Download Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions

Integrating Adaptation into Policy
Decisions
- The example of North Rhine-Westphalia
Michael Theben
Brussels - 17.02.2009
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Overview
1. Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions – why?
2. Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions – who?
3. Adaptation policy in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)

Adaptation Strategy 2009

Supporting Measures

Cooperation and Networking
between regions
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
1. Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions – Why?
 Adaptation to environmental change not a new concept
 Re-Action (not planned and managed)
 Specific conditions of anthropogenic climate change
 Climate change occurs faster and to a greater extent than past
experiences
 Higher vulnerability of society (growing population,…)
 Unlikeliness of market forces leading to efficient adaptation
 Increased level of knowledge makes early action possible:
regional high resolution climate projections
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
1. Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions – Why?
 Solution: Climate Policy has to be pro-active and to integrate
adaptation into policy decisions
 Consideration:
 Weigh of costs and benefits of adaptation measures 
information is necessary
 Long-running nature of policy decisions
 Cost benefits of early action
 Action: legislation, rules for investment, information, funding
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
2. Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions – Who?
 Actions to be taken at all levels: private and public, individuals,…
 EU:
 Cross-border approach
 Integration and coordination
 Integration adaptation into funding policy
 Federal government:
 Outline problems
 Set a framework for national action
 Regions:
 Identify the regions' specific vulnerabilities
 Develop and implement strategies tailored to the region’s needs
 Benefits are visible in the region!
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
3. Adaptation Policy of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
NRW – a short overview:
 Population: 18.1 Mio.  22% of the total
German population
 Surface: 34,083 km2  9.5% of
Germany
 Region with highest population density in
Germany  530 inhabitants / km2
 GDP: 462 billion €
 31% of Germany‘s electric energy
production
 15,000 km2 of arable land (43 % of the
region’s surface area) and 9150 km2 of
forest land
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
3. Adaptation Policy of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)
 2007: Adoption of a White Paper, which contains all available data
and information on climate change in NRW:
 Effects of climate change, that are manifest already today
 Effects that are expected to occur in future
 2009: Adaptation Strategy for NRW - to be published in April
 Supporting measures:
 International cooperation
 Public Relations/information campaigns
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Adaptation Strategy 2009
Content and objectives of the adaptation strategy:
 Regional high resolution climate projections
 Regional effects of climate change
 Vulnerabilities in the regions of NRW
in the following fields: water management, nature conservation,
agriculture, forestry, health, energy management, tourism, urban
management, safety of industrial installations
 Proposals for adaptation measures for regions
 downscaling to regional level!
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Adaptation Strategy 2009 – Methodology
+
Regional high-resolution
climate projections
Ecological
and socioeconomic
indicators
=
Vulnerabilities in
North Rhine-Westphalia
for different sectors
Source: PIK
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Adaptation Strategy 2009 – Methodology II
Population density
(in %)
Urban heat island potential
Sensitivity
Sealed surface area by
local government area
(in %)
Population over 65 (in %)
Number of heat days
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Source: PIK
Adaptation Strategy 2009 – Measures
 Varying sensitivities and varying causes for vulnerability
 Adaptation measures tailored to regions needs
 Example heat waves:
 Age of population: information campaigns, cooling in nursing
homes, special training for nursing staff,…
 Urban heat island potential: urban management, green
corridors
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Concrete Measures – Examples
 Water Management
 Adapting draining infrastructure
 Urban management/Planning
 Green spaces and parks
 Wind paths
 Nature conservation:
 Creation of networks of fauna and flora habitats
 In Branches of Industry: Forestry, Agriculture, Tourism 
supportive measures
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Supportive Measures
 Provide necessary information:
 Regional climate projections
 Funding of further research on adaptation (innovation fund)
 Forestry: Developing digital maps containing information about
specific conditions of a given forest site
 Integrate adaptation into funding policy
 Agriculture: Sponsoring counselling services for farmers to help
them develop cultivation strategies tailored to specific regional
conditions
 Improving general awareness of the issue of adaptation, e.g. web
portals and training schemes
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Cooperation and Networking between regions
 Symposium “Strategies for Adapting to Climate Change in the
Regions of Europe”
 27th-29th October 2009 in Düsseldorf
 Exchange of experience and information
 Networking of regions with similar problems
 Use of synergies
 Application for an INTERREG IVc project: REACCT = Regions of
Europe Adapting to Climate Change EffecTs
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia
Thank You for
Your Attention!
Ministry of the Environment and Conservation,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State
of North Rhine-Westphalia