Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

GlossaryTermAdaptation(climate change)Adaptive capacityAdaptivemanagementArticle 6(3)appropriateassessmentBaselineBiodiversityBiodiversity offsetsBirds DirectiveCarbonsequestrationCarbon sinkClimateClimate changeCO 2 equivalentCumulative effectsDirect effectsEcosystem servicesDefinitionThe term used to describe responses to the effects of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptation as ‘adjustment in natural or human systems inresponse to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploitsbeneficial opportunities.’ Adaptation can also be thought of as learning how to live with theconsequences of climate change.The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes), tomoderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities and to cope with theconsequences. (CLIMATE-ADAPT Glossary)A systematic process for continually improving management policies and practices by learning fromthe outcomes of previous policies and practices.Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires an appropriate assessment (also referred to as‘Habitats Directive assessment’ or ‘Natura 2000 assessment’) to be carried out where any plans orprojects that are not directly linked to the management of that site may have a significant effect onthe conservation objectives and would ultimately affect the integrity of the site. Integrity can bedefined as the ability of the site to fulfil its function to continue to support protected habitats orspecies. Annex I to the Habitats Directive includes a full list of protected habitats and Annex II ofprotected species.A description of the present and future state, if the plan or programme (PP) is not implemented,taking into account changes resulting from natural events and from other human activities.The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biological diversity as ‘the variability amongliving organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquaticecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity withinspecies, between species and of ecosystems’ (Article 2).Measures taken to compensate for any residual significant, adverse impacts that cannot beavoided, minimised and/or rehabilitated or restored, in order to achieve ‘no-net-loss’ or a ‘net-gain’of biodiversity. Offsets can take the form of positive management interventions such as restorationof degraded habitat, arrested degradation or averted risk, protecting areas where there isimminent or projected loss of biodiversity.Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on theconservation of wild birds [codified version], OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7.The removal of carbon from the atmosphere and its storage in carbon sinks (such as oceans, forestsor soils) through physical or biological processes, such as photosynthesis.An absorber of carbon (usually in the form of CO 2 ). Natural carbon sinks include forests and otherecosystems that absorb carbon, thereby removing it from the atmosphere and offsetting CO 2emissions. (Modified from EEA Glossary)Usually defined as the ‘average weather’, or more rigorously, as the statistical description in termsof the mean and variability of relevant quantities of variables such as temperature, precipitation,and wind, over a period of time. The conventional period of time over which weather is averagedto calculate climate is 30 years, as defined by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).(Modified from IPCC)The IPCC defines climate change as ‘...any change in climate over time, whether due to naturalvariability or as a result of human activity.’ The United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC) defines it specifically in relation to human influence as: ‘a change of climatewhich is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the globalatmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable timeperiods.'A metric measure used to compare emissions from various GHGs based upon their global warmingpotential (GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as ‘million metric tonnes ofcarbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCDE)’.The incremental effects of an action PP when added to other past, present, and reasonablyforeseeable future actions. Cumulative effects can result from individually minor but collectivelysignificant actions taking place over a period of time.Environmental effects caused directly by the implementation of a PP.The Economics of Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (TEEB) study defines ecosystem services as:‘the benefits people receive from ecosystems’. TEEB also sets out the basis of human dependenceon the natural environment. The European-led study builds on the United Nations MillenniumEcosystem Assessment, which defined four categories of ecosystem services that contribute tohuman well-being:6 <strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA
Effort SharingDecisionEIA DirectiveEmission tradingscheme and EUEmissions Tradingsystem (EU ETS)EnvironmentalreportEuropean ClimateChangeProgrammeFaunaFloods DirectiveFloraGreeninfrastructureGreenhouse gas(GHG)Habitats DirectiveIndirect effectsKyoto ProtocolMaladaptationMaximumsustainable yield(MSY)• provisioning services e.g. wild foods, crops, fresh water and plant-derived medicines;• regulating services e.g. filtration of pollutants by wetlands, climate regulation through carbonstorage and water cycling, pollination and protection from disasters;• cultural services e.g. recreation, spiritual and aesthetic values, education;• supporting services e.g. soil formation, photosynthesis and nutrient cycling. (TEEB, 2010)A Decision that sets annual binding GHG emission targets for Member States for the 2013–2020period. These targets concern emissions from sectors not included in the EU Emissions TradingSystem (ETS) — such as transport, buildings, agriculture and waste. It is part of a package of policiesand measures on climate change and energy that will help transform Europe into a low-carboneconomy and increase its energy security.Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on theenvironment [codification], OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p.1. The EIA Directive requires that Member Statesensure that, before development consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on theenvironment because of their nature, size or location are made subject to an assessment of theenvironmental effects.A market mechanism that allows those bodies (such as countries, companies or manufacturingplants) that emit (release) GHGs into the atmosphere, to buy and sell these emissions (as permitsor allowances) amongst themselves. Emissions mean the release of GHGs and/or their precursorsinto the atmosphere over a set area and period of time. The European Union Emission tradingsystem (EU ETS) is based on the idea that creating a price for carbon offers the most cost-effectiveway to achieve the significant cuts in global GHG emissions that are needed to prevent climatechange from reaching dangerous levels.Document required by the SEA Directive as part of an environmental assessment, which identifies,describes and evaluates the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing a PP. TheSEA Directive states that the environmental report shall mean the part of the plan or programmedocumentation containing the information required in Article 5 and Annex I.A programme launched by the European Commission in June 2000. Its goal is to identify anddevelop all the necessary elements of the EU strategy to implement the Kyoto Protocol.The animals of a particular region or habitat.Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks, OJ L288, 6.11.2007, p.27,requires Member States to assess if all water courses and coast lines are at risk from flooding; tomap the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas; and to take adequate andcoordinated measures to reduce this flood risk. The Directive also reinforces the rights of the publicto access this information and to have a say in the planning process.The plants of a particular region or habitat.Green infrastructure serves the interests of both people and nature. It can be defined as astrategically planned and delivered network of high quality green spaces and other environmentalfeatures. Green infrastructure includes natural and semi-natural areas, features and green spacesin rural and urban, terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine areas. It should be designed andmanaged as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of benefits and services.Areas protected as Natura 2000 sites are at the core of green infrastructure.Any atmospheric gas (either natural or anthropogenic in origin) which absorbs thermal radiationemitted by the Earth’s surface. This traps heat in the atmosphere and keeps the surface at awarmer temperature than would otherwise be possible.Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wildfauna and flora, as amended, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p.7.Effects that occur away from the immediate location or timing affected by the implementation of aPP, e.g. quarrying of aggregates elsewhere as a result of implementing new road proposals includedin plan or programme (see also secondary effects).The Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in1997 (Kyoto, Japan). It contains legally binding commitments, in addition to those included in theUNFCCC. Countries included in Annex B of the Protocol (most OECD countries and EITs) agreed toreduce their anthropogenic emissions of GHGs (CO 2 , CH 4 , N 2 O, HFCs, PFCs, and SF 6 ) by at least 5 %below 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008 – 2012.An action or process that increases vulnerability to climate change-related hazards. Maladaptiveactions and processes often include planned development policies and measures that deliver shorttermgains or economic benefits, but increase vulnerability in the medium to long-term.Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is the largest long-term average catch or yield that can be takenfrom a stock or stock complex under prevailing ecological and environmental conditions.<strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA 7
Page 1 and 2: Guidance on Integr
Page 3: ForewordThe need for action on clim
Page 8 and 9: Mitigation (climatechange)Mitigatio
Page 10: HOW TO ADDRESS BOTH CLIMATE CHANGE
Page 13 and 14: guidance.Since it is the first such
Page 15 and 16: 2. Climate change and biodiversity
Page 17 and 18: 2.2.3 Resilience of a PP to a chang
Page 19 and 20: 2.3.2 Complexity of the issues and
Page 21 and 22: 3. Understanding climate change and
Page 23 and 24: EU Climate and EnergyPackageRoadmap
Page 25 and 26: • Under Article 6(3) of the Habit
Page 27 and 28: Table 5: Key aspects of biodiversit
Page 29 and 30: single biggest cause of biodiversit
Page 31 and 32: Engaging proactively with environme
Page 33 and 34: For climate change, in particular,
Page 35 and 36: 4.3 Identifying the key biodiversit
Page 37 and 38: 5. How to assess effects related to
Page 39 and 40: 5.2 Consider climate change scenari
Page 41 and 42: • Key areas that may be particula
Page 43 and 44: • aim for ‘no-net-loss’ of bi
Page 45 and 46: Flood regimes and extremerainfall e
Page 47 and 48: • Where possible, use causal chai
Page 49 and 50: This guidance document emphasises t
Page 51 and 52: Annex 1: Further readingThe policy
Page 53 and 54: Resource Paper: No Net Loss and Los
Page 55 and 56: Resource Manual to Support Applicat
Page 57 and 58:
Annex 2: Sources of information on
Page 59 and 60:
EmDATERA-NET ROAD —Coordination a
Page 61 and 62:
GeneralData and Maps (EEA)EUROSTATE
Page 63 and 64:
factorsEcosystembasedapproachesEcos
Page 65 and 66:
to your PP area. Greenhouse Gas Imp
Page 67 and 68:
stage, but may be extended intothe
Page 69 and 70:
enefits for all; Political: discuss
show all

Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?