“Water and Climate Change in Southeastern Europe:
Understanding Impacts & Planning for Adaptation”
Tirana, Albania , 24-25 June 2008
The International Workshop “Water and Climate Change in Southeastern Europe: Understanding Impacts & Planning for Adaptation” took place in Tirana, Albania, 24-25 June 2008. It was organized by the World Bank , in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration and the Global Water Partnership Mediterranean.
The workshop contributes to the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative (MED EUWI) , as well as collaborative efforts by the Bank, client countries, and other partners on current and emerging water issues. The event is another milestone on transboundary water collaboration across SE Europe under the Petersberg Phase II/Athens Declaration Process.
The Workshop’s main objective was to explore the key issues Southeastern European countries will have to cope with vis-à-vis the emerging challenges relevant to climate change, climate vulnerability and water resources management.
It brought together national, regional and international water sector experts and key decision makers to discuss experiences, capabilities and needs for climate trends analysis, climate projections, vulnerability and impact assessments and adaptation strategies over the coming decades. The Workshop also provided the opportunity for participants to reflect on the implications for applied scientific research and infrastructure planning on water resources.
The Workshop provided an informal venue for participants to:
- learn about and reflect on the most recent analysis of climate trends, projections and implications by national, regional and international organizations,
- review potential impacts on vulnerable sub-regions most notably the Drini-Mati Basin, Sava River Basin and Adriatic Coast,
- examine what additional analytical work is needed to assess impacts and adaptation options for specific water sector investments in these sensitive locales,
- reflect on national and international adaptation planning to advance "climate-proofing" of infrastructure and water sector investments,
- consider linkages to the analytical services and investment programs of EU-based and United Nations Institutions, as well as those of the World Bank and other multilateral investment banks, and
- suggest additional activities that could be advanced under the Petersberg Process Phase II/Athens Declaration Process, World Water Forum, MED EUWI and other professional collaborative fora.
The Workshop focused on three geographical areas within SEE identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts and where adaptation challenges should be explored in priority: the Sava River Basin, the Drini-Mati River Basin and the Adriatic Coast.
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Participants 
were experts from the water sector and hydro-meteorological services from Southeastern Europe, in particular the Western Balkans; experts from relevant international organisations; key decision-makers and stakeholders from SEE, especially from the selected sub-regions.
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8.00-09.00 |
Registration | ||||||
9.00 – 09.20 |
Session 1: Welcome and Introduction Opening speeches
Participants’ self-introduction |
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09.20 – 12.00 |
Session 2: Climate trends and projections for Southeastern Europe
The working session will start with presentations on the subject. The presentations will provide the framework for the facilitated discussion to follow. Presentations
Coffee Break Presentation Facilitated discussion - reflections from the participants (The participants will have the opportunity to provide additional information on national or institutional work to assess trends and projections, as well as reflect on the current state-of-knowledge. They may also note where trends and projection finding differ and how advanced the science must be for the preparation of suitable adaptation strategies and plans at the national and regional levels. Finally they may note the challenges in generating this information over the short-term/long term perspective. The participants may provide information on national experiences and cases.) |
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12.00 – 13.30 |
Session 3: Decision- making under uncertainty Facilitated discussion - Introduction / Facilitator: Mr. Ron Hoffer, World Bank |
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13.30 – 14.30 |
Lunch |
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14.30 – 17.00 |
Session 4: Field visit to Mat River (dam site & hydro-meteorological stations) |
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20.00 |
Group Dinner |
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9.00 – 12.30 |
Session 5: Emerging understanding for adaptation in SEE vulnerable areas Sequential facilitated discussion panels. This working session will be used to identify the water resources management issues that will arise in each of the selected geographical areas as a consequence of climate change. (Each of the working sessions will start with a presentation by the chairs. The presentations will provide the framework of the discussions. The panellists will share their points of view/experiences and interact with the participants).
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12.30 – 14.00
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Lunch |
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14.00 – 16.00
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Session 6: Sector needs and strategies for adaptation planning
Each of the parallel working sessions will start with a presentation on the subject by the chair. The presentations will provide the framework of the discussions.
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16.00 – 16.30
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Coffee break |
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16.30 – 17.30
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Session 7: Plenary presentations from breakout sessions - Ms. Angela Klauschen, GWP-Med |
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17.30 – 18.00
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Session 8: Closing and next steps - Mr. Ron Hoffer, World Bank |
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