Expert Training on Risk and Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning – Energy Sector

Date: 16-17.04.2015
Place: Tirana, Albania
Organizer: ECRAN Secretariat with EC TAIEX Unit


Many countries are already affected by climate change including the Western Balkans and Turkey. These countries are considered to be highly vulnerable and expected to experience the effects of rising temperatures and disruption to their precipitation regimes, along with more extreme events, including droughts, floods, heat waves, windstorms and forest fires. Not in the least climate change effects can regard to the energy planning and supply sector. These can inter alia include increased demand for cooling in the summer and decreased demand for electricity, natural gas, heating oil and wood for heating in the winter potentially requiring new infrastructure investments. Decreased precipitation affecting hydropower capacity as well as causing increased competition between energy production and other uses of water.

Adaptation in the energy planning and supply sector means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking the appropriate action in order to prevent or minimise the damage that the effects of disrupted climate regimes can cause, or taking advantage of opportunities that may arise, such as e.g. through an increase in wind and solar options. Identification of vulnerabilities and risks is at the forefront of adaptation action. In the energy planning sector the link between climate change mitigation and adaptation is obvious.

Wider Objective

To promote climate adaptation action in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

Specific Objectives

To enhance the understanding about climate adaptation action in the urban planning and development sector among a core of Beneficiary countries’ representatives, supporting the creation of national climate adaptation policies and planning as a basis for action.

Expected Results of the Workshop

The expected results are:

  • Strengthened awareness and understanding of climate change adaptation needs and options among energy planning experts from Western Balkan countries and Turkey;
  • Improved understanding of applicability of tools (including the Climate Adapt Tool) for risk and vulnerability assessment in the energy sector;
  • Foundation for improved cooperation and coordination among authorities in Western Balkan countries and Turkey in the area of climate adaptation action established;
  • Awareness of the need to speed up and enhance climate adaptation action planning in the Western Balkan countries and Turkey.