ENG
SLO
HRV
BIH
SRBDevelopment of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Sava River Basin - Kick-off Meeting
The kick-off meeting marking the official start of the development of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy was held in Zagreb on 27 November 2025. This initiative represents a key regional effort aimed at strengthening the resilience of Sava Basin countries to increasingly frequent and intense climate-related challenges.
The meeting brought together representatives of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), the expert consortium led by JBA Consulting and Granum Salis Cooperative and members of the ISRBC expert groups. The consortium presented its vision and project approach, including the activities that will be implemented over the next 13 months.
The main objective of the project is to, through participatory approach of stakeholders, develop the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Sava River Basin (CCA Strategy), and an Action Plan for implementation of adaptation actions focused on adaptive and flexible management approaches, with aim to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate challenges in the Sava River Basin.
The introductory presentations provided an overview of previous climate adaptation initiatives in the Sava Basin, as well as relevant projects such as WATCAP (supported by World Bank), Nexus assessments (supported by UNECE), and ISRBC strategic analyses. These form the basis for building upon existing knowledge and ensuring continuity.
The meeting outlined the methodological framework, which includes:
The meeting brought together representatives of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), the expert consortium led by JBA Consulting and Granum Salis Cooperative and members of the ISRBC expert groups. The consortium presented its vision and project approach, including the activities that will be implemented over the next 13 months.
The main objective of the project is to, through participatory approach of stakeholders, develop the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Sava River Basin (CCA Strategy), and an Action Plan for implementation of adaptation actions focused on adaptive and flexible management approaches, with aim to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate challenges in the Sava River Basin.
The introductory presentations provided an overview of previous climate adaptation initiatives in the Sava Basin, as well as relevant projects such as WATCAP (supported by World Bank), Nexus assessments (supported by UNECE), and ISRBC strategic analyses. These form the basis for building upon existing knowledge and ensuring continuity.
The meeting outlined the methodological framework, which includes:
- analysis of climate scenarios and historical climate trends,
- assessment of vulnerabilities and risks for water resources, ecosystems, and water-dependent sectors,
- application of the HEC-HMS model to evaluate hydrological changes,
- identification of adaptation priorities,
- development of measures and indicators for monitoring Strategy implementation.
Emphasis was placed on stakeholder engagement, continuous communication, and systematic data collection across all Sava Basin countries. An interactive session enabled participants to share views on key challenges, needs, and expectations for the Strategy development process.
The meeting concluded with agreement on the next steps, including preparation of the Inception Report, the launch of climate scenario analyses, and the collection of data required for risk assessments and modelling.
The project team and ISRBC reaffirmed their commitment to a common goal: building a resilient, sustainable, and secure Sava River Basin for future generations.
The meeting concluded with agreement on the next steps, including preparation of the Inception Report, the launch of climate scenario analyses, and the collection of data required for risk assessments and modelling.
The project team and ISRBC reaffirmed their commitment to a common goal: building a resilient, sustainable, and secure Sava River Basin for future generations.