Ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation in the European Union

Karin Zaunberger, European Commission

MORE CLIMATE CHANGE – LESS BIODIVERSITY

how to break the vicious circle ? increase resilience decrease vulnerability

• Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Green Infrastructure

• Nature-based solutions

• Eco-DRR – ecological disaster risk reduction

use the adaptive forces of nature

involve people and build responsibility

harness multiple benefits at comparable low cost

People citizen want to get involved!

Ecosystem-based approaches/

Green Infrastructure/ Nature-based solutions

• are ready for use and easily accessible

• involve people and build responsibility

Job and Business Opportunities

• bring multiple benefits

• are cost efficient and make economic sense

• are to be an integral part of the overall adaptation and mitigation effort and disaster risk reduction effort

The Rosetta Stone EBA – NBS – GI eco-DRR

working with nature for people

Policy Framework(s)

• EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the Roadmap to Resource Efficiency

• EU Adaptation Strategy • Green Infrastructure (GI) Enhancing

Europe's Natural Capital • H2020 Focus Area on Nature-based

solutions (NbS)

policy signals to decisionmakers, planners, promotors to invest in GI and adaptation projects at local, regional, national and cross-boundary level

ppt slide 2

Problem in

urbanising Europe:

fragmentation,

habitat degradation,

(intensification and

abandonment) and

loss

Unsustainable land use

and fragmentation

What are the problems?

Climate change

mitigation and

adaptation

– disaster

prevention

Unsustainable use of ecosystem

goods & services

Ecosystems that are small or isolated

may stop providing us with valuable

services such as food, freshwater, water

regulation, clean air, recreation facilities

Loss of biodiversity in the EU

>> Ecosystems currently absorb half of

anthropogenic CO2 emissions and provide

adaptation functions, including flood

protection and disaster risk minimisation

... and the solutions?

March 2015 State and Outlook of European Environment

May 2015 'State of Nature in the EU'

October 2015 Mid-term report on EU Biodiversity Strategy

Green Infrastructure: Elements

Spatial structure

delivering nature

benefits to people

Local or town/city scale Regional and national scale

EU level Descriptor

Natural and semi-natural ecosystems, such as pastures, woodland, forest (no intensive plantations), ponds, bogs, rivers and floodplains, coastal wetlands, lagoons, beaches, marine habitats

Extensive agricultural and forest landscapes, large marsh and bog areas, rivers and floodplains, shorelines/coastal zones

Freshwater systems, major river basins, mountain ranges, regional sea basins

Core areas –outside protected areas

Local nature reserves, water protection areas, landscape protection areas, Natura 2000 sites

Regional and National Parks and wilderness zones (includes Natura 2000 sites)

Ecological Networks with cross-border areas, incl. Natura 2000 network

Core areas/protected areas

Restored areas which were before fragmented or degraded natural areas, brownfield land or disused quarries; transitional ecosystems due to land abandonment or regeneration processes

Restored ecosystem types Restored Landscape systems covering a substantial part of agricultural/forestry areas and industrialised sites, including cross-border areas

Restoration zones

High nature value farmland and multi-use forests (such as watershed forests); protection forests (against avalanches, mudslides, stonefall, forest fires), natural buffers such as protection shorelines with barrier beaches and salt marshes

Extensive agricultural landscapes, sustainable forest management on regional and national level, functional riparian systems

Transboundary landscape features on river basin or mountain range level, sustainable coastal and marine management zones related to the respective sea basin

Sustainable use zones

Street trees and avenues, city forests/woodlands, high-quality green public spaces and business parks/premises; green roofs and vertical gardens; allotments and orchards; storm ponds and sustainable urban drainage systems; city reserves incl. Natura 2000

Greenways, green belts, metropolitan park systems

Metropolitan areas with substantial share of high quality green areas in Europe, including coherent approaches in cross-border urban zones.

Green urban and peri-urban areas

Hedgerows, stone walls, small woodlands, ponds, wildlife strips, riparian river vegetation, transitional ecosystems between cropland, grassland and forests

Multi-functional, sustainably managed agricultural landscapes, riparian systems

Supra-regional corridors, substantial share of structure-rich agricultural, forestry or natural landscapes

Natural connectivity features

Eco-ducts, green bridges; animal tunnels (e.g. for amphibians), fish passes, road verges, ecological powerline corridor management

De-fragmentated landscapes, improved areas along transport and energy networks, migration corridors, river continuum

European-wide or transnational defragmentation actions

Artificial connectivity features

TEN-G?

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm http://biodiversity.europa.eu/bise-catalogue, > Green Infrastructure

More information on DG ENV and BISE webpages:

Climate Action

Mayors Adapt http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu /

Climate Action

European Development Funds • 11th European Development Fund (EDF)

• Regional and national programmes provide the opportunity to include adaptation measures

• Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) • Global Public Goods and Challenges Programme (GPGC)

2 Flagships: • Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA); • Biodiversity for Life (B4Life)

More information see links on the final slide of this presentation

• Europe 2020 Strategy, devoting at least 20% of Multiannual

Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-20 for climate objectives, climate mainstreaming into a range of EU policies

Mainstreaming of climate action - adaptation and mitigation - into EU policies

European Development Funds (EDF, DCI)

Climate Action

Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation

• The EU civil protection mechanism legislation promotes exchange of good practices, incl. on preparing national civil protection systems to cope with the impacts of climate change

• Important to enhance synergies between the two communities

• Promoting ecosystems for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (recent UNEP discussion paper)

14

Policy Research and Innovation

Ongoing research

Embedding ecosystem based approaches for disaster risk reduction & CC adaptation in coastal areas

• Ecosystem-based measures analysed as part of an integrated strategy to reduce vulnerability in coastal areas • Holistic & participatory assessment of vulnerabilities & risks, modelling & new tools for risk

assessment and early warning, assessment of adaptation measures (effectiveness, cost, benefits)

• Three ongoing research projects from FP7: • RISES-AM-: Long-term assessment of CC impacts & vulnerabilities and adaptation needs in

coastal areas under high-end climate change

• Green solutions analysed in terms of CC mitigation and adaptation potential

• Representative Case Studies for different types of coastal zones

• PEARL: Adaptive, sociotechnical risk management measures and strategies for coastal communities

• Holistic risk governance

• Platform to facilitate the sharing of best practices, European and International

• RISC-KIT: Toolkit of methods, tools and management approaches to reduce risk and increase resilience

• Coastal Risk Assessment Framework

• Web-based management guide with innovative, cost-effective, ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction measures

Climate Action

• EU research project EcoAdapt on ecosystem-based strategies and innovations in water governance networks for adaptation to climate change in Latin American Landscapes;

• SIDS – a joint project with UNEP, UNDP and IUCN aims to strengthen the resilience of coral reefs and associated ecosystems that depend on them by promoting ecosystem-based adaptation and policies and actions

• Restoration of Mangroves, Senegal

The EU's BEST initiative

promoting conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity in EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories

Specific objective area: develop and use ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation

http://ec.europa.eu/best

concluding remark

• Divest from measures which have negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Invest in measures which contribute to maintain and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services

• Use available EU financing instruments to implement NbS, EbA, GI, eco-DRR !

• Invest in working with nature for people

• Empower people

• Encourage multisectoral partnerships

• SEEK CONVERGENCE IN IMPLEMENTATION

• Ecosystem-based approaches leading to transition

more information

• http://www.unep.org/disastersandconflicts/portals/155/publications/Eco_DRR_discussion_paper.pdf

• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/42si_en.pdf

• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/37si_en.pdf

• http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/node/37678_en

• http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/eu-biodiversity-life-b4life-flagship-initiative-brochure_en

Thank you for your attention