The Austrian Adaptation Platform

Sabine McCallum, 19 June 2013

Austrian Adaptation Platform: Background

Website www.klimawandelanpassung.at on climate change and adaptation for Austria (online since 2009): aims to inform the interested public and provide material relevant for Austria has been developed as part of the participation process to accompany and support the

development of the Austrian NAS/NAP was created with only little budget (approx. 7.000 Euro for technical set-up) and few personal

resources has been substantially updated and revised in January 2013 financed by the Austrian

Climate- and Energyfonds

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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Content overview

Main content on HOME

Climate change in Austria

Adaptation to climate change

Austrian adaptation strategy

Research on CCA

Database: adaptation measures

Links/Glossary/Newsletter

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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Climate change in AustriaDescription of: Observed trends Future projections

(including regional scale) Impacts of climate change Vulnerability to climate change

Impact tables for various sectors

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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Adaptation to climate change

Description of: Political context Guiding principles for good adaptation Possible adaptation options

o Practical examples Tools for adaptation

o Guidance documentso Online-Tools

Note: All sites provide links to further information

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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Austrian adaptation strategy/plan

Description of: Content Steps towards the Austrian NAS/NAP

o Starting phaseo Cooperation with scienceo Policy paper o Participation process

Background studies

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Austrian Adaptation Platform: Database

Database on adaptation activities: Contains currently 330 examples Is regularly updated with new

research and practical examples Provides search functions for

o Sectorso Administrative level (Europe,

Austria, Länder)o Biogeographic regions (e.g.

Alpine space)o Research activity or practical

example

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Newsletter overview: Target group: Policy makers,

decision makers, interested public

Issued since 2011 2013/2014: 4-5 newsletter are

planned

Austrian Adaptation Platform: Newsletter

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Newsletter content: Politics Science Adaptation practice Focal topic Europe News / Events

Austrian Adaptation Platform: Newsletter

Challenges

Keeping website up to date requires substantial amount of human resources challenge to guarantee regular maintenance

Financing is project-based and depends on external funding agencies long-term planning is difficult

Number of people accessing website and single pages is unknown users feedback would be helpful!

Difficult to present information in target-group-specific language cooperation with PR and users?

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Ideas

Website is currently not designed as an interactive platform but rather as an information hub only

However …

Several projects developing adaptation tools and guidance will be finalised 2013/14, e.g.:o Methods, tools and guidance for developing adaptation strategies at sub-national, regional and

cities level (FAMOUS handbook)o Tools and guidance on how to effectively communicate climate change and adaptation (CCTalk!)

A brochure for the general public aiming at raising awareness about the NAS/NAP and providing practical tips for Austrian citizens will become available this summer

All of this could be „translated“ online and set up to interact with potential users (e.g. by offering training and support, organising events with different target groups, designing online games, offering apps, setting up competitions for innovative approaches and

good practices etc. 11

Linking to other platforms

Information and tools offered by other national platforms and Climate-ADAPT are already provided on the website

Most important for further interaction is to translate relevant parts of the website into English -> planned for autumn 2013

Exchange with other countries and the EC/EEA hosting web-platforms is key to make best use of synergies, avoid duplications (and thus reduce administrative and financial burden) and learn from each other

Joint activities to engage with users could potentially be envisaged (e.g. starting a competition on innovative adaptation at EU level and making use of all national platforms in place to broaden the target audience)

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Contact & Information

 Sabine McCallum

Head of Unit

Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change

T: +43-(0)1-313 04/3311

sabine.mccallum@umweltbundesamt.at

www.umweltbundesamt.at

www.klimawandelanpassung.at

‘National Adaptation Platforms’ experts meetingCopenhagen ■ 19 June 2013