Country overview and assessment

Transcription

1 2. BULGARIA This country fiche provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of climate change adaptation in Bulgaria. After detailing the vulnerability of Bulgaria s coastal zones, the responsibility and financing for coastal protection is explained. Next, the fiche presents the relevant research activities, the coastal defence, risk reduction and adaptation plans available in Bulgaria as well as the current and future protection and adaptation expenditure. The persons contacted and sources of information used are listed at the end VULNERABILITY OF BULGARIA S COASTAL ZONES TO CLIMATE CHANGE Bulgaria is located in south-eastern Europe and is together with Romania the only EU member state bordering the Black Sea. The total Bulgarian coastline measures 125 km and is located along the provinces Dobrich, Varna and Burgas. The coastal provinces are visualised in Figure 2-1 together with the main physical and socio-economic indicators of the Bulgarian coastline. Figure 2-1: Coastal provinces of Bulgaria and overview of main physical and socio-economic indicators of their coastal zones Dobrich Varna Burgas Black Sea Physical and socio-economic indicators Sea Level Rise Coastline length 10 km coastal zone below 5 metres elevation Coastline subject to erosion GDP in 50 km zone ( million) Population in 50 km zone Black Sea Medium 125 km <5% 56 km (45%) (5%) (5%) Source: Policy Research based on EEA, 2006, The changing faces of Europe s coastal areas (for Sea Level Rise and 10 km coastal zone below 5 metres elevation); European Commission (Eurosion study), 2004, Living with coastal erosion in Europe: Sediment and space for sustainability (for coastline length and coastline subject to erosion); Eurostat 2004 (for GDP and population in 50 km zone) Policy Research Corporation - 1 -

2 The economics of climate change adaptation in EU coastal areas The following paragraphs discuss the main climate change risks for Bulgaria s coastal zones. The coastal area is mainly at risk of erosion, but this has only a limited economic impact. a/ Flooding and erosion The Bulgarian coastal zone is characterised by a rather high elevation as 70% of the coastline is characterised by low, middle and high mountains. Erosion poses the greatest threat to the coastal zones of Bulgaria. About 45% of the coastline is currently subject to erosion, assumed to be caused by a combination of human activities as well as natural events such as extreme wind waves 1. Particularly vulnerable to coastal erosion are the areas around the cities of Varna (Varna), Primorsko (Burgas), Sarafovo (Burgas) and Shabla (Dobrich). The risk of flooding due to Sea Level Rise (SLR) is rather limited as SLR is expected to be modest, tides are non-existent and currents are very weak along the Black Sea shoreline. Also the significant altitude of most parts of the Bulgarian coastal zones (70%) makes the risk of coastal flooding less severe. b/ Freshwater shortage At present, the total national water resources are sufficient to secure the normal water demand in Bulgaria. Main problems in the water supply sector include internal loss in the distribution networks and a lack of water reservoirs. As Bulgaria already suffers from intense drought periods during the summer and given the fact that these drought periods are predicted to become longer and more intense due to climate change, these leakages could pose a rising problem in the future. Nevertheless, Bulgaria has an extensive national water monitoring system consisting of national networks monitoring rainfall as well as surface, ground- and seawater. With the help of these networks the country aims to observe potential problems related to water supply at an early stage and to take appropriate actions when need be. c/ Loss of coastal eco-systems Salinity is increasing in the low-lying coastal areas of Bulgaria. It is mainly caused by periodical flooding due to storm surges which leads to the degradation of agricultural lands. Mainly the Black Sea coast of the Burgas region is affected by salinity. Specific actions to counteract this problem are not undertaken yet. 1 These extreme wind waves, with a mean wave height of more than 2 m during the March-October period, are the main natural cause of the activation of erosion as well as landslides in Bulgaria Policy Research Corporation

3 The protection of natural habitats on the other hand is commencing in Bulgaria mainly by means of establishing protected areas. Bulgaria has identified sites in need of protection in accordance with the EU Birds Directive 2 and the EU Habitat Directive 3. The list of sites still needs to be approved by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers and the European Commission RESPONSIBILITY AND FINANCING FOR COASTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION In Bulgaria, coastal protection as well as financing is mainly a national matter. The main institutions involved are the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and its executive agency, Geozashtita. Whereas the Ministry of Regional development and Public Works is responsible for regulation, spatial planning and land use in Bulgaria, Geozashtita mainly deals with the implementation as well as the maintenance of coastal protection activities. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Waters is responsible for water, biodiversity protection and climate change. In the framework of the EU Water Directive, the Basin Directorate for Water Management in the Black Sea Region has been appointed as the responsible body for water management in Bulgaria RESEARCH INTO BULGARIA S VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIOS Research to climate change and climate change scenarios seems limited to ad-hoc scientific studies mainly carried out by the Institute of Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The Black Sea Commission deals with the protection of the Black Sea against pollution but its involvement in climate change matters is to date still limited. The research activities of the Institute of Oceanology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences focus on geology, biology and ecology as well as coastal dynamics and ocean technologies. Furthermore the institution monitors the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea with regard to wind, storms and coastal erosion and since recently also SLR Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on nature conservation. The most recent study in this respect is Palazov A., Stanchev H. and Stancheva M., 2007, Coastal population hazards due to extreme sea level Sunny beach resort case study, proc. of 4 th International conference: global changes and problems theory and practice, April, Sofia, Bulgaria, p Policy Research Corporation - 3 -

4 The economics of climate change adaptation in EU coastal areas In October 2008 the Black Sea Commission 5 organised a scientific conference on climate change in the Black Sea. The aim of the conference was to understand and deal with the consequences of global warming in the Black Sea by using science, information technology and policy. Other than this, no activities of the Black Sea Commission are currently focused on climate change COASTAL DEFENCE, RISK REDUCTION AND ADAPTATION PLANS IN RELATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE With regard to climate change adaptation no over-arching national plan or strategy exists at this moment. Nevertheless, a spatial planning law has been established in 2008 with the aim to protect the coastal zones from further urbanisation, erosion and landslides. Operational coastal protection measures mainly focus on counteracting erosion and landslides. a/ Policy initiatives No national coastal protection or adaptation strategies exist in Bulgaria. At present, the country s strategy mainly focuses on mitigation rather than adaptation. In this respect a second National Plan on Climate Change streamlines and guides the efforts of the Bulgarian government in mitigating climate change 6. The plan includes mainly low-cost measures, such as better energy management in companies 7. In the third National Action Plan on Climate Change , currently under preparation by an inter-ministerial working group, adaptation measures will be incorporated. Funding will be sought at EU level, but no further information is available at this stage. The main policy action undertaken in Bulgaria to protect the coastal zones is the establishment of the Law on the spatial planning of the Bulgarian Black Sea coastline. Intense urbanisation of some valuable territories and protected areas, dunes as well as sea beaches has harmed many of the Bulgarian natural areas along the coast. To this end, the Council of Ministers approved a dedicated law in 2008 with the objectives to: The Black Sea Commission is an intergovernmental body established in 1992 for the implementation of the Convention on the protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, its protocols and the Strategic Action Plan for Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea. It is the continuation of the first National Action Plan on Climate Change, which was developed in the period and approved in 2000; the plan is drafted in accordance with the stipulations of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol. The plan details that the present economic situation in Bulgaria does not allow for the allocation of extensive government funding to implement climate change related policies and measures Policy Research Corporation

5 Create conditions for stable and integrated development, physical planning and protection of the Black Sea coastline; Prevent or decrease pollution; Stimulate rational use of the natural resources; Provide free public access to the coast; Restore and protect the natural landscape and the cultural and historical inheritance. The law distinguishes two development zones for which specific restrictions with regard to the density and intensity of building, maximal building height as well as minimal space of green areas have been stipulated. b/ Operational initiatives Protection measures against coastal erosion and landslide processes have been traditionally hard defences such as groins, dikes and sea walls. The problem with these types of measures is that they often result in erosion along other parts of the coastline, reduction of sandy beaches and degradation of natural resources. It is suggested that the main reason for this inadequate practice is the lack of specialised technical standards and guidelines for design of coastal defence structures in the Black Sea coastal zones. Furthermore most of the plans or projects with regard to coastal protection are carried out ad-hoc without preliminary investigations 8. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the executive agency Geozashtita, the Ministry of Environment and Waters, the Basin Directorate for Water Management in the Black Sea region and the three coastal municipalities were contacted to receive more information on coastal protection actions undertaken or scheduled for the future, but further information seems to be unavailable PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE ADAPTATION EXPENDITURE Information has been requested from the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the executive agency Geozashtita, the Ministry of Environment and Waters and the three coastal municipalities but apparently this data does not exist 9. Within the Operational Programme for the environment covering the period , projects regarding the improvement of water and sewage networks as well as waste water management have Stancheva M. and Marinski J., 2007, Coastal defence activities along the Bulgarian sea coast Methods for protection or degradation? Yet, different institutions offered to try to further investigate upon charge. 2007, Operational programme Environment , Sofia; supported by the EU Cohesion and Structural Funds. Policy Research Corporation - 5 -

6 The economics of climate change adaptation in EU coastal areas been mentioned but not in relation to climate change 11. Measures taken to protect the coastal zones against flooding, erosion or landslides are not referred to. As no major coastal protection measures could be identified for Bulgaria, Policy Research believes that as an approximate figure, the yearly expenditure to protect the Romanian coastline against flooding and erosion may serve as a profound indication of the yearly coastal maintenance cost of Bulgaria. Hence, up to 1 million will be spent at maximum per year. Over the period , the total investment to protect the Bulgarian coastline from flooding and erosion sums up to at most 18 million PERSONS CONTACTED AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED PERSONS CONTACTED Name Dishovsky, Stefan Kideys, Ahmet Moncheva, Snejana Nikolov, Ventsislav Prof Dr Palazov, Atanas Petrova, Detelina Stanchev, Hristo Trifonova, Ekaterina Valchev, Nikolay Vranovska, Maria Organisation Ministry of Environment and Water Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution Black Sea Basin Directorate - Ministry of Environment and Waters Executive Environment Agency Ministry of Emergency Services 11 Virtually all measures taken will be financed by the European Cohesion and Regional development Fund Policy Research Corporation

7 SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED Dachev V., 2000, Implications of accelerated sea-level rise (ASLR) for Bulgaria, proceedings of SURVAS expert workshop on European vulnerability and adaptation to impacts of accelerated Sea-Level Rise (ASLR), Hamburg, Germany, June 2000, p GHK, 2006, Strategic evaluation on environment and risk prevention under structural and cohesion funds for the period : national evaluation report for Bulgaria Gospodinova, 2004, Eurosion case study: Shabla-Krapetz (Bulgaria) Keremedchiev S., Trifonova E., Andreeva N., Eftimova P., Valchev N., 2008, Assessment of the impact of the coastal structures on the shore and the under water bottom slope, 2nd bi-annual and black sea scene ES project joint conference, 6-9 October, Sofia, Bulgaria Ministry of Environment and Water, 2007, Operational programme environment , Sofia Palazov A., Stanchev H. and Stancheva M., 2007, Coastal population hazards due to extreme sea level Sunny beach resort case study, proc. of 4 th International conference: global changes and problems theory and practice, April, Sofia, Bulgaria, p Republic of Bulgaria, 2005, Second national action plan on climate change Stancheva M., Marinski J., 2007, Coastal defence activities along the Bulgarian sea coast Methods for protection or degradation?, Proceedings of coastal structures 2007 international conference, July , Venice, 2 Bb-023 Trifonova E. and Andreeva N., 2008, Wave impact on the coastal zone, 2nd bi-annual and Black Sea scene ES project joint conference, 6-9 October, Sofia, Bulgaria Policy Research Corporation - 7 -