progress toward development in a number of key areas including agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zones, public health, climate-related disaster risk management and natural resources management. National planning must take these impacts into account.

The UNDP’s mission for supporting adaptation to climate change is: to assist developing countries to change existing policies and practices or to adopt new policies and practices to secure the Millennium Development Goals in the face of climate change and its associated impacts.

Climate Change Adaptation in Europe and the CIS

Vulnerability to climate change in Eastern Europe and CIS differs among sub-regions. Long-term trends and climate change are already having an impact on development in the region. The impact of temperature rise is seen through glacier retreat, increased risks in flooding, and droughts. Other issues such as sea-level rise is becoming a growing problem in the low lying coasts of the Adriatic, Black, and Caspian Seas and threatening local settlements, farmlands, and strategic infrastructure such as ports. Future risks are much greater in the low and low-middle income countries that have lesser resources and capacities to cope with these risks.

Vulnerability to climate change in ECIS differs among sub-regions. It is particularly high in southern and eastern parts of the region, particularly in Central Asia. This has important equity implications since the current and future risks are much greater in the low and low-middle income countries that have lesser resources and capacities to cope with these risks. Table below shows the countries that are at highest risk to climate change, particularly climate-related disasters based on the following formula - Risk = Hazard * Vulnerability[1]. The first tier of high risk countries represents the most vulnerable group (low income countries) in the region that should feature as priority countries for adaptation actions.

Climate Change Adaptation Projects 

(this will come on the side)

Armenia Kyrgyzstan Azerbaijan Moldova FYR Macedonia Turkmenistan Georgia Uzbekistan Kazakhstan

 Contacts:

Keti Chachibaia: GEF Regional technical Specialist on Capacity Development and Adaptation    Keti.Chachibaia@undp.org