Climate Change and Human Development in Croatia

What does the global dialogue on climate change mean for individual countries? Can countries “climate-proof” their socio-economic development strategies? Eco Ltd is working with the country office of an international development organization on a pilot report to address these questions in Croatia. The 2008 Human Development Report for Croatia – A Climate for Change: Climate change and its impacts on society and economy in Croatia has just been launched. Read the report in full here and in Croatian here.

During the project development workshop, more than 30 stakeholders identified key “missing pieces” in the current state of knowledge about climate change issues: 1) vulnerability and adaptation, particularly in key sectors such as agriculture, water, and tourism; 2) public opinion and receptivity to climate-related policies; and 3) institutional capacity and coordination on climate and economic development issues.

Croatia currently finds itself at a crossroads, as its greenhouse gas emissions approach 1990 levels, shifting it from a potential seller to a potential buyer of emissions. Three messages are emerging from the research in the report. First, climate change represents a serious threat to human development in Croatia. In addition, there are ways to address climate change in Croatia that cost little or nothing. Finally, climate protection measures can also promote other policy goals, such as energy security and EU accession.

Building on their knowledge of best practice in climate change policies and programmes, Eco’s experts are supporting the reporting with an emphasis on how to best address these issues both in Croatia and in other countries that may face more capacity constraints. More information on the process is available here and here.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Croatia, presented its 2008 Human Development Report for Croatia – A Climate for Change in Zagreb on 16 February 2009: