2.7.2. Findings from self-assessment survey

Transnational cooperation in national adaptation policy processes is considered by half of European countries, but evidence of its inclusion in actual policies is still limited

Half of the responding countries (16/30) agree or strongly agree with the statement that transnational cooperation has been considered in national adaptation policy processes in their country. The remaining countries expressed a neutral opinion as no country reported disagreement with the statement. Two out of 29 countries (i.e. Liechtenstein and Switzerland) have reported adaptation in neighbouring countries as one of the three most important triggers for adaptation in their country.

Five countries (i.e. Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland) have reported that transnational cooperation has been included in their national adaptation strategy or plan. Other countries in the process of developing or updating their policies are also planning to pay attention to it (i.e. Bulgaria and Italy) or have recognised an interest in transnational cooperation in national adaptation policy (Romania). Countries also engage in transnational cooperation in the context of climate adaptation through different bilateral activities without explicit links to NAS (i.e. Latvia, Norway and Sweden) or have otherwise identified potential for further cross-border collaboration on adaptation (Ireland).

There is no apparent relation between the consideration of transnational cooperation in the national adaptation policy process and the stage of the adaptation policy process. Some countries (i.e. Italy, Liechtenstein, Portugal) have emphasised transboundary topics in an early stage of their adaptation policy process whilst other countries have reached active implementation of adaptation policies without particularly underlining transnational cooperation.

Shared natural resources such as transboundary watercourses have motivated transnational cooperation in adaptation

In spite of country responses suggesting a lack of explicit references to transnational cooperation in adaptation policies, a number of examples can be observed on the ground. Water management as a sector has the broadest experience of transnational cooperation. It is therefore natural that transnational cooperation in the water sector has taken on board adaptation to climate change. Multiple examples of transnational cooperation in adaptation have been reported by countries in areas of transboundary river basin or catchment management (i.e. Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Switzerland). Coastal area management is also a common sector for transnational cooperation and adaptation to climate change has been recognised as a transboundary issue in this area by Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania. Other areas where transnational cooperation has expanded to cover adaptation to climate change include biodiversity conservation as reported by Italy and Spain, and strategies and risk management protocols for natural hazards as reported by Italy and Switzerland. Six countries report that risk or vulnerability assessments are available at transnational level. However, only one country (i.e. Lithuania) reported that transnational adaptation options have been identified and assessed on the basis of transnational risk or vulnerability assessments.

Transnational cooperation in adaptation has often emerged with the support of European funding instruments and in the context of established cooperation fora such as regional conventions

European funding instruments have been important for developing transnational cooperation in the field of adaptation. European funding instruments have been used by 17 out of 24 countries to support transnational cooperation activities. Activities have been facilitated for instance by Interreg programmes especially in the Alpine and Baltic Sea regions. The use of Interreg funding was mentioned by Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Romania and Spain. Support from the European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds (e.g. South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme) has been mentioned in relation to transnational cooperation in adaptation. Also support from the EEA Grants scheme (http://eeagrants.org/) has been used to develop adaptation policies.

Examples of integration of adaptation into existing transnational cooperation fora have been reported from several areas in Europe. These include the Baltic Sea region and the Alpine region with the Baltic Sea Region Strategy and the Alpine Convention, respectively. The implementation of the Wadden Sea Strategy (http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/) was also reported as case of transnational collaboration in adaptation. Geographically broader cooperation forums such as the UNECE, the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council were also mentioned by European countries as facilitators of transnational cooperation in adaptation.