Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Moldova´s Policy and Planning.

Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Moldova´s Policy and Planning A simplified User´s Guide As part of the Project Supporting Moldova’s National Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) with funding from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management and implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and its Climate Change Office.

Cite as: Yovel, E and Santos, S.T. (2016). Integrating Climate Change into Moldova´s Plans, Policies and Strategies: A simplified User´s Guide. Project: Supporting Moldova´s National Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process.

Climate Change Office, UNDP: Chisinau

Contents

1. Introduction........................................................................................... 3 1.1 Climate Change and Moldova........................................................... 5 1.2 Terms and Concepts.......................................................................... 6 2. Climate Risk Screening and Assessment.................................................. 8 3. Application of Climate Risk Screening Methodologies........................... 12 3.1 Climate Risk Management.............................................................. 12 3.2 Application of Climate Risk Screening............................................. 13 3.3 The 4 Principles of the UNDP Methodology..................................... 18 4. Engaging Stakeholders.......................................................................... 22 5. Integrating Climate Change into the Selected Strategy Document(s)..... 24 6. Identification and Prioritization of Adaptation Measures...................... 27 6.1 Selecting Appropriate Adaptation Options...................................... 27 6.2 Prioritizing Adaptation Options....................................................... 30 6.3 Assessment Methods...................................................................... 33 7. Conclusions.......................................................................................... 36

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1. Introduction Climate change is a potentially significant threat to global development, and naturally to Moldova as well. Impacts to society, economy and environment are complex, and require coordination across sectors and levels of governance. While many foreseen impacts will bring about negative effects, climate change can also generate opportunities, which can be harnessed with good planning.

There are various methodological tools used to screen for climate risks and opportunities in strategy planning processes (see Box 1). Many have been developed by or for development agencies and may be adapted specifically to national planning and policy documents.

More detailed Guides on Assessing Climate Risks and Opportunities

1. Mainstreaming climate change into Moldova´s development process means integrating climate change considerations in decisionmaking processes, in an informed way. This includes identifying risks and opportunities from current climate conditions and trends as well as projections for future, long-term climate.

While climate mainstreaming is often applied to projects, programs or other specific activities in order to reduce risks and optimize preparedness for climate impacts, a process sometimes referred to as “climate proofing”, this Guide focuses on strategic development documents, such as Plans, Strategies and Policies

• UNDP: Screening Tools & Guidelines to Support the Mainstreaming of Climate Change Adaptation into Development Assistance: A Stocktaking Report

This Guide on Mainstreaming Climate Change in Moldova´s Development presents three main parts of the process: - Climate Risk Screening - Integrating Climate Change into the Planning Process - Prioritising options for adaptation or resilience

www.ipcc-wg2.gov/njlite_download2.php?id=7316

• UNDP: Mainstreaming Climate Change in National Development Processes and UN Country Programming www.cbd.int/financial/climatechange/g-climateplanning-undp.pdf

The second part of the Guide provides an overview and recommendations on how to proceed with the integration of climate change considerations into national or sectorial strategy or policy documents, after the climate change risks have been duly screened and acknowledged. Climate risk screening is an important and integral part of the effort to determine current and future vulnerabilities to climate change, and a prerequisite to identify adaptation measures or pathways to reduce those vulnerabilities, increase resilience, and take advantage of any opportunities which may be identified.

• CARE: Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation: A Practitioner´s Handbook

www.careclimatechange.org/files/adaptation/CARE_VN_Mainstreaming_Handbook.pdf

Box 1

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Detailed Guides on Climate Change Mainstreaming