Climate change, risk management and prevention

• Introduction
• Added value of cross-border initiatives in this field
• Possible types of initiative
• Examples of projects
• Recommendations
• Legal framework

Recommendations

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

• Towards the cross-border management of climate change adaptation and hazard risk prevention
  - Establish a legal framework (a convention, or body such as the EGTC, etc.) for the joint cross-border management of initiatives for climate change adaptation and risk management, supported by local authorities and stakeholders.
  - Find funding mechanisms for cross-border investment, and support for national, regional and European co-financing (Interreg programmes, ERDF, EAFRD or EMFF regional programmes), acting jointly if applicable (integrated territorial investment, local development, etc.).

• Climate change as a component of the sustainable development of cross-border areas
  - Develop shared observation (GIS, etc.).
  - Develop cross-border strands of the Territorial Climate and Energy Plans for border territories.
  - Strengthen coordination and planning at the local cross-border level, the involvement of elected representatives, the awareness and participation of citizens and businesses.

AT THE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS

• Towards multi-level governance of climate change adaptation in cross-border contexts
  - Provide support, especially at the regional level, for local authorities in the exercise of their competences (powers) in matters of climate change adaptation and cross-border risk management.
  - Organise coordination by border at higher levels (regional, national) under bi-/multi-lateral agreements, involving local communities (following the model of governance of strategies for the Baltic Sea and Danube macro-regions).
  - Coordinate, adapt and harmonize legislation and legal and technical regulations  at national and regional levels to meet the needs of cross-border territories.

AT THE EUROPEAN LEVEL

• Community support for cross-border activities in the field of climate change adaptation and risk management
  - Adapting the European framework (legislation and Community initiatives) the specificity of the cross-border context.
  - Develop methodologies and harmonise data.
  - Continue to support cross-border cooperation (cohesion policy).
  - Facilitate the capitalisation and transfer of experiences between cross-border areas on matters of climate change and risk prevention.

Photo : Espace Mont Blanc / Ph. Andrea ALBORNO