Session Report Cover Sheet
SESSION CODE: CLIM - WP
Name of Convener(s): Henk van Schaik .Chair: Mr. Bill Cosgrove, Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson
DATE:
17 - March, 2003 / Session Title: Water and Climate Wrap up Plenary
Contact information
in Japan
/ Accommodation: New Miyako HotelContact No.:
Contact E-mail:
Session Report
SESSION CODE: CLIM - WPReporter/Rapporteur: Saskia Werners, Pavel Kabat, Andy Bullock, Water and Climate Dialogue
Contact E-mail: , ,
1. Key Issues
Mr. Bill Cosgrove (Chair Dialogue on Water & Climate and Vice Chair World Water Council) hands Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson (Chair Global Water Partnership) a transparent Globe to symbolise future co-operation
At the end of the wrap-up session Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson shared her observations based on the various session reports. On behalf of the GWP, Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson welcomed the suggestion to establish an Associate Program on Water & Climate under the GWP.
Water and Climate
1. ‘Climate changes the water rules’ report from Water and Climate Dialogue, based on 18 stakeholder Dialogues. “A report of inestimable value” (Prof. Obasi). Key points are that
a) Droughts floods and storms on a scale never seen before
b) Almost all countries are vulnerable
c) Adaptation in hand with mitigation
2. The Threats:
· Climate variability makes Millennium Development Goals attainment harder.
· Natural disasters will cause loss of life, livelihoods and of investment in water infrastructure.
· Climate change threatens long-term sustainability of “out-of-poverty” outcomes.
3. New approach to ‘Cope with climate and live with water’. Range of options available.
· In Developing Countries, many more large dams are needed – good dams in line with WCD.
· Locally-planned, locally-managed solutions.
· Prevention and mitigation of natural disasters.
· Deal with climate variability now, and build a safer world, despite climate change.
4. An important ethical challenge. “Climate change poses a moral challenge to developed countries greater than colonialism or slavery. They are failing that challenge. A few important world leaders are in denial”. In the Caribbean, Mozambique and Bangladesh, people are unwilling victims. [quote Mr Lionel Hurst, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbadu]
5. Message to the Ministers. Will countries of the north, willing to make polluters pay at home, apply the same principle to finance the water development and adaptation of the polluted?. But not expecting that such finances will flow within the time available, can all possible steps be taken, with whatever resources are available.
Small Islands
1. Special features create high vulnerability (Small size, Remoteness, Cyclone hazards (wind, floods, storm surge), El Nino / La Nina droughts & floods, Limited human and financial resources)
2. Water Resources and Climate
3. Water Utilities and financing
4. Water Awareness, Advocacy, Political Will and Governance
Science of Water and Climate
1. Increased climate variability and change combined with local development decisions are putting many societies at risk.
2. The “dry” physics of climate models are robust but the “wet” physics processes need to be better represented
3. To obtain more robust climate model projections of precipitation, we will need to support modelling and model calibration efforts with better precipitation measurements
4. The capability to assess the implications of climate change along with stresses in water use allows for an evaluation of the areas of extreme risk. These analyses need to be supported by better downscaling capabilities
5. Actions to reduce the exposure to the anticipated shortages and risks should be developed by, or in collaboration with, the affected communities and individuals.
6. Outstanding questions are
a) to what extent are the increasing damages from extreme events the result of climate change (versus local decisions that increase vulnerability)?
b) to what extent are changes in the global water system and its associated modifications causing observed regional climate changes?
c) to what extent are there special aspects and needs for dialogues in transboundary basins?
7. Issues needing additional attention are in a) climate change and water quality, and b) implications of exploitation of groundwater reserves
Water cycle research and global monitoring
1. Water Cycle Research and Observational Activities
· Water Cycle Observation and Monitoring
· Research Programmes on Water and Climate
2. Observation and Monitoring
· WSSD provided legacy for establishing joint observational & monitoring platforms with focus on water
· Large data consolidation effort needs to be initiated in the area of water and climate
· Halt to further deterioration of hydrological and meteorological data collecting networks: essential for water and climate sectors
· Role of the space agencies: need to be imbedded in both science and operational services related to water and climate
3. Observation and Monitoring
· Agencies and Programmes: WMO, NASDA, ESA, IGOS-P, ….
· Outreach activities and data exchange policies
4. Water Cycle Research Programmes
· Japan Water Cycle Research Program
· US Water Cycle Research Program
· EU 6FP Water and Climate Research Program
· German Global Change and Water Cycle Program – GLOWA
· All Programmes Presented Substantial Commitments to Fund and Conduct Water and Climate Research over the next 4-5 years
Better protection for the most vulnerable
Much of the natural disasters are caused by climate and hydro-meteorological phenomena. Focus is needed on preparedness, different from disaster relief mechanisms. Within the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the largest international humanitarian organization, there is a growing awareness about the consequences of climate change. This awareness is an additional motive or the development and implementation of Disaster Preparedness Programmes. These programmes aim to strengthen the resilience of communities and individuals worldwide. In this session a number of these Disaster Preparedness and water and sanitation programmes of the Red Cross were presented.
Influence of floods and drought
1. Is global warming true? Data said yes, both globally (IPCC) and locally
2. Did water cycle changed? Some trends exist, but the effect of global warming is not yet clear,
may be complex. Japan: slight decrease, China: increase in south and decrease in north, larger variations
3. What are current counter measures? Sophisticated prediction and river control, high technology
observations.
4. Risk management is required.
Climate is everybody’s business too
Awareness about climate change is essential for water managers. There are different ways to raise awareness. This session focused on the use of the written media (journalists) and television (documentary film). Publicity Films were shown
National Actions Plans and Financial Support
1. There was a general consensus that we must act decisively now, as climate change and climate variability will only increase the economic cost for adaptation as time goes on.
2. It was recognised that climate variability is already impacting developed, developing and transitional economies.
3. Identify local coping capacities and enhance them—to ultimately enhance coping capacity of local area
4.Adaptation measures will require local, national, regional, as well basin level planning.
5.Developing coping capacity does not just reside in (or depend solely on) funding from abroad, good governance and policy development is key.
6.NGOs can play a crucial role in implementing national policy at the local level
7.Adaptation strategies should be in the context of sustainable development
8.Integrate adaptation strategies into existing policies and institutions
9.Adaptation to climate change in terms of the water resources sector implies huge investments in many cases, BUT Available adaptation funds are very limited,
10. THUS, creative solutions need to be found towards the funding of the development and implementation of adaptation strategies.
Integrated monitoring of the world’s freshwater resources
The world is facing a crisis in terms of the quantity and quality of inland water in the 21st century. Increased country participation, increased geographical and site coverage and diversification of the types of water quality data are to be acquired and shared.
Building capacity to cope
1. Background of Climate Change and increasing climate variability, and of growth of populations and economies
2. Hot spots with large effects but low capacity to cope
3. The gap in capacity to cope. Lack in capacity will have disastrous effects in the hot spots. Bridging the gap requires different target groups addressed, translation of knowledge to coping/adaptation strategies.
What Options do we have to cope?
1. Adaptation as an opportunity
2. Discussion touched on uncertainty in climate change and its effect on decision making, the role of the private sector and science in adaptation
3. Three adaptation priorities were identified:
i. reduce current vulnerabilities;
ii. protect and restore ecosystems;
iii. Close the water supply – demand gap.
4. “Win-win” strategies, which both mitigate and adapt to climate change need to be considered where feasible.
5.People at local levels are recognizing change in climate and are subsequently changing their behaviour– i.e. through cropping patterns and water consumption patterns
6. It is not only the water sector itself that needs to think about adaptation… space and land use changes may also be required
7. How can we generate, build and maintain the political momentum? Build up scientific credibility; mobilize people
8. If we want climate change and adaptation strategies to gain momentum, we need to look at adaptation as an opportunity
9. Because of this new uncertainty, the involvement of stakeholders is critical. A new management style is needed that is inclusive and innovative.
10. The private sector can offer their expertise in terms of risk management and hazard mapping. There must be a partnership of insurance and government and/or donor agencies.
11. Maintenance of ecosystem integrity should play a major part in formulation of adaptation strategies
12. Climate forecasts need to be translated into a range of temporal and spatial scales, and they should be targeted to the end-user… I.e. water resource managers.
13. GAP: what are the mechanisms for funding or implementing regional initiatives? (currently, funding opportunities are applicable to National needs).
14. We need to get the message to policymakers: Acknowledge that climate variability is there, and it should be put high on their agenda.
15. Can economic interests be exploited such that adaptation occurs? Can adaptation become a business opportunity?
At the end of the wrap-up session Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson (Chair GWP) shared her observations based on the various session reports. On behalf of the GWP, Mrs. Margaret Catley-Carlson welcomed the suggestion to establish an Associate Program on Water & Climate under the GWP.
2. Actions
CLIM-02 Science of Water and Climate
1. The proposal for the associate water and Climate program are well advanced. Participants agreed to encourage the further development of this program.
2. There is a need to strengthen observations of all aspects of the water cycle including the many variables such as evaporation and soil moisture that can only be monitored by surface networks at the present time. The depletion on in situ networks must be addressed and reversed. The IGOS-P water cycle theme should address these issues.
CLIM-03 Small Islands
1. Joint Caribbean – Pacific Programme of Action on Water and Climate. 22 Common Actions on a)Research, b) advocacy & awareness, c) capacity building, d) governance, all in the areas of water resources management, water governance, IWRM, water demand management and water quality
2. Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management
CLIM-04 Better protection for the most vulnerable
In 2002 The Netherlands Red Cross launched the Red Cross/Red Crescent centre on Climate Change and Disaster Preparedness. This centre aims to
· raise awareness about climate change, extreme weather events and the impacts on vulnerable people.
· support the development of concrete climate adaptation activities within the existing context of disaster preparedness programmes
· advocate for the concerns about the impacts of climate change and the good experiences with adaptation programmes to the places of policy development.
CLIM-06 National Actions Plans and Financial Support
· Launch of the Interagency paper: Poverty and Climate Change: Reducing the vulnerability of the poor, in June 2003.
· GEF will develop an action plan on adaptation for May 2003.
· EU proposing to develop an action plan to raise the profile, assist in adaptation, and support for mitigation to climate change.
CLIM-07 Integrated monitoring of the world’s freshwater resources
A resolution was submitted by the participants of the session.
CLIM-08 Building capacity to cope
1. Training package developed by international consortium.
2. Bibliography by Pacific Institute.
3. National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs) of UNDP.
4. Networks for dissemination of knowledge (CapNet)
5. WET-wave (refer to Water Education and Capacity Building Theme, coming Thursday-Friday)
each with target groups amongst national and regional authorities, non-governmental organizations, local stakeholders, not just juniors, also senior level (example California).
CLIM-09 Influence of floods and drought
The understanding of this problem by many people is required for addressing the issues of the impacts of climate change to floods and droughts. From this point of view, the Exploratory Committee consisting of professionals on climates and rivers as well as administrative parties was organized. The Committee carried out the following activities and actively performed provision cases, gathering information such as actual situations of research, extraction of problems, and transmissions of information.
・ Set up a virtual forum and gathered information from many people in the world
・ Conferences were organized for domestic and international professionals to exchange information
・ Participated in the international conferences related to climate changes, and provided the information and exchanged opinions (WSSD in Johannesburg, DWC workshops in Dhaka etc)
・ Exchanged of information among professionals and the general audience (etc) shared the information through a pre-forum. About 800 people have participated and highly appreciated this pre-forum. Moreover, the satellite broadcasting of this forum has widely spread the information to the public.
CLIM-10 Climate is everybody’s business too
· The Dialogue on Water and Climate produced a 45min. TV documentary entitled “The Heat is On: Better be prepared”. The film was given its international debut during this session.