Download here - Stakeholder Forum

Notes from Workshop on Water and Climate Change
Adaptation
Date: Sunday 7th June 2009
Time: 3pm – 6pm
Location: Room 1.130,
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety
23 people present
N.B All Power Point presentations for this Workshop can be viewed via the following link to the
webcast of the side event that took place the following day, with the same presentations:
http://unfccc2.metafusion.com/kongresse/090601_SB30_Bonn/templ/ply_page.php?id_kongresssession=1805&player_mod
e=isdn_real
Presentations
Fritz Holzwarth, Deputy Director for Water Management, German Ministry for Environment (BMU)
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Adaptation is an issue both of water and land use. This is of strategic importance – debates on
water should not be limited to the traditional water sector. More cross-sectoral actions are
required between water related sectors for successful adaptation. Implementing the IWRM
principles would constitute a major part of the implementation of adaptation.
Riverbasins, transboundary issues are crucial. Economic development and water availability are
linked. With climate change on top of that, problems multiply.
Efforts must be made not to re-label all normal environmental and developmental projects ‘water
and climate change’ just to get funding. Need to be transparent about this, not least for the sake
of the water scarce countries.
Climate Change negotiations offer a valuable opportunity to raise awareness through side
events. If we ignore the water issue, we will have serious problems very soon. Water problems
are triggered already today, while the discussion on negative impacts from a lack of mitigation is
about 10-20 years ahead.
Continuum and collaboration are timely. The major challenge now is how to get water people out
of the water box.
Joost Buntsma, Programme Manager, Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management,
Netherlands
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Water is cross-sectoral. Water is not just another sector. Water should not be just a priceable
good (personal opinion).
The hydrological cycle is a better word than water when we talk about climate change impacts.
Water management should be central to adaptation.
Felix Dodds Comments as Chair: Climate change is not about climate change, its about
sustainable development.
Johan Kuylenstierna, Chief Technical Advisor, UN Water
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Climate change is one of many global challenges to deal with. The discussion is not new.
Integrating agendas was already discussed during Agenda 21 e.g. Many agendas are linked,
but it just very difficult to get integration going. The whole governance system is still very sectororiented.
Water is particularly challenging. It is not a clear sector. Water is integrated into many sectors,
such as the agricultural sector. There is also a lack of clear leadership in water issues, unlike
e.g. the health sector. Stakeholders in water-related sectors often have conflicts because water
is a political issue. Ideological issues are linked to water. So having joint strategies is difficult.
In the same way that climate change is just one of many challenges, there are multiple drivers
behind water problems. We should be a trade negotiations too. Not only at UNFCCC.
The UN system can be quite messy, but the ambitions of member states also matter. UN-water
tries to coordinate and strengthen collaboration on the cross-sectoral issue of water.
This coordination is important in order to increase the responsiveness of water-related sectors to
challenges and decisions that are made on mitigation and adaptation for example. How to
respond to that as a sector? Do we need to think differently on how we work? Does the outcome
of COP-15 have implications for us? Johan shows an example on how UN water works. (see
Power Point)
Henk Van Schaik, Programme Co-ordinator Cooperative Programme on Water and Climate
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The impacts of climate change will be mainy on the hydrological cycle. In 2001, we started to
think about how to see climate from this perspective, is it specific or is it a compounding factor? It
is a big debate, but the answer is that it is both. Specific activities are needed, based on
identifying vulnerable areas. More hydrological and meteorological data and information is
needed.
Regarding water, strong messages came from the Political Declaration from the World Water
Forum in Istanbul, that we now need to communicate to other processes, e g the CSD and the
UNFCCC.
GPPN has been active in preparing this activity and the collaboration is important, and will
continue also at the World Water Week in Stockholm.
The proposed text amendments are based on a shared perspective and are very good but
perhaps a bit eco-centric. But it is now important to target on NAPAs. NAPAs are all about water,
the water community has to adapt plans to feed into the NAPAs. In the Convention this is an
obligation, they are already there in the text. Article 26 says that NAPAs should be renewed
every 3-4 yrs. This is largely plans about water. Does the water community have the capacity to
do this? How to assess vulnerability? We will be grappling in December with an obligation to
produce an update on sectoral responses to climate change, but we don’t know properly how to
do it. This is an enormous issue. We should be heard on this point! It is very important. It
requires a seroius dialogue on a joint framework for action, on operational matters. The time has
passed to have negotiations with only one ministry at the time.
Climate change is an argument we can use to do things better, in particular in areas that are
vulnerable.
If we can get recognition of the importance of having a dialogue on point 26 and NAPAs, that is
how far we will probably get in Copenhagen. Let’s have a sober agenda.
Alan Nicol, Director Policy and Programme, World Water Council
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Relates the outputs from World Water Forum in Istanbul, one thematic process and one political
process. France and Turkey chaired the high level panel. It led to a call for action, recognizing
water as main vehicle for climate change adaptation. This was the major advocacy message
coming out of the political process. Now we need to bring the water community to Copenhagen,
and perhaps to consolidate a few strong messages on water.
Adaptation is moving up on the political agenda. Seeing water and climate change in broader
development context is important. Responses need to be specific. Enabling mechanisms
including adequate governance and financing.
Recommendations from World Water Forum (see Power Point)
- Invest in science for policy
- Hotspots including SIDS and deltas
- Public awareness
- Support cooperation on key notions for water based adaptation (Danish dialogue)
- Greater experience sharing
- Send water message to cop 15
- Transboundary is one example of the wealth of thinking that continues
Birgitte Nygaard Markussen, Deputy Head of Dept for Environment and Development, Danish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
Danish dialogue involves many actors, the Danes only facilitate. Started in November 2008, with a call
for action by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for COP- 15 and beyond. The process is based on
consultations from stakeholders. We have had 3 conferences in Asia and Africa. A lot of representation
from development countries e.g. in Nairobi, when we formulatad the issues at stake.
We wanted to use the lessons learned from Rio in 1992. So our messages (Nairobi statement) are
similar to the Dublin statement in their design.
What is the basic overall objectives of the Danish dialogue? It is a response to the Bali action plan by
having simple objectives: promote international cooperation on adaptation and; provide tangible
guidance beyond the COP-15 summit on adaptation to climate change.
Nairobi statement, 5 principles
1. Sustainable development. Adaptation must be seen in a broader development context. Climate
change added challenge to reducing poverty, hunger, disease and environmental degradation .
2. Resilience. Building resilience to ongoing and future climate change calls for adaptation to start
now by addressing existing problems in land and water management.
3. Governance. Strengthening institutions for land and water management is crucial for effective
adapt and should build on the principles of participation of civil society gender equality ,
subsidiarity and decentralisation. Heavy task but necessary.
4. Information. Info and knowledge for local adaptation must be improved, and must be considered
a public good. Info is there, but maybe no relevant. Decision makers need to know what to do.
Straight answers from research community.
5. Economics and financing. The cost of inaction and the economic and social benefits of
adaptation actions, calls for increased and innovative investment and financing.
The way ahead
Take Nairobi statement to high level meetings.
We work with UNEP and WB, IIED, FAO, GWP, UNFCCC, GPPN and more. We really want to work with
all stakeholders who all play a role in future climate change action.
Shows 2 minute dvd on the Danish dialogue and climate change adaptation produced by Danish artists.
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Questions and comments
Johan: sector orientation is a problem. Climate change not an environmental issue anymore. Regarding
the outcome of COP-15, let’s think about Henk’s point on article 26 and NAPAs. How to feed back to all
sectors these key messages. NAPAs will affect other sectors. The vision of the UN can be useful here.
Birgitte: there is a need to support both global and regional processes. NAPAs are the backbone of
action, you have to look at NAPAs if you want something to happen.
Fritz: NAPAs. Germany tries to get a national adaptation strategy developed, including the whole
Cabinet. This signals that it goes beyond environmental issues. It is also clear that existing policies need
be revised. Designed to be explicitly climate proof? Also, development policy has to become climate
proof. Should it be adaptive to climate change, or just continue as usual? Development projects are not
only water. The negotiated text needs to go beyond the climate sector.
Dr. Soltanieh from Iran. Iran had a hard time preparing NAPAs. Lack of data and human resources. We
don’t know the adaptation tools as well as mitigation tools. Adaptation is important for Iran which had
severe droughts. Problems with transboundary water in 4 areas, Iraq, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and
Tajikistan: Increased salinity in the south, bring new problems with drinking water.
Climate modeling was challenging, to try to predict climate change impacts. Many development countries
will definately need systems to carry out NAPAs or programs every 3-4 yrs.
Break
Felix: We are thinking about having a water day in Barcelona and at upcoming cop-15.
Presentations continue
Ceridwen Johnson, co-ordinator, Freshwater Action Network
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FAN works to improve water management through strengthening public and civil society
participation. Ceridwen today represents FAN South Asia who were not able to come.
The poorest are the most vulnerable to Impacts of climate change. They are hit first and hardest.
But they often have low knowledge of climate change issues and links to changes in water
availability and quality for instance. But communities are adapting, locally. Rainwater harvesting
to recharge the water table, rising well level to avoid contamination of drinking water are just
some examples. In Andhra Pradesh in India this type of local water management has been
picked up by State Government to be scaled up through the state.
We need to strengthen capacity that already exists, and scaling it up.
Knowledge sharing and training activities is the focus of FAN in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and
Nepal for the next few years. We hope to also link what they are doing with international
processes.
Key priority areas for FAN South Asia
- Broad stakeholder engagement
- Dissemination and scaling up of positive experiences
- Enhance sharing of best practice from sector based and community based adaptation.
- Also, how to integrate water sector more in the Nairobi work programme.
- Data collection, enhance quality of meteor data to predict climate change
- Water budgeting, conservation techniques
- Addressing water conflicts
- Recognition of the right to water
Hannah Stoddart, Policy Co-ordinator, Global Public Policy Network on Water Management
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What are the key entry points for water in the negotiations?
Consultation by GPPN on water and adaptation, leading to text amendments to UNFCCC.
Why is water important in the context of UNFCCC? We should use the message from the World
Water Development report: decisions impacting water sector are often taken ‘outside the water
box’.
What does adaptation action really mean? Many answers in the water community.
Key points from proposed text amendments:
22. Integrated land and water resources management for climate change adaptation, the Nairobi
statement.
We need a reference to regional strategies and adaptation plans in the text. Equitable
transboundary water management will be increasingly important because of climate change.
Our experience is that the ‘Ecosystems based approach’ needs explanation. Water can be a
good vehicle to do that.
Challenges and counter arguments – lessons from lobbying at UNFCCC
‘Water is not an international issue’ - But, it is when it comes to transboundary.
There is a reluctance to focus on sectors. - But, what is ‘action’, and what is ‘implementation’?
Water community was a late - comer to the process.- So, we need to work harder and create an
active community and movement.
Questions
Dr. Soltanieh: have you given proposed amendments to UNFCCC? Hannah: yes but an earlier draft
because of the deadline to submit amendments. Our current draft proposals will be considered in the
second reading.
Johan: FAN shows what we are talking about. Also, water is often political. When it comes to
transboundary issues, one challenge is that it is often not the same people who work here on climate
change that handle transboundary issues.
Birgitte: to FAN: interesting to get insight from projects in the South. We need to study the upscaling of
projects. And don’t feel that you are up against impossible delegates Hannah, this is a rather new issue
but it is moving ahead now. Keep up the good work!
Fritz: it is a good idea to say ‘regional’ instead of transboundary. Also, you should lobby that water is not
a specific sector.
Karen (US): why are you using the term ecosystems based approach in relation to river basins? It
covers a broader issue than just water. Hannah_ we use it as a hook, there is already a lot of movement
around it.
Annonymous: we are not really late comers, we just have a new focus. One problem is that the climate
discussion is mostly a way to get funding. There is also a low level of attention to adaptation, compared
to mitigation in my Ministry. We need more of a bottom up approach. I am skeptical, we can not afford to
come into a dead end street in the climate change discussions. I am still looking for the simple
messages. Water needs to be more visible in the text but I am quite pessimistic.
Henk: the top down element missing in FANs presentation. Rainwater harvesting is not enough.
Decisionmakers need to identify and support particularly vulnerable areas with, e g meteorological data.
On the text, using the word ‘sectoral’ is now considered, but not water as a specific sector. But at least
‘sectoral’ is more accepted now.
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Karin Lexen’s summary of main messages from the workshop
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Maybe we were not latecomers to do adaptation, but we have been late to come to the
negotiations. It is a learning process for us.
What Henk said on art 26 and NAPAs, we need to act on what is said there.
Decisions affecting the water sector taken outside water box, so we have to move outside the
water box.
Important to work towards Copenhagen , but more important to think about how to continue the
dialogue and implementation after Copenhagen.
Water is more than just a sector
There is a big interest from the water sector as shown by Alan and WWF, but we need to learn
more on how to influence this process.
We need to take advantage of meetings, to be there in corridors and with side events.
Fritz Holzwarth’s summary of main messages from the workshop
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We should build on the initiative from Denmark, and keep land and water together.
We have a lot of experience in the water field, but the other pillar is vulnerability. Put both
together, to show that business as usual is not sufficient.
Scientific evidence is efficient to act, but not for big infrastructure projects. Don’t overload the
political agenda.
NAPAs are an entry point in the debate. But we need to be realistic. The timeframe of 2012 is
unrealistic. It was difficult in Germany, it took 2 years.
Be careful with ecosystem based approach in the text.
We need to work on the water community. To learn more about climate change. We will continue
at the World Water Week to do this.