Preparatory projects for the National Adaptation Strategy
In Austria the development of a national adaptation strategy has been announced officially in the current government programme which defines goals up to 2013. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (BMLFUW) initiated preparatory projects for developing a national adaptation strategy, envisaged for 2011; in particular:
- a stock-take of ongoing adaptation activities,
- a preliminary vulnerability assessment for selected sectors (agriculture, forestry, water sector, electricity industry, tourism) and
- first recommendation for actions of selected sectors on the ground.
Further sectors will be assessed in depth, starting in autumn 2009.
Since 2007 the BMLFUW organised three national workshops on climate change adaptation to inform stakeholders about the necessity to take action and steps to be taken towards an adaptation strategy.
In June 2009 a participatory process has started to discuss e.g. adaptation measures, responsibilities for implementation, research needs with relevant stakeholders. A home page with relevant information (mostly in german) on climate change adaptation in Austria is available at www.klimawandelanpassung.at (launched in August 2009).
Austrian Climate Research Programme (ACRP)
On March 2nd 2009 the Kli:En programme ACRP closed its call on climate and energy related research topics. At this stage an overall amount of 4 mio. Euro was allocated.
The following topical areas were determined:
· Climate and its effects
· Risk analysis
· Integrated analysis of climate, energy and economy
· Climate politics and implementation
Focus lies on investigation of regional and local characteristics of climate change and its impacts on ecosystems, economic sectors, society and individuals as well as on interactions between adaptation and mitigation measures. The programme comprises natural, social and economic sciences and covers legal and technical aspects. Research should be carried out in an interdisciplinary and partly transdisciplinary way.
KVP – Climate Impact Assessment
In order to address substantial aspects of the Austrian Climate Strategy, Austria is introducing an climate impact assessment at the federal policy level, that aims to mainstream regulations addressing both mitigation and adaptation in terms of assessing: (1) potential effects of the regulation with regard to emissions of greenhouse gases; (2) expected effects on vulnerability resp. the contribution to climate change response measures. The climate impact assessment shall follow the overall principle to exhaust positive effects (emission reductions, reduced vulnerability/increasing adaptive capacity) and – to the extent possible – avoid negative effects.
The methodology of the climate impact assessment foresees the following assessment steps responsible authorities have to arrange for in preparation of a new regulation or an amendment:
- Examination of the effects on climate relevant goals and measures (Austrian Climate Strategy);
- Estimation of the effects (with regard to greenhouse gas emissions – in tones CO2 avoided/produced and contribution to climate change adaptation)
- If relevant adverse effects can be expected, possible alternatives have to be elaborated and assessed in terms of their potential impacts.
- At best, the most “climate friendly “alternative shall be chosen.
- In each case an explanatory statement has to be indicated in the law materials.
http://www.umweltbundesamt.at/en/umweltschutz/klima/kvp/
The climate and energy fund research and technology programme „New Energy 2020”
2007 a new fund – the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN) – was established in Austria, supporting:
· Environmentally friendly measures in the transport sector;
· Market penetration of climate relevant and sustainable energy technologies;
· Research and development in the area of sustainable energy technologies and climate research.
The first call 2008 of the research and technology programme “new energy 2020” focussed on energy efficiency, renewable energy and intelligent energy systems, the second call 2008 on various energy-related topics (systems and nets), especially on climate and energy model regions and decision bases for the Austrian energy and climate policy.
StartClim – Research Programme on Climate Change
March 2009
The climate research programme StartClim was implemented in 2002 as a response to extensive floods in Austria. About 80 Austrian scientists and more than 30 Austrian institutions are participating in StartClim. It is extended on a year-to-year basis and covers various topics:
- meteorological extreme events and their socio-economic impacts on Austria (2003);
- heat waves, drought and their impacts on Austria (2004);
- climate change and health (2005);
- effects of climate change on health, tourism and energy (2006, 2007);
- meteorological research, biodiversity and economic effects (2007).
In 2008 the focus lied on adaptation to climate change – a quite general focus that was consciously chosen in order to get a broad range of ideas in addition to the ones already covered. The aim of the current research call of StartClim2009 is to support the process of developing the Austrian Adaptation Strategy. Project proposals can be submitted until April 23rd 2009.