The main impact of climate change in the  Danube-Carpathian region will not be so much rising temperatures as climate anomalies, with increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including both droughts and flooding. Parts of southern Hungary and northern Serbia are likely to experience desertification. Many areas, especially in Bulgaria, could experience severe water shortages.

Snow cover and the number of cold days will decrease, with farreaching consequences not only for the availability of water, but also winter tourism. Ski areas below 1,500 meters -- including most ski areas across the region -- will be unviable. Within the next decades, over a quarter of the species of flora and fauna in the region will likely face extinction.

WWF's work on climate change focuses on:

Raising awareness and understanding of the problem of climate change and opportunities to reduce its scope and impact. In 2008, we launched our first awareness raising campaigns on climate change in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.

Promoting urgent action to limit climate change to less than an average global temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A priority for us is lobbying EU governments and Members of the European Parliament from the region to support progressive EU policies on climate change and energy.

Promoting urgent action to adapt to the effects of climate change, especially by working with nature rather than against it, e.g. by protecting and strengthening the resilience of ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and grasslands.

Find out more about our climate work in Hungary.