69 / 96
69
Background
The expected changes in surface air temperature
and humidity will lead to increases in the heat
index and may lead to deforestation and intensive
or extreme rain events, heatwaves, floods and
droughts. Climate change will very likely reduce
the availability of water and affect the water level
of the lakes inside the Basin (Prespa, Ohrid and
Skadar). Since the Drin Basin is exploited for its
hydro-energy (five dams), climate change will affect
energy supply in the region.
Objectives
Improving adaptation to climate-change-related
effects, in particular concerning floods and drought,
in the Drin River Basin. The activities will be mainly
implemented in 2013–2016. The intervention area
is the Drin River Basin, including all connected
water bodies in Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo
1
and
FYR Macedonia. The project focuses on adapting
the risk management mechanisms to the increased
risks of floods and drought. The activities will focus
on drought in Kosovo
1
and FYRMacedonia, and on
floods in Albania and Montenegro.
(The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe – UNECE; Global Water Partnership
Mediterranean – GWP-Med; Swedish EPA)
GOOD PRACTICES
Water and flood management: Adaptation to climate change in the Drin River Basin
Results
As an initial result, the governments of the respective
countries have taken initiatives to improve the
legal and regulatory framework in line with EU
legislation, as well as to develop management tools
and mechanisms for some parts or some aspects
of the Drin River Basin. According to the National
Communications to UNFCCC from Albania,
Montenegro and FYR Macedonia, as well as the
report ‘The state of water in Kosovo’,
1
climate change
will have serious impacts in the Drin River Basin.
An MOU signed in November 2011 under the Drin
Dialogue Process includes a goal on climate change
risks and cooperation on flood prevention.
Outcomes
• Regional monitoring and alert platform
• Strategic framework for climate change adaptation
• Concepts, instruments and procedures for
climate change adaptation at the municipal level
Source: Core group on pilot projects, third meeting
Global Network of basins working on climate
change adaptation, first meeting – Geneva, 20-21
February 2013
For further information, visit
http://www.unece.
org/env/water/seeurope.html
Croatia seems to be more advanced due to direct
implementation of the key EU directives (Floods
Directive and Water Directive). Impacts due to
climate change in mountain regions are not explicitly
considered in existing water regulations in the West
Balkans. At the national level, only BiH and FYR
Macedonia seem to have set relevant policy goals that
include climate change and extreme events. They call
for prevention measures in case of failure or flooding
of dams and the construction of reservoirs. Most
countries, however, lack the basic infrastructure
for data collection, flood forecasting and flood