Publication Name

and there is no specific policy addressing the risk

of livestock losses related to extreme weather events

during winter including through insurance schemes.

Risk of death or injury due to wildfires.

Both the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the

Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for

South-Eastern Europe contribute to addressing the

consequences of wildfires on human populations in

the Western Balkans. Just as for health-related issues

due to flooding, the risk of increased casualties linked

to wildfires is dealt with mostly through multi-risk

preventive activities addressing extreme events and

its impacts on human health. This is especially the

case within Albania, FYR Macedonia and Serbia.

• Risk not addressed by existing policies

Following the adoption of the Belgrade Initiative,

the South East European Virtual Climate Change

Centre (SEEVCCC) was established and hosted

by the National Hydrometeorological Service of

Serbia. It provides monitoring and prediction

of climate and weather conditions for the whole

West Balkan region. Its operational products

include monthly and seasonal forecasts (over

seven months) of basic parameters (such as

maximum and minimum temperatures, and

precipitation). These can be used by decision-

makers to integrate climate concerns into sectoral

policies such as agriculture, tourism and health,

thus contributing to minimizing economic and

livelihood losses as well as other adverse impacts

on society.

For further information, visit http://www.

seevccc.rs

Monitoring and prediction:

The South-East European Virtual

Climate Change Center (SEEVCCC)

GOOD PRACTICES

• Lack of/limited adequate inter-sectoral

cooperation on health-related climate impacts

due to floods

• Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration

from EU to local administrations

• Lack of/limited adequate inter-sectoral

cooperation on health-related climate impacts

due to wildfires

• Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration

from EU to local administrations

Risk of death from cardiovascular diseases in

vulnerable populations (especially the elderly);

increased morbidity in the form of lung

inflammation or asthma due to heatwaves.

Only a few countries in the Western Balkans

adequately address the increased risk of mortality

Risk of death or injury due to flooding. Risk of

outbreaks of existing or novel diseases among

displaced populations after flooding events.

At the EU-level there are institutional initiatives,

such as the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (Croatia,

Montenegro, FYR Macedonia and Serbia) that

provide at least partial coverage of the risk of human

losses during various types of disasters. The Disaster

Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-

EasternEuropealsodevelopsprogrammes andprojects

aimed at strengthening the capacity to prevent and

respond to natural and man-made disasters, including

floods. However, neither climate change nor mountain

issues seem to be taken explicitly into consideration.

Likewise, in national health sector legislation, the

issues of climate change and adaptation to it are not

adequately integrated. However, in some countries

there are wide-ranging activities that are beneficial to

adaptation purposes. These can, for example, be aimed

at minimizing the health-related effects of extreme

events, including through early warning systems.

Only a few countries have adopted public health

strategies which specifically address climate change

adaptation. Examples of good practice include Albania

and FYR Macedonia, which have adopted Climate

Change Health Adaptation Strategies. These also cover

the integration of health systems into the national

emergency structures responsible for floods and other

natural disasters related to climate change. The Red

Cross in Croatia, in cooperation with the Ministry of

Health and regional public health institutes, works on

building capacities of workers in the health sector to

cope with the effects of climate change. However, none

of the abovemeasures take into account mountain areas.

Increased mortality and morbidity

Key Policy gaps: