Recommendations for climate change, environmental protection and natural hazards

The Alps are more strongly affected by climate change than any other region in Europe, and recent warming has been roughly three times the global average (Climate Change in … 2007). In the Alpine area, the availability of space suitable for permanent settlement and economic activities is limited, and the land demand for other types of uses is increasing. The effects of climate change exacerbate the problem, extending the number and relevance of hazard zones as well as the need for land for protection measures in connected areas. As a consequence, land is becoming increasingly scarce as a resource for settlements in almost all the Alpine regions.
Climate change adaptation is therefore becoming relevant for Alpine spatial planning and development. A European Commission white paper explicitly stresses the necessity of a long-term and strategic approach to spatial planning in order to reduce vulnerability to the impact of climate change (Climate Adaptation Policies … 2012). Spatial planning can thus be considered a “consistent, effective and influential means to prevent and respond to the consequences of climate change on the alpine territory” (Transnational Strategy … 2011). According to the green paper “Adapting to Climate Change in Europe – Options for EU Action” from the European Commission, “spatial planning is a cross-sectorial issue, which makes it a suitable tool to define cost-effective adaptation measures.” This means that policies and strategies for adapting to climate change should become a prioritized field of action of spatial planning.
Adaptation to climate change is strictly connected with environmental protection and natural hazard management, and this creates a general situation of high complexity with a high level of uncertainty. An unsuitable or inadequate adaptation strategy can worsen the situation, and for this reason spatial planning must become the convergence point of various contributions coming from specialized approaches.

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