Adapting to Climate Change in Europe and Central Asia

World Bank

World Bank

关键词: ACCESS TO FINANCING;    ADAPTATION ACTION;    ADAPTATION ACTIONS;    ADAPTATION CONTEXT;    ADAPTATION DEFICIT;   

RP-ID  :  48948

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The climate is changing; and the Europeand Central Asia (ECA) region is vulnerable to theconsequences. Many of the region's countries are facingwarmer temperatures, a changing hydrology and more extremes,droughts, floods, heat waves, windstorms, and forest fires.Already the frequency and cost of natural disasters haverisen dramatically in the region. And the concentration ofgreenhouse gases already in the atmosphere guarantees thatsimilar or greater changes are yet to come, even if theworld completely stopped emitting carbon dioxide. Now, andat least for the near future, ECA vulnerability is beingdriven more by its existing sensitivity than by the severityof the climate impacts. In fact, ECA already suffers from aserious adaptation deficit even to its current climate. Thisderives from a combination of socioeconomic factors and theSoviet legacy of environmental mismanagement. This reportpresents an overview of what adaptation to climate changemight mean for ECA. It starts with a discussion of emergingbest practice adaptation planning around the world and areview of the latest climate projections. The report thendiscusses possible actions to improve resilience organizedaround impacts on natural resources (water, biodiversity,and the coastal environment), health, the'unbuilt' environment (agriculture and forestry),and the built environment (infrastructure and housing). Thelast chapter concludes with a discussion of two areas ingreat need of strengthening given the changing climate:disaster preparedness and hydrometeorological services.