Adaptation to Climate Change

Programme Summary

Why is the programme needed? In 2007 and 2012, Romania experienced the most severe droughts in the last 100 years; at national level more than 54% of the areas are currently affected by drought. In 2005, 2006 and 2008 the country also saw historic floods in internal and transboundary rivers. The floods in 2005 caused 76 deaths and caused damage for €1,4 billion and affected 1734 settlements. According to assessments by UN IPCC, Romania faces continued average annual warming with a marked increase towards the end of the century. At the same time, there is insufficient knowledge about climate change and the effects it will have on the Romania. This is particularly the case at regional and local level. Regional and local authorities are charged with implementing EU and national policies on climate change adaptation, but do not have the adequate competence and tools to do so. There is also a need to enhance the scientific basis for decision making and planning by way of meteorological studies on local climatic conditions. The programme addresses both the development of good management tools and the enhancement of knowledge on climatic conditions. Adaptation measures are needed to protect people, buildings, infrastructure, businesses and ecosystems. It is particularly important to show how this is relevant in a regional and local context in order to gain local support for the adaptation measures. Practical examples of climate change adaptation measures are needed. This is why the programme will carry out two pilots covering three of the most vulnerable sectors in the Central region of Romania: energy, transport and construction. What will the programme achieve and who are the beneficiaries? The programme supports the local public authorities in three municipalities in the Central region of Romania in their implementation of current legislation on climate change by developing strategies and plans on adaptation to climate change. The programme will also support the execution of meteorological studies on regional and local climate. Moreover, the programme will pilot climate change adaptation solutions for the transport, energy and construction sectors. The beneficiaries of the programme are regional and local decision makers and authorities, the research and education community, NGOs, civil society and the general public. How will it be achieved? The programme consists of one pre-defined project which will encompass the following: - Development of strategies, action plans and guidelines on climate change for three municipalities in the Central Region of Romania - Development of guidelines for climate change adaption in vulnerable sectors at local level and guidelines for how to elaborate them. - Development of a training module; education and training of 300 staff -Development of meteorological studies supporting climate change    adaptation plans at regional level -Two pilot measures in three vulnerable sectors:        o transport: underground cabling, local traffic study and tree planting        o energy and construction: climate proofing of a public building and adjoining kindergarten - Development of project website and information package for local media and public, and facilitation of one national awareness raising campaigns on climate change adaptation for civil society How will bilateral relations be strengthened? The pre-defined project will be implemented as a partnership between the Environment Protection Agency Sibiu and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS). Alongside KS, two more donor state partners will be involved: Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) and Western Norway Research Institute (Vestlandsforsking). The partnership builds upon previous cooperation between the partners, and will further strengthen bilateral collaboration in addition to the exchange of knowledge and best practises. Who can apply for funding under this programme? The programme does not include regular calls for proposals as it is implemented through a pre-defined project. The Bilateral funding under the programme will be open for calls. The eligible applicants are the project promoter, the project partners, NGOs and civil society, research institutes and universities. What are the partnership opportunities? Apart from the already established partnership between the Project Promoter and the Donor project partner(s), the programme does not provide for additional partnership opportunities.