CPA aims to create a portfolio of climate adoption strategies for the North Sea Region. This will be done by carrying out multi-focused pilot projects across the NSR in order to analyse the impacts of climate changes as a first step. Subsequently, diverse climate adoption strategies will be developed, implemented and tested. In addition, the project will foster political support established by the Memoranding of Understanding (MoU) of the North Sea Commission, triggering future investments on a transnational level.
Ghent University – Centre for Mobility and Physical Planning
United Kingdom
National Trust
RSPB
Wildlife Trust NCPB
Background and Aim
Aim The aim of the project is to accelerate the climate change adaptation process in the NSR by means of the joint development and testing of innovative adaptation measures in pilot locations for a variety of areas representative for the NSR as a whole, and use the results to give recommendations for regional, national and NSR wide adaptation strategies and create a toolkit for adaptation in the NSR, thus preparing these regions, countries and the NSR for anticipated changes in the climate.
We also aim to improve adaptation policies on regional and national level by means of targeted communication actions to the various political stakeholders.
Background The NSR is threatened by the effects of climate change and especially raising sea levels will impact the NSR which mainly consists of coastal areas. The frequency and impact of natural disasters such as storm surges and floods will increase in the future while also increased levels of rainfall and higher water levels in rivers are expected.
This directly threatens core values of the NSR such as precious nature areas and densely populated urban areas along the NS coast. The EC has recognised that apart from working on mitigation (CO2 reduction) adaptation is unavoidable, hence the development of the green paper 'adapting to climate change in Europe - options for EU action'. Experience and expertise in designing effective adaptation strategies and especially designing and implementing concrete adaptation measures is very limited.
Adaptation will require (huge) spatial investments and innovative solutions which are politically sensitive. Therefore the NSR countries have the common challenge to work on climate change adaptation strategies and innovative measures that will enable the NSR countries to deal with the problems caused by climate change. This project will set major steps towards implementing concrete adaptation measures, transfer this experience to the entire NSR and thus accelerate the adaptation process in the NSR.
Throughout the partnership, different land uses as nature conservation, urban/build-up areas and agriculture are represented. Although all have different accents in land use, still an integrated approach is needed in order to achieve a sustainable approach. Therefore all partners will work together on jointly developed regional adaptation strategies and pilot locations that will set further steps towards implementation and testing of adaptation measures.
Expected Outcomes
National and NSR Climate Change Impact Analysis;
Pilots: Agricultural Areas, Onshore and Offshore Approaches, Urban Areas, Nature Conservation and Management, including pilot adaptation measures: feasibility study and pilot implementation plans;
An adaptation toolkit for adaptation of measures and strategies;
Policy Recommendations to existing adaptation strategies;
Foster political support established by the Memoranding of Understanding (MoU) of the North Sea Commission, triggering future investments on transnational level.
October 2010 - March 2011
The political statement has been adopted by the Sustainable Development Working Group of the North Sea Commission, the NSC Executive Committee and the NSC General Assembly.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will be signed by all partners during the end meeting of Climate Proof Areas in Brussels on the 24 November 2011. Content of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is based on the outcome of Climate Proof Areas pilots, and includes recommendations on climate adaptation, process evaluation, ecology, economical and social aspects. The adaptation toolbox, which is one of the main outcomes of the project, is currently under its final implementation stage. It contains risk identification, risk assessment, potential solutions, valuing process, selection of potential measures and follow ups. The toolbox draws on experiences from the different pilots and will be made available as a guidance for regional and local stakeholders to set climate proofing in motion.
April - September 2010
A draft Memorandum of Understanding has been presented to the North Sea Commission and discussions on its implementation have been started. The Memorandum of Understanding will be based on the outcomes of the Climate Proof Areas pilots, including recommendations on climate adaptation, process evaluation as well as ecologic, economical and social aspects.
The adaptation toolbox, which is one of the main outcomes of the project, is currently undergoing a consultation process in order to finalise its content: It contains risk identification, risk assessment, potential solutions, valuing process, selection of potential measures and follow ups. The toolbox draws on experiences from different pilots and will be made available as a guidance for regional and local stakeholders to set climate proofing in motion.
October 2009 - March 2010
The project has continued the analysis (WP1) over existing information on the expected impact of climate change on the various partner regions involved in the project. Five draft analysis reports have been implemented. During the next bi-annual meeting in Arvika, Sweden, a final discussion of WP1 results is foreseen. The work on the pilot adaptation measures (WP 2), which is focused on the joint development and testing will be bundled in a toolkit for adaptation for the North Sea Region and also widely disseminated to stakeholders within the programme area, has also been continued since the first reporting round.
Policy recommendations will be mobilised through by means of communication actions (WP 5), but also by the proposal of a MoU to the North Sea Commission together with the recommendations (WP 3) and the toolkit (WP 4).
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