Presentació per part de Filippo Montalbetti (Consultor ambiental) en el marc de l’acte de clausura del projecte europeu CIRCLE 2 MOUNTain co-organitzat per l'Oficina Catalana del Canvi Climàtic durant els dies 26 i 27 de setembre de 2013.

1. Adaptation Efforts in the Carpathians
Circle 2, MOUNTain - Final Meeting
Barcelona, 26-27 September 2013

2. The Carpathians
• Largest, longest, most
twisted and fragmented
mountain range in
Europe
• A dynamic and unique
common living space
• Important for its
ecological resources
and cultural heritage

3. The Carpathian Region in Numbers
• 7 countries
• Length about 1 500 km
• 470 000 km2 (190 000 km2 -
mountains)
• 53 millions inhabitants (13,3 mln -
mountains)
• Highest peak is 2655 m
Pictures: A. Czaderna, A.& D. Nowak, Pieniny National Park

4. Major Threats
• Deforestation
• Over-exploitation of niche
resources (wood and certain
mineral ores)
• Land use changes (land
abandonment)
• Degradation, elimination of
traditional livelihoods
• Climate Change related
issues

5. The Carpathian Convention at Glance
• Adopted on 22 May 2003
• Entered in force on
4 January 2006
• Ratified by all the seven
Carpathian countries
• Current presidency: Slovak
Republic
Main Goal:
Protection and Sustainable Development of the Carpathian Region

6. The Carpathian Convention
•It is a framework Convention for
cooperation and multi-sectoral
policy coordination,
•A platform for joint strategies for
sustainable development
•A forum for dialogue between all
stakeholders involved
Biodiversity Protocol
(entered into force)
Forests and Tourism
Protocols
(Adopted)

7. Carpathian
Network of
Protected
Areas (CNPA)
Steering
Committee
Conference of the Parties
Carpathian Convention
Implementation Committee CCIC
WG
Sustainable
Agriculture
and Rural
Development
WG
Biodiversity
WG
Sustainable
Tourism
WG
Sustainable
Transport and
Infrastructure
WG Spatial
Development
WG on
Adaptation to
Climate
Change
The Convention as an Institution

8. Covered Topics (PoW 2012-2014)
Spatial Planning,
Development
Water and River
Basins
Awareness Raising, Education
and Participation
Agriculture and Rural
Development
Industry, Energy, Transport
and Infrastructure
Climate Change
Cultural Heritage and Traditional
Knowledge
Assessment and
Monitoring
Carpathian Network on Protected
Areas
Sustainable Tourism

9. CC,
WG on Adaptation to Climate Change
• Decision COP3 2011, Establishment of WG on Adaptation to
Climate Change
• Financed by the CARPATCLIM project
• WG meetings: Bruxelles, February 2012 and Eger, October
2012

10. Art. 12: “The Parties shall apply risks assessments, environmental impact
assessments taking into account the specificities of the Carpathian
mountain ecosystem “
• Preparation of strategic agenda on adaptation to climate
change in the Carpathians
• Comments and feedbacks to the list of adaptation
measures developed within the CARPIVIA and
CarpathCC projects
• Develop communication strategy
• Contribution to the establishment of a web based
information system on adaptation to climate change for
the Carpathians
Carpathian Convention
WG on Adaptation to Climate Change

11. Forthcoming Meetings
• WG on Adaptation to
Climate Change ,
Brussels, November
2013
• Conference of the
Parties (COP4),
Mikulov, September
2014

12. Eger Group,
WS on Sharing Experiences on Adaptation
• Workshop on sharing of experiences on adaptation to
climate change in mountain areas, Eger, Hungary, 22
October 2012
• Participation of representatives from Pyrenees, Alps,
Carpathians, Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia
• Main outcome: establishment of a platform for exchange
of information and know-how and development of
possible common activities
• On Facebook: Eger Working Group
ECCA, Hamburg, 18 March 2013

13. Eger Group
Round Table discussion, main outcomes:
• Information exchange on adaptation strategies
• Strengthen the cooperation between science and policy
makers
• Importance of awareness rising and involvement of
stakeholders
• Global and transboundary cooperation
• Look at existing conventions and agreements as
potential tool for management of shared resources in
other mountain regions

14. UNEP and the Mountains
• UN General Assembly resolution 2008: “Mountains
provide early indications of global climate change".
• Special recognition of role of „developing countries with
fragile mountainous ecosystems“ in frame of UNFCCC
(preamble)
• UNSG Report on Sustainable Mountain Development

15. Rio + 20 Conference
Para.210 “We recognize that the benefits
derived from mountain regions are essential for
sustainable development. Mountain ecosystems
play a crucial role in providing water resources
to a large portion of the world’s population;
fragile mountain ecosystems are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate
change, deforestation and forest degradation,
land use change, land degradation and natural
disasters; and mountain glaciers around the
world are retreating and getting thinner, with
increasing impacts on the environment and
human well-being.”

16. Rio + 20 Conference
Para.211 “(…) We invite States to strengthen
cooperative action with effective involvement
and sharing of experience of all relevant
stakeholders, by strengthening existing
arrangements, agreements and centres of
excellence for sustainable mountain
development, as well as exploring new
arrangements and agreements, as appropriate.”
(Reference to importance of regional
cooperation: Alpine and Carpathian Convention)

17.  Austria funded project (approx. 1,95
Mio EUR)
„Climate change action in
developing countries with fragile
mountainous ecosystems from a
regional perspective“
(UNFCCC/FSF):
Regional climate change impact
and vulnerability assessments
and fostering regional
cooperation platforms (focus inter
alia on Central Asia, Andes,
Caucasus, Africa and Balkans),
2014-2017
UNEP Activities on Mountains

18. On relevant initiatives and activities in the regions can be found on the following
webpages:
www.unep.org
www.unep.at
www.carpathianconvention.org
www.grida.no
further on : www.envsec.org
More Information…

19. Thank you for your attention
Filippo Montalbetti
UNEP Vienna
– Interim Secretariat of the
Carpathian Convention
filippo.montalbetti@unvienna.org
www.carpathianconvention.org
www.unep.at