The report explores lessons learned from UNDP-supported climate change adaptation efforts in the region over the last decade.
It shows that climate impacts are already being felt across the region, including floods and droughts in the Western Balkans and south Caucasus, rising sea levels in the Black Sea and receding glaciers in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan estimates losses in agricultural crop production of over US$20 billion over the next 15 years without adaptation measures in the water and agriculture sectors.
10 December 2018: Climate change threatens to undermine development gains and efforts to eradicate poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according to a report published by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) that was unveiled on the sidelines of the Katowice Climate Change Conference.
Climate change impacts in the region are costing billions of dollars in lost productivity and could continue to increase, according to the report titled, ‘Climate Change Adaptation in Europe and Central Asia: Adapting to a Changing Climate for Resilient Development.’ The publication contends that tackling climate change must be central to poverty reduction and sustainable development efforts. It states that new climate risks “threaten to derail” advances and national efforts to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
The report shows that climate impacts are already being felt across the region, including floods and droughts in the Western Balkans and south Caucasus, rising sea levels in the Black Sea and receding glaciers in Central Asia. These impacts are expected to adversely affect people’s health, well-being, livelihoods and quality of life. For example, Turkmenistan estimates losses in agricultural crop production of over US$20 billion over the next 15 years without adaptation measures in the water and agriculture sectors.
Robust, evidence-based and inclusive investments in adaptation could offer high social, economic and political value for the region.
The report finds that “robust, evidence-based and inclusive investments” in climate change adaptation actions could “offer high social, economic and political value for the region,” together with the opportunity to end poverty, food insecurity and conflict. Climate hazards, for example, could cost Georgia between US$10 and US$12 billion from 2021 to 2030, while the cost of adapting is estimated to be between US$1.5 billion and US$2 billion over the same period.
The report explores lessons learned from UNDP-supported climate change adaptation efforts in the region over the last decade. It describes UNDP’s efforts to scale up projects and build a pipeline of climate actions to help countries achieve resilient development and environmental sustainability. In showcasing successful adaptation measures and initiatives in the region, the report highlights, for example:
In pursuing solutions, the report emphasizes: interlinked and holistic approaches; enhanced DRR and evidence-based decision making through the expansion of climate information and early warning systems; clean energy solutions; country-driven approaches to ensure sustainability of climate actions; participation of all stakeholders; and engagement with the private sector and exploration of innovative financing mechanisms.
Since 2014, UNDP and partners have worked with 14 countries in the region on adaptation, identifying gaps and needs, sensitizing national teams and institutions to adaptation planning and budgeting through multi-stakeholder dialogues, and sharing experiences from other countries.
The Katowice Climate Change Conference is meeting from 2-14 December in Poland. [Publication: Climate Change Adaptation in Europe and Central Asia: Adapting to a Changing Climate for Resilient Development] [Executive Summary] [Publication Landing Page] [UNDP Press Release]