Information about the conclusions of the vahAva project

Láng, István

Keywords: climate change, climate policy, atmosphere protection, adaptation, national strategy

The cooperation of KvVM (Ministry of Environmental Protection) and MTA (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) between 2003 and 2006 known as the VAHOVA project searched for plausible responses to the probable effects of climate change. The effects of climate change pose a number of problems, to some of which solution may be derived from the agro-economical sciences. Climate change is already taking place in this country requiring an assessment of the extent of warming, drying, the frequency of extreme weather phenomena and consequent damages as well as the development of appropriate approaches for prevention, damage control and reparation also in agriculture. Desirably these preparations should serve the protection of atmosphere and adaptation so that disadvantages to some extent are turned into advantages. As a consequence of climate change the role of agriculture changes, it becomes revalued, while new prospects are opened up in land development, power generation, etc. The most important impacts of the VAHOVA project are the depiction of the gravity of the present situation, stimulation of public opinion thereby gaining decision makers’ attention. It has also lead to the foundation of the National Climate Change Strategy concept.