Transcript Developing_a_Guidanc..

Developing a guidance on water
and climate
adaptation for the
transboundary context
Sonja Koeppel
Secretariat of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Outline of presentation
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The UNECE Water Convention and its
Protocol on Water and Health
Provisions relevant for climate change
The Guidance on Water and Adaptation
to climate change: aims, process,
content
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Parties to the Convention
35 countries and the
European Community
Amended in 2003 to allow
accession to countries
outside the UNECE region
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Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Climate change impacts on water
resources
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Decline of water storage in Glaciers
Changes in precipitation patterns
Changes in water quality
Increase in extreme events
Sea-level rise: salinisation of groundwaters
Effects on health through water-related
diseases and other health effects
More water stress
Effects on related sectors such as agriculture,
navigation, tourism, hydropower, fisheries
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Expected changes in precipitation in
the UNECE region
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Reasons for the Guidance
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Climate change impacts are already visible in European
basins
Differences in impact assessments + possible conflict
between water users, thus need for coordination
between countries
But: very few countries have developed adaptation
strategies so far- even less at transboundary level
Especially in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central
Asia (EECCA) planning and implementaton of
adaptation is still in a very early stage and guidance
needed
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Mandate and process of
developing the Guidance
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Parties to the Water Convention decided in 2006 to
prepare a Guidance on Water and Adaptation to
Climate Change to support cooperation and decision
making in transboundary basins
Joint product of the Water Convention and the Protocol
for adoption at their MOPs in 2009 and 2010
Discussed at several occasions such as workshop on
adaptation in water sector in Amsterdam (1-2 July 08)
Survey on adaptation in non-EEA countries prepared as
additional input
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Target Group of the Guidance
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Decision makers responsible for water management
in general as well as relevant health-related issues,
in particular in the transboundary context.
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The Guidance is also of interest for officials,
managers and stakeholders of other sectors with a
direct relevance to water and health
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It is relevant for the entire UNECE region, with a
focus on countries with economies in transition.
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Scope
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The Guidance is a general roadmap
towards adaptation of water management
to climate change but needs to be tailored
to specific local situations.
It provides a step-wise approach on how
impacts of climate change can be assessed
and how policy, strategic and operational
responses can be developed.
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Key steps
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Establishing the
policy, legal and
institutional
framework
Understanding
vulnerability
Developing and
implementing an
adaptation strategy
Evaluating
Policy, legal and institutional framework
Understand the vulnerability
Information needs
Impact assessment
Evaluate
Vulnerability assessment
Development of measures
Financial arrangements
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND
APPROACHES
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The Precautionary principle should be applied
Climate proofing should be a priority
Effective transboundary cooperation should be ensured
and riparian Parties cooperate on the basis of equality,
solidarity and reciprocity
Adaptation measures should be developed adapted for
different scales, both in space (local to international
level) and in time
Mitigation and adaptation support each other
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND
APPROACHES
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The River basin approach and IWRM should be
implemented
Health risk of climate change and adaptation
options should be considered
Strong interdepartmental (inter-ministerial) and
intersectoral cooperation is important
Adaptation policy and measures should be assessed
in a socio-economic development context
Cost of options and non-action should be estimated
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
POLICY, LEGISLATION AND
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
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Policy and governance: mainstreaming climate
change adaptation in development and spatial
planning, programmes and budgeting and all policies
Legal aspects: assessment of existing legal
framework, also on transboundary level and if needed
revision to ensure flexibility
Institutional aspects: clear definition of roles and
responsibilities
Education, capacity-building and communication should
be ensured at all levels
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
SCENARIOS AND MODELS FOR
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
INFORMATION AND
MONITORING NEEDS
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Definition of information needs
Different types of and sources of
information are used
Joint information systems and exchange
of information are built
Design of adaptive monitoring systems
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
VULNERABILITY
ASSESSMENT
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Helps decision makers to assess the
vulnerability of a basin
Provides with information that guides
choices related to where and when
interventions should be made, and in
what form
It is based on scenarios and model
outcomes
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES
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Climate risk should be an integral element of
all decision-making
Measures should be of different types:
legislative, economic, financial, structural, nonstructural, capacity-building, ecosystem
resilience etc.
Options should be identified and prioritized
taking into account criteria agreed upon by all
stakeholders (participatory approach)
Need for a cross-sectoral and transboundary
approach
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
THE ADAPTATION CHAIN
Prevent
Improve
resilience
Prepare
Extreme event
Respond
Recover
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
FINANCIAL MATTERS
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National budgets and economic
incentives
Bilateral and multilateral programmes
Involvement of private sector
International funds (UNFCCC Adaptation
Fund)
Financial assistance to countries with
economies in transition
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
EVALUATION
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Takes place throughout the adaptation
chain
At different levels (strategy and
measure/project)
Monitoring the progress vis-à-vis
achieving objectives
Learning by doing
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
NEXT STEPS
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Expert review
Discussion of the Guidance at several occasions such
as the Task Forfce on Water and Climate and the
Working Group on IWRM
After adoption at the MOP in Nov 2009 probably
testing and implementing of the Guidance through pilot
projects
Simultaneously development of a Guidance on Water
and Sanitation in Extreme Events under the Protocol
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
THANK YOU!
[email protected]
www.unece.org/env/water
Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes