Ministry of the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Integrating Adaptation into Policy Decisions - The example of North Rhine-Westphalia Michael Theben Brussels

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 km 2  9.5% of Germany  Region with highest population density in Germany  530 inhabitants / km 2  GDP: 462 billion €  31% of Germany‘s electric energy production  15,000 km 2 of arable land (43 % of the region’s surface area) and 9150 km 2 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 Vulnerabilities in North Rhine-Westphalia for different sectors Ecological and socio- economic indicators + = Source: PIK

Ministry of the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Adaptation Strategy 2009 – Methodology II Sealed surface area by local government area (in %) Population density (in %) Urban heat island potential Population over 65 (in %) Sensitivity Number of heat days Source: PIK

Ministry of the Environment and Conservation, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia 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  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 Supportive Measures

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”  27 th -29 th 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!