Project: Climate change and security in the Dniester river basin Sonja Koeppel, UNECE Water Convention secretariat, Coordinator of climate change activities and project manager of Dniester project Chisinau, 10 July 2013

Project aims Reduce risks from climate change by improving adaptive capacity of recipient countries in shared ecosystems where forecasted impacts of climate change have security implications. The activity also aims to support dialogue and cooperation on the needed steps to design and implement an adaptation strategy in the transboundary context and thereby prevent controversy on the use of water resources. Support regional stability in the Dniester basin through the facilitation of transboundary cooperation on adaptation to the consequences of climate change on water resources.

Why? Prevent negative impacts of unilateral adaptation measures in riparian countries, thereby preventing potential conflict Enable more effective and efficient adaptation through wider knowledge base, larger planning space and possibility to share costs and benefits →Transboundary cooperation in adaptation reduces uncertainty and costs! Dniester already experiences extreme weather events and need for transboundary cooperation is obvious Dniester treaty signed in Rome in November 2012

Brief project information Implemented in by UNECE (lead) and OSCE in Ukraine and Moldova Working Group on Flood Management and Climate Change adaptation is steering body Part of a larger project implemented by Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC): Climate change and security in countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia Funded by the European Commission Instrument for Stability (EC- IfS) and Austrian Development Agency Based on preceding project: Reducing vulnerability to extreme floods and climate change in the Dniester basin Part of the programme of pilot projets on climate change adaptation in transboundary basins under the UNECE Water Convention

Climate change and security in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia Expected results – Key stakeholders are better informed on climate change and its security implications; – Governments and other key stakeholders can mainstream climate change and security considerations into national plans and strategies; – Enhanced co-operation among countries in developing climate change adaptation strategies and in implementing the already existing ones. Activities: – Develop participatory assessments – Produce and disseminate information on security impacts of climate change and required adaptation measures – Pilot project on Dniester basin – Training

Global network of basins working on climate change adaptation

Activities in the pilot project Develop a strategic framework for basin adaptation for the pilot basin Discuss and promote the draft strategic framework during iterative consultative process and workshops Develop an implementation plan and resource mobilization strategy Select a few priority measures and implement them Share the Dniester strategic adaptation framework and lessons learnt with others Support establishment of permanent institutions for transboundary cooperation (river basin commission)

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