Belgian national adaptation plan

This plan proposes a set of national measures focused on adaptation to climate change.

Belgium adopted its second National Climate Plan (2009-2012) in 2008, containing a section dedicated to adaptation. The third objective of the plan is to initiate a National Strategy for Adaptation. It also states the following: “Belgium will assess the possibility of developing an adaptation plan on the basis of the acquired experience”. In 2010, Belgium adopted its National Adaptation Strategy which describes the main climate change impacts, the existing adaptation responses, a roadmap to a future National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and several policy guidelines for the further development of adaptation policy.

The National Climate Commission (NCC), established in 2003, is responsible for a number of tasks related to the national implementation of climate policy. Its central responsibilities are implementing and monitoring the National Climate Plan, monitoring and adapting the Plan’s policies and measures, collecting and exchanging data and preparing mandatory re-ports. The National Climate Commission can also advise the CCIEP regarding international policy on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. It is made up of four representatives per entity (four for the federal government and four for each of the three Regions), appointed by their governments. It is assisted by a permanent secretariat and thematic working groups which are mandated by the National Climate Commission to address different issues. An Adaptation Working Group was created under the NCC. This group brings together adaptation operators from the regional and federal governments (the NCC Adaptation Working Group and the Adaptation Working Group under CCIEP are composed of the same experts). Its responsibilities include drafting this National Adaptation Plan.

The NCC Adaptation Working Group was mandated to draft this NAP in order to:

- provide clear and concise information about Belgian adaptation policies (at regional and federal level) and their implementation;

- identify national adaptation measures that will strengthen cooperation and develop synergies between the various governments (federal, regions)