Download Information on the planned EEA 2017 report on CCA/DRR and a

Information on the planned EEA 2017 report on CCA/DRR and a request for updated
country information regarding national integration of CCA/DRR
1. Background information:
It is a high priority at global and European level to implement a comprehensive and integrated approach
to risks from natural hazards by considering the full disaster cycle (prevention, preparedness, response
and recovery) and also recognising the importance of climate change as a driver of risk.
Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)1 and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)2 provide a range of
complementary approaches for managing the risks of climate and weather-related extremes and
disasters. CCA and DRR address common challenges in most countries, but are covered by different
sets of policies and are under the responsibility of different institutions, which often collaborate at
varying levels (from consultation to full integration).
At global, EU and national level there is recognition that there are benefits of linking and
integrating the knowledge base, as well as policies, between the two CCA and DRR areas (see the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2020 and the Paris Agreement under UNFCCC).
This has been also confirmed by national reference centres on climate change impacts, vulnerability
and adaptation at the EEA EIONET workshop held in June 2015.
Hence, EEA has included in its Annual Work Programme for 2016 the development and preparation of
a new report covering the linkages and synergies between CCA and DRR CCA (hereafter 2017 EEA
CCA/DRR report), regarding both the knowledge base and the policies, to be published in mid-2017
(for further information see Annex 1)..
The preparation of the EEA 2017 CCA/DRR report has started in January 2016 and involves a team of
European experts3 developing the contents and an Advisory Group providing views on the scoping of
the report. In addition EEA will organise an expert meeting (11-13 April 2016), inviting experts from
various countries and international organisations, to review and discuss several parts of the report (in
particular sections on policies, practices and case studies).
EEA will present and discuss the progress of the report with EEA member countries at the 2016
EIONET workshop (June 2016) and will provide the final draft report for the regular EIONET review
in January/February 2017. This will also be an opportunity for invited experts to provide their
comments. The report will be published in June 2017.
2. Objective of this request:
The 2017 EEA CCA/DRR Report aims amongst others to present country experiences in planning
and/or implementing synergies between CCA and DRR and lessons learnt. The report will therefore
include sections on national and subnational policies, case studies and good practises where
relevant complemented by examples of subnational implementation.
1
Climate Change Adaptation - The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects. In human systems, adaptation
seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In some natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to
expected climate and its effects.
2
Disaster Risk Reduction - Denotes both a policy goal or objective, and the strategic and instrumental measures employed for anticipating
future disaster risk; reducing existing exposure, hazard, or vulnerability; and improving resilience.
3
These experts are from EEA, JRC, the European Topic Centre on Climate Change impacts, vulnerability and Adaptation (ETC/CCA), the
European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine waters (ETC/ICM) and other institutions.
Information from EEA member countries is already available from various sources as indicated below
(see Annex 2). EEA will make use of this information, which was already reported by countries in the
context of different initiatives, thus avoiding duplication of efforts.
Hence, EEA kindly requests the provision of additional specific information by answering to a short
list of questions (see below) on CCA/DRR national policies and practises on linkages between
CCA and DRR.
3. Request for additional information:
Question 1: CCA/DRR Integration
How is climate change adaptation currently integrated in the existing national and subnational
DRR plans and actions in your country (e.g. flood management, forest fire protection, drought
management, heat waves planning and storm emergency planning)?
Question 2: Good practices
What are in your opinion examples of good practices of integration and/or synergy of CCA and
DRR in your country? Both national and subnational examples (links and references) of both
organizational and implementation practices are welcome.
Question 3: Views on new EEA 2017 CCA/DRR report
What specific topics could the EEA 2017 CCA/DRR report cover in order to support the
respective activities at national or subnational level in your country?
Annex 1: The EEA 2017 CCA/DRR report
This new EEA 2017 CCA/DRR report, termed “Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
in Europe - Synergies for the knowledge base and policies”, aims to foster a better awareness and
exchange among decision-makers, policy and science experts and practitioners regarding potential
synergies between DRR and CCA in terms of knowledge base, policy developments and implementation.
This report aims to be of use for national policy development and implementation in EEA member
countries and for the European Commission’s report on the EU adaptation strategy, due in 2017.
The report main contents are the following:




Overview of the policies and practises at European and national level on CCA and DRR with
particular focus on opportunities and synergies between DRR and CCA policies and measures;
Observations and projections at European scale of extreme weather and climate related events
(e.g. heatwaves, hail, heavy precipitation events, storms, droughts, floods, forest fires,
landslides and avalanches);
Observations and projections of impacts of extreme weather and climate related events and
other geophysical hazards (landslides and avalanches) and risks on society, e.g. ecosystems
and human health (including economic damage costs and losses, fatalities and insurance
coverages);
Case studies on policies and practises (at national or subnational level).
The target audience of this report will be decision-makers in EU institutions and in EEA member
countries, both at national and subnational level, who are involved in the development and
implementation of DRR and/or CCA policies. The report can also be useful to policy advisers and
scientific/technical experts, who are advising decision-makers.
Annex 2: Already available country information on CCA and DRR
EEA already has available country information from the following existing reporting:

2015: according the regulation on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas
emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate
change4 (MMR), the EU Member States reported to the Commission information on their
national adaptation planning and strategies, outlining their implemented or planned actions to
facilitate adaptation to climate change.

2015: according the Hyogo Framework for Action (now Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015-2020) the countries provided DRR Progress Reports including assessment of
strategic priorities in the implementation of DRR actions and establishing baselines on levels
of progress achieved in implementing the HFA's five priorities for action (available on
Preventionweb website5). Furthermore EEA intends to make use of the information that was
due to be reported by Member States to DG ECHO by end of 2015.
4
Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting
greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision
No 280/2004/EC, OJ L 165, 18.6.2013, p. 13.
5
http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/progress/reports/index.php?o=pol_year&o2=DESC&ps=50&hid=2015&cid=rid3&x=9&y=5

2012: the Working Group on CCA and DRR of the European Forum on Disaster Risk
Reduction (EFDRR) carried out a survey6 among European countries (HFA focal points and
National Platform coordinators) on DRR and CCA to get an overview to which extent, and
how, member countries of the EFDRR link these two issues7.
6
7
http://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/35277
http://www.preventionweb.net/files/27513_12efdrr3oct2012croatiawg1andreassen.pdf