LIFE-MICACC project – GLOSSARY
Adaptation Guide
During the project we create an Adaptation Guide to collect all the experiences gathered during the designing, the implementation phase and the monitoring of the 5 NWRM prototypes (A1-A5, C1 actions).
Adaptation
Activities which reduce vulnerability against perceptible or expected climate change.
Adaptation capacity
All the abilities, items and activities which help an exact system (community) to be able to change its conditions in such a way to reduce its vulnerability to climate change.
CCA referent
The CCA (Climate Change Adaptation) referent is the professional colleague of the project partner municipality, who is responsible for the coordination of the designing and implementation works of the NWRM prototype. S/he is also responsible for ensuring the climate change adaptation aspects at the municipality during the LIFE project. In the frame of the capacity building of the project we hired 5 CCA referents at the 5 partner municipalities.
Climate
Climate is a period of at least 30 years of average weather.
Variability of the climate
The fluctuation of the annual temperature and precipitation rates, compared to the yearly average. The variability of the climate is not equal to climate change.
Climate-smart municipality
A municipality, which recognizes threats caused by the climate change, and also manages any other non-climate-related hazards and opportunities in the aspect of climate change.
Climate change
Climate change is a long-term change in the weather averages, extreme weather events and the variability of the climate.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity shows the impacts of the climate change related weather phenomenon to the system.
Effect
Effect is the visible consequence of the vulnerability. It is the damage, which is caused by the climate-related weather phenomenon.
Maladaptation
The maladaptation is a kind of wrong adaptation measure, which strengthens vulnerability.
Weather
Weather is the daily fluctuation of the temperature, rain, wind etc.
Exposure
Existence of some of the climate change-related factors, which has a negative impact to the system. The system is located where it is exposed to unfavourable climate change effects.
Community based Adaptation (CbA)
The CbA is a community organised process, which prepares the community to the effects of the climate change, building on the local priorities, needs, knowledge and capacity.
Mainstreaming
Considering the climate change, during the project planning, the development and the operation.
Mitigation
Activities, which reduce greenhouse-gas emission or improve the absorbing capability.
Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA)
Ecosystem based Adaptation is the use of the natural resources and ecosystem services in order to increase people’s adaptation capacities against the climate change effects.
Resilience
Resilience is the opposite of vulnerability. It is the ability of a system to forecast, buffer and adapt the climate-related hazard events. Though the significant external changes, the resilient system could remain relatively stable.
Vulnerability
The vulnerability means the lack of defensive and adaptive abilities. It shows that the system is sensitive for the negative impacts of the climate change.
Vulnerability assessment
The vulnerability assessment is a study (related to settlements), intended to identify who and what is exposed and sensitive to climate change. It contains suggestions for the possible adaptation measures and identifies potential tasks of the different stakeholders.
Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM)
Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM) are multi-functional measures that aim to protect and manage water resources and address water-related challenges by restoring or maintaining ecosystems as well as natural features and characteristics of water bodies using natural means and processes. Their main focus is to enhance, as well as preserve, the water retention capacity of aquifers, soil, and ecosystems with a view to improving their status. NWRM have the potential to provide multiple benefits, including the reduction of risk of floods and droughts, water quality improvement, groundwater recharge and habitat improvement. The application of NWRM supports green infrastructure, improves or preserves the quantitative status of surface water and groundwater bodies and can positively affect the chemical and ecological status of water bodies by restoring or enhancing natural functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide. The preserved or restored ecosystems can contribute both to climate change adaptation and mitigation.
