Republic of Serbia: Climate change adaptation programme for the period 2023-2030 - ReliefWeb

Republic of Serbia: Climate change adaptation programme for the period 2023-2030 - Serbia | ReliefWeb

INTRODUCTION

Climate change, which is occurring at least ten times faster than ever before in the history of the planet Earth, has increased damages and losses, threatened people's lives, and disrupted the functionality natural systems, both globally and in the Republic of Serbia.

Estimates show that the Republic of Serbia is warming more intensively and faster than the global average. While the observed increase in the global average temperature is 1.1°C, Serbia is already at 1.8°C, and in the summer, it is as much as 2.6°C. At the same time, since 2000, the Republic of Serbia has faced several significant extreme climate and weather events that have caused significant material and financial losses, as well as the loss of human lives. The total minimum material damages caused by extreme climatic and weather events in the 2000-2020 period amount to EUR 6.8 billion(1) . More than 70% of the damages were caused by droughts and high temperatures due to climate change and extreme weather events. Another major cause of significant losses was flooding. Therefore, the adoption and implementation of the 2023-2030 Climate Change Adaptation Programme (hereinafter: the Programme) is of general interest for the Republic of Serbia.

The climate hazards frequency and intensity will continue to increase in the future, with a clear trend of change until the mid-21st century period, after which the changes depend on the success of the implementation of the climate change mitigation measures specified in the Paris Agreement, which was signed and ratified by the Republic of Serbia. The climate hazards that cause the most significant damage and losses in the Republic of Serbia and whose intensity and frequency are increasing are: heat waves, intensive precipitation and droughts. Other climate hazards that are caused by climate change and manifested depending on the regional characteristics are: floods, landslides, rockfalls, fires, etc. Vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by air, water and soil pollution. The way that climate change impacts the territory of Republic of Serbia further amplify the problems caused by the pollution.

Natural and social systems, including the economy and ways of living, cannot adapt to the accelerated climate change without special plannings and interventions in the processes of implementation of activities related to disaster risk reduction, food production, preservation of forest and other ecosystems, infrastructure construction and restoration, energy production, public health protection, etc.

The climate change adaptation process represents implementation of measures to ensure reduced vulnerability to climate change of people, infrastructure, economy and environment, including natural resources. These measures must not contribute to a net greenhouse gas emissions.

The Programme ensures implementation of the climate change adaptation measures in a “smart” and “systemic” manner, meaning it relies on the existing knowledge and ensures future implementation of the science-based solutions as well as the adjustments of policies and methodologies to ensure sustainable future planning in the context of climate change.

Therefore, the Programme aims to provide the capacities for improving timely public dissemination of the information about weather and climate conditions and the climate hazards to increase the preparedness of individuals, entrepreneurs, and employers. At the same time, the Programme enables the implementation of the adaptation measures that have been identified as most urgent to prevent a multiple increase of damages and losses due to climate change impacts. The Programme also ensures the implementation of interventions related to direct defence against climate hazards where the impacts cannot be mitigated, the implementation of measures enabling the initiation and maintenance of the adaptation process in the future in a sustainable manner, as well as the implementation of measures enabling rapid incorporation of new scientific findings into the adaptation process.

The global experience in the development of climate change adaptation policy and other crosscutting policies implies two possible approaches:

1) preparation of a separate law and/or strategic documents regulating a specific issue/ area;

2) inclusion of specific issues/areas in sectoral legislation and policies.

The experience has shown the latter approach to be more practical and ensure a more efficient implementation. Additionally, the experience has shown that a large number of policies, plans and activities do not include climate change scenarios, and rather base their objectives on climate trends (past changes), which does not ensure a reduction in the risk of natural disasters and climate hazards and risks. That is true for Serbia as well, and it is a problem that needs to be addressed through awareness raising and capacity strengthening.

The Programme provides information on climate change and its impacts even beyond the Programme implementation period, identifying the needs for further development of the multidimensional adaptation process, and the gaps in knowledge and information necessary for further sustainable development under the climate change. Appendix 1, which is printed along with this Programme and is an integral part of the Programme (hereinafter: Appendix 1), provides a contribution to the climate change assessment for the Republic of Serbia. Appendix 2, which is printed along with this Programme and is an integral part of the Programme (hereinafter: Appendix 2), provides a contribution to the climate change impact assessment for the agricultural sector. Appendix 3, which is printed along with this Programme and is an integral part of the Programme (hereinafter referred to as Appendix 3), provides a contribution to the climate change impact assessment for forests and forestry. Appendix 4, which is printed along with this Programme and is an integral part of the Programme (hereinafter: Appendix 4), provides measures impact assessment (this technical addition is not included in the version in English).

The Action Plan for the implementation of the 2023-2030 Climate Change Adaptation Programme (hereinafter: Action Plan), which is printed along with this Programme and is an integral part of the Programme, establishes the activities for the implementation of the measures and the achievement of the objectives defined by the Programme. The first Action Plan is valid for a period of three years (from 2024 to 2026).

(1) https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-08/NDC%20Final_Serbia%2…