Climate change in the West Balkans

This booklet reveals and explains the linkages between people and the environment in the Balkans. As part of the present risks intensified by climate warming, it considers forest fires, desertification, drought and heat waves, decreasing farming productivity, sea level rise impacts on coastal erosion and salt water intrusion, and floods; and addresses adaptation as a risk management strategy that intends to respond to the inevitable effects of climate change, and to enhance resilience. It is intended to stimulate a policy debate and to contribute to a society that is better informed about upcoming environmental challenges, eventually strengthening the basis for planning for the inevitable consequences of climate change.

The overall report is aimed to assist those who develop climate change policies and programmes in the region and to stimulate concrete actions that eventually can be reported back to the world at one of the future global meetings on climate change. Compiled by representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society organizations and research institutions and other experts from the region, this report forms part of an awareness-raising campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Environment and Security initiative on the effects of climate change.