Enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into planning

The overarching objective of the project “Enhancing Montenegro’s capacity to integrate climate change risks into planning” is to improve the country’s institutional capacity for long term adaptation planning. To achieve this, the project focuses on (1) improving the institutional coordination framework and increasing institutional capabilities, (2) increasing climate information and identifying potential adaptation measures, and (3) identifying financial requirements and resources to fund adaptation investments. 

The projected impacts of climate change in Montenegro include increased frequencies and intensities of floods and droughts, water scarcity, and intensification of erosion, sedimentation, snowmelt, sea level rise, as well as damage to water quality and ecosystems. To address the climate change risks, the Government of Montenegro has taken several foundational steps to develop a long-term adaptation planning process that is anchored in the National Climate Change Strategy by 2030 and Montenegro’s National Communication. While these steps provide a starting point, several gaps were identified: (1) An underperforming coordination framework, (2) a lack of institutional capacity, (3) insufficient information, and (4) a lack of finance to fund adaptation investments, and (5) a private sector that has a low capacity to understand and respond to climate vulnerabilities and risks.

This project will help Montenegro lay the groundwork for systemic and iterative adaptation planning through the identification of climate risks and adaptation options.  A well-established planning process will lead to improved resilience in four key sectors. This strategic approach will help Montenegro to improve access to international funding sources and the private sector as it relates to the provision of financial resources. The project will also strengthen the awareness and capacities for adaptation planning of multiple stakeholder groups to create a better environment for learning and iterative adaptation planning and action. The project is the first stage (Phase I) of what is intended be a two-staged approach for utilizing the support of the Green Climate Fund for adaptation planning. The second stage will build on Phase I, amongst others, to integrate other sectors into the adaptation planning process, further integrate the private sector and more fully develop financing strategies and tracking of adaptation finance.

Updates section

National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD) relaunched.

The NCSD, an advisory body that brings together stakeholders relevant to the adaptation process, was relaunched in December 2021 with the support of the NAP project.  

In a broader sense, the main task of the Council is to direct and monitor the implementation of policies that determine the country’s development direction and ensure the sustainability of these policies. The Council is a platform for sharing knowledge, expertise, information and practical experience. In addition to the representatives of relevant institutions, business community and NGOs, the representatives of youth and the media are also members of the NCSD.

The recommendations which resulted from the analysis and evaluation of the Council’s work emphasize the role of consensus in the decision-making process, constructive partnership based on trust and information exchange, inclusive management and creation of a sense of responsibility for the activities and decisions taken, offering space for concrete actions, developing evaluation mechanisms and creating learning opportunities. The Working Group on Climate Change, which will operate within the Council, will focus in particular on providing support to the process of adaptation to climate change.

Capacity assessment conducted 

An assessment of the capacity of institutions in terms of adaptation to climate change and green development has been performed. 

The evaluation process included more than 300 actors, institutions at the national and local level, public and private companies, operating in various fields. The aim of the assessment was to determine the extent to which the public sector can plan and implement the process of adaptation to climate change, as well as the analysis of needs for capacity building and training of staff to plan and implement this process.

Within this research, the institutions were evaluated in relation to seven elements defined by the Capacity Assessment Tool, specifically designed for the implementation of this activity in Montenegro. The results of the initial analysis indicated a general weak systemic coordination and cooperation in the area of adaptation to climate change. Capacity assessments generally ranged from low to baseline, while strong capacities to respond to climate challenges were not identified for any of the assessed institutions. 

Having in mind the mentioned results, the preparation of the NAP became important as an opportunity to establish a framework for a systematic and coordinated response of all relevant institutions.