The workshop on adaptation to climate change in water sector was organised under the auspices of the Water Convention and of the Protocol on Water and Health to the Convention, following the outcomes of the first meeting of the Task Force on Water and Climate.
The workshop aimed to (a) share experiences and thus assist governments in developing strategies for adaptation to climate change in the water sector and the related health aspects, (b) assess information needs for elaborating such adaptation strategies based on well-informed data and information, and (c) especially address the benefits of and mechanisms for transboundary cooperation in adaptation activities.
The workshop addressed institutional, policy, legal, scientific and financial aspects of adaptation in the water sector, including cross-cutting issues such as education. It also gave an opportunity to present to a wider audience the draft Guidance on water and adaptation to climate change, for discussions and comments, and to enrich it with examples and good practices.
As a preparation for the workshop a survey was conducted among non-EEA countries in the UNECE region in order to identify the expected impact of climate change on water systems as well as the adaptation measures planned or implemented (see Questionnaire in En and Ru). A similar survey was conducted by the EEA previously. The workshop discussed the findings of these surveys.
The workshop was open to experts dealing with water and climate change issues from relevant national, regional and local authorities, the private sector or non-governmental organizations from all UNECE member countries as well as for experts from international organizations.
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Information notice
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Provisional workshop programme
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Draft Guidance on Water and Climate Adaptation
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Background document
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Opening session |
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Welcome speech by the host country Mrs. Renske Peters, Director for Water Affairs, DG-Water, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands |
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Opening speech by Mr. Roger Aertgeerts Co-Secretary of the Protocol on Water and Health, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
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Presentations |
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Session 1: Setting the scene |
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Introduction to the workshop and presentation of the draft Guidance on water and adaptation to climate change Mr. Joost Buntsma, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water, Management, the Netherlands |
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Key messages of the Symposium “Climate Change and the European Water Dimension”, Common Implemen-tation Strategy activities on climate change and the EU water policy until 2009 Ms. Meike Gierk, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation |
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Presentation of the findings of the EEA report “Climate change and water adaptation issues” and recent developments Mr. Peter Kristensen, European Environment Agency |
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Climate change impacts and water adaptation strategies: Presentation of the results of the survey carried out in non-EEA countries Mr. Jos Timmerman, RWS Centre for Water Management, the Netherlands |
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Water and adaptation strategy: why health should be in Ms. Luciana Sinisi, Environment Protection and Technical Services Agency, Italy; Chairperson of the Task Force on Extreme Weather Events |
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Session 2: Making adaptation work: policy, legislation and institutions |
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Adaptation strategies in the transboundary context: the case of the Danube River Mr. Gheorghe Constantin, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Romania |
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Adaptation needs of the legal framework for transboun-dary waters: challenges posed by climate change Mr. Justice Gregory J. Hobbs, Colorado Supreme Court; USA |
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abstract |
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Session 3: Reducing uncertainty: forecasting, modeling and vulnerability |
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Introduction on impacts assessment and scenarios Mr. Pavel Kabat, Wageningen University, the Netherlands |
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Governing vulnerability in transboundary context: the Trialog approach Ms. Marloes Bakker, Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate, the Netherlands |
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The experience of the NeWater project: Integrating environmental flows into water management to reduce social vulnerability - an example from the lower Amudarya River Basin Ms. Gulchekhra Khasankhanova, Design and Research UZGIP Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources Uzbekistan |
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Assessment of vulnerability of the Aral Sea basin Ms. Natalya Agaltseva, Hydrometeorological Research Institute, Uzbekistan |
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Adaptation of various economic branches of Belarus to climate change Mr. Mikhail Kalinin, Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources, Belarus |
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Water supply and sanitation after flooding events Mr. Jim Foster, Drinking Water Inspectorate, United Kingdom |
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Vulnerability of forest ecosystems Mr. Roman Corobov, Eco-TIRAS International Environmental Association of River Keepers, Moldova |
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Session 4: Make adaptation happen! |
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Group 1: Floods |
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Example of preparedness: Experience from Germany Ms. Meike Gierk, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety |
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Example of response: Belarus experience in response to floods Mr. Mikhail Kalinin, Central Research Institute for Complex Use of Water Resources, Belarus |
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Example of recovery/aftercare after floods: Experience from 1997, 2002 and 2006 floods in the Czech Republic Mr. Odrich Novicki, Masaryk Water Research Institute, Czech Republic |
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Group 2: Water scarcity and droughts |
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Example of preparedness: Monitoring of water balances in Hungary Mr. Péter Kozák, Directorate for Environmental Protection and Water Management of Lower Tisza District, Hungary |
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Example of response from the Netherlands Luit-Jan Dijkhuis, Directorate General of Water Affairs |
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Example of recovery measures after drought: Experience in Moldova Mr. Ion Salaru, Ministry of Health, Moldova |
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Group 3: Declining water quality and health issues |
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Examples of preparedness: Early detection and early warning Ms. Martina Behanova, Public Health Authority, Slovakia |
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The Protocol on Water and Health as a tool for climate change adaptation Mr. Roger Aertgeerts, WHO-EURO |
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Example of response: Experience of Ukraine Ms. Svitlana Garienchuk, Center of Ecological Audit and Certification, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ukraine |
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Example of recovery/aftercare: Managing the risk of vector-borne diseases in adaptation measures Ms. Luciana Sinisi, Environment Protection and Technical Services Agency, Italy |
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Session 5: How much does it cost? Where should the money come from? |
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Dutch experience in financing adaptation measures Mr. Niels Vlaanderen, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the Netherlands |
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Perspectives in countries with economies in transition: the case of Ukraine Ms. Natalia Zakorchevna, State Committee for Water management, Ukraine |
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Costs of water related climate change versus the limitations in financing Laurens Bouwer (IVM, A’dam) presented by Henk van Schaik (CPWC) |
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Session 6: Final discussion on the guidance on water and adaptation to climate change |
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Presentation of the key messages by the rapporteurs for Session 4 / Group 1: Floods |
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Presentation of the key messages by the rapporteurs for Session 4 / Group 1: Water scarcity and droughts |
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Presentation of the key messages by the rapporteurs for Session 4 / Group 1: Declining water quality and health issues |
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Presentation of the Workshop's Conclusions |
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