Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes 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 The UNECE Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health The UNECE Water Convention and its Protocol on Water and Health Provisions relevant for climate change Provisions relevant for climate change The Guidance on Water and Adaptation to climate change: aims, process, content 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

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes Climate change impacts on water resources Decline of water storage in Glaciers Decline of water storage in Glaciers Changes in precipitation patterns Changes in precipitation patterns Changes in water quality Changes in water quality Increase in extreme events Increase in extreme events Sea-level rise: salinisation of groundwaters Sea-level rise: salinisation of groundwaters Effects on health through water-related diseases and other health effects Effects on health through water-related diseases and other health effects More water stress More water stress Effects on related sectors such as agriculture, navigation, tourism, hydropower, fisheries 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 Climate change impacts are already visible in European basins Climate change impacts are already visible in European basins Differences in impact assessments + possible conflict between water users, thus need for coordination between countries 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 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 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 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 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 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 n Survey on adaptation in non-EEA countries prepared as additional input

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes  Decision makers responsible for water management in general as well as relevant health-related issues, in particular in the transboundary context.  The Guidance is also of interest for officials, managers and stakeholders of other sectors with a direct relevance to water and health is relevant for the entire UNECE region, with a focus on countries with economies in transition.  It is relevant for the entire UNECE region, with a focus on countries with economies in transition. Target Group of the Guidance

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes Scope Scope The Guidance is a general roadmap towards adaptation of water management to climate change but needs to be tailored to specific local situations. 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. 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 Establishing the policy, legal and institutional framework Establishing the policy, legal and institutional framework Understanding vulnerability Understanding vulnerability Developing and implementing an adaptation strategy Developing and implementing an adaptation strategy Evaluating Evaluating

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES The Precautionary principle should be applied The Precautionary principle should be applied Climate proofing should be a priority Climate proofing should be a priority Effective transboundary cooperation should be ensured and riparian Parties cooperate on the basis of equality, solidarity and reciprocity 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 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 Mitigation and adaptation support each other

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND APPROACHES The River basin approach and IWRM should be implemented The River basin approach and IWRM should be implemented Health risk of climate change and adaptation options should be considered Health risk of climate change and adaptation options should be considered Strong interdepartmental (inter-ministerial) and intersectoral cooperation is important Strong interdepartmental (inter-ministerial) and intersectoral cooperation is important Adaptation policy and measures should be assessed in a socio-economic development context Adaptation policy and measures should be assessed in a socio-economic development context Cost of options and non-action should be estimated 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  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 Definition of information needs Definition of information needs Different types of and sources of information are used Different types of and sources of information are used Joint information systems and exchange of information are built Joint information systems and exchange of information are built Design of adaptive monitoring systems Design of adaptive monitoring systems

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT Helps decision makers to assess the vulnerability of a basin 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 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 It is based on scenarios and model outcomes

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES Climate risk should be an integral element of all decision-making Climate risk should be an integral element of all decision-making Measures should be of different types: legislative, economic, financial, structural, non- structural, capacity-building, ecosystem resilience etc. Measures should be of different types: legislative, economic, financial, structural, non- structural, 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

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes FINANCIAL MATTERS National budgets and economic incentives National budgets and economic incentives Bilateral and multilateral programmes Bilateral and multilateral programmes Involvement of private sector Involvement of private sector International funds (UNFCCC Adaptation Fund) International funds (UNFCCC Adaptation Fund) Financial assistance to countries with economies in transition Financial assistance to countries with economies in transition

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes EVALUATION Takes place throughout the adaptation chain Takes place throughout the adaptation chain At different levels (strategy and measure/project) At different levels (strategy and measure/project) Monitoring the progress vis-à-vis achieving objectives Monitoring the progress vis-à-vis achieving objectives Learning by doing Learning by doing

Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes NEXT STEPS Expert review Expert review Discussion of the Guidance at several occasions such as the Task Forfce on Water and Climate and the Working Group on IWRM 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 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 Simultaneously development of a Guidance on Water and Sanitation in Extreme Events under the Protocol

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