Description
<div>The Strategy was developed by the Belgian National Climate Commission in response to the EU White Paper on Adaptation (2009) and the Belgian National Climate Plan (2009-2013). The three main objectives of the Strategy are:</div><ul><li>improve the coherence of existing adaptation initiatives (evaluation of climate change impacts and vulnerability, existing measures)</li><li>improve communication at the national, European and international level</li><li>create a National Adaptation Plan</li></ul><div> <br> The Adaptation Strategy lays down the following principles and considerations to be followed during elaboration of a National Adaptation Plan (currently being developed):</div><ul><li>consideration of particular vulnerability of coastal areas</li><li>need for targeted specific adaptation measures and co-operation among all relevant stakeholders</li><li>possible side effects from adaptation measures but also potential for win-win measures</li><li>adaptation, so far a bottom-up approach, to be further encouraged and communicated through central co-ordinated initiatives especially for monitoring and best-practice sharing</li><li>special support is to be provided to the most vulnerable groups</li></ul><div> <br> Based on the above, the following objectives of a future National Adaptation Plan are proposed:</div><ul><li>Cluster and co-ordinate work on adaptation</li><li>Ensure visibility for stakeholders, both in and outside Belgium</li><li>Create awareness and raise the sensitivity of actors</li><li>Identify and communicate dangers, gaps, risks, possibilities and synergies</li><li>Provide policy coherence and a clear structure in which the current activities are to be positioned</li><li>Provide basis for individual actors to take preventive measures and incorporate impacts of climate change in their private, business and public planning</li><li>Enable co-operation and synergy between the federal, regional and local governments</li><li>Ensure that all levels of government can fully control an effective implementation</li></ul>