Transcript science-policy interface for researchers and water

Science-Policy Interface for water
Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation
for Sustainable Development
12 June 2012
Global water resources management
challenges
o Complex challenges associated with global water quantity and
quality
o Exacerbated by climate change
o Characteristics of water resources management : multi-scale,
multi-disciplinarily, holistic approach, multi-actors
 there’s a need for comprehensive scientific information
provision to support evidence-based water policies development
by governments, UN conventions (UNFCCC, UNCCD, UNCBD)
 there’s a need for a global science-policy interface
aiming :
to support water policies development with complete and up-todate scientific information and
o
to allow water managers and policy makers to express their
needs for information and expertise
o
Current situation
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28 UN agencies dealing with water topics
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UNESCO-IHP: devoted to water research, water
resources management, and education and
capacity building
UNU-INWEH: a think tank of the UN on water
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Coordinated through World Water Assessment
Programme
 A comprehensive science-policy interface
for water at a global level doesn’t exist
Recommendation : a networking platform
To establish an international networking platform
 to provide water policy sector with scientific information complete
and agreed both by scientific and political sectors related to global
water resources, uses and demands, and water management
 to support UN conventions with water-related information
 and to allow water managers to provide scientists with
specifications on their needs for expertise and information.
The outcomes
 Regular and special reports on water resources, uses and
demands, and governance and management
 Delivered to governments, UN conventions, other stakeholders
Organisation
 This platform would consist of scientists, hydrologists
and other experts, water managers, policy makers,
 This network would coordinate with relevant UN
agencies and UN conventions on climate, biodiversity
and desertification scientific processes.
 This platform should preferably be built on an existing
activity such as WWAP
At the 6th World water forum
A case study applied to climate change domain:
A platform/ science-policy interface for researchers and water managers
to facilitate communications in relation with the IPCC and other UN
conventions,
to provide relevant scientific inputs to help water resources managers
develop effective management and climate change adaptation
strategies taking IPCC projections and uncertainties related to global
and climate change into account at the relevant scales.
Next investigations
 Work with UN bodies on how to implement this recommendation
 To elaborate a proposal in view of the 7th WWF
To finish off
 Provide us with your views
 Express your interest in joining this work